Residential Applications
Photo Credit SunMaxx Solar
Domestic Hot Water –
Solar collectors and solar hot water systems can offset more than 50% of domestic hot water needs.
Sizing for a residential solar hot water system for domestic hot water supply is primarily based on the
number of people living in the home and the volume of hot water consumption per day. The average person uses
approximately 20 gallons of hot water per day.
Solar Radiant Heating – Solar hot water systems can be easily
integrated into the following types of heating systems to maximize efficiency and cost
effectiveness of home heating by reducing fuel consumption:
- In-floor radiant heating
- Baseboard radiant heating
- Forced Hot Air (with heat exchanger)
Solar Pool and Spa Heating – Solar hot water systems reduce electricity or fuel
consumption for heating of pool water. A pool or spa can also serve as a heat dump for excess heat
generated by the solar hot water system in the summer months.
Commercial and Institutional Applications
Solar hot water systems can be sized to address the hot water needs of commercial facilities, municipal buildings, and institutions including schools and medical facilities. Solar hot water systems may also be utilized to pre-heat process hot water for industrial operations. The following is a list of some commercial applications for solar hot water systems:
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Car Washes
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Dry Cleaners
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Restaurants
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Office Buildings
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Campgrounds
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Hotels
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Benefits to commercial business owners can include the following:
- Reduced dependency on fossil fuels
- Reduced operating costs
- Creation of ‘green collar’ jobs in the community
- Public relations and advertising benefits associated with cutting edge ‘green’ business operations
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