What type of solar do you sell and install?

We focus on your largest utility bill – heating. Our systems are solar heat collectors which are used for space heating and water heating. They can be completely self sufficient with photovoltaic panels (solar electric) integrated into the systems to supply the electricity needed to run the blower. The systems can be designed to supplement single room heating, whole house heating, and commercial building heating. They can be mounted on south facing walls keeping the installation costs low or roofs.

How does it work?

The solar panel draws air in from your home and pulls it past layers of glazed glass, aluminum, and insulation. The air is there heated up to 50 degrees warmer than it entered with a maximum of 120 degrees. This air is then returned to the home at a much higher temp then it entered.

When does the system work?

It works when the supplied digital thermostat is set higher than your main heating system on sunny days. During these days depending on the installation angle, cloud cover, and obstructions the collector will turn on when the temperature it can produce is about 68 degrees. It generally starts producing heat around 70 degrees and quickly raises to over 100 degrees on full sun days. Typically 9am-3pm are the usable hours of use.

Does it work at night?

No, our systems do not have night time storage which has been proven not to be cost effective. Any solar system with heat storage can greatly reduce your benefit to cost ratio due to the increased amount of labor, design, and materials.

What makes air collectors better than water collectors?

Air collectors can produce heat earlier and later in the day than water based collectors. They are more reliable due to their simplicity. There are no water circulators, antifreeze mixtures, plumbing leaks, and if you are not going to produce hot water, no extra hot water tanks to replace in the future. The only maintenance is to clean your air filter. Our only mechanics are brushless blowers that are rated at a service life of 70,000 hrs.

What are the incentives for purchasing a system?

The incentives are generally tax rebates which can greatly reduce the overall cost of a system and its installation. We have a link listed in info for incentives from state and federal.