Solar Thermal Residential / Commercial Hot Water Heating

Solar thermal or, as it is sometimes called, solar hot water heating systems, is a simple technology used for harnessing the sun’s energy for water heating that has been in wide use for many years. Water heating is the second highest energy cost in a typical residential home or commercial business. Solar thermal hot water heating incorporating the solar energy from the sun is one of the most cost saving things you can do to lower your utility costs in a home.  Additionally, there are generous rebates available to offset the initial costs. In most cases, the payback is less than 5 years.

A residential or commercial roof mounted solar water-heating system reduces the need for conventional water heating by about two-thirds. Solar thermal water heating is the collection, storage, and use of heat from sunshine to generate hot water. When you think about solar water heating or solar thermal think about how hot your car gets when you park it in the sun. With a solar water heating incorporating solar thermal, you capture this energy and make it work for you.

Sold world wide, Schüco is the worlds leading producer of energy saving & energy producing manufacture using solar photovoltaic and solar hot water collectors. Solar energy systems use the sun to generate energy and turn every house into a mini power plant. With Schüco solar, in addition to high cost effectiveness, all systems are characterized by their exceptional design as well as high functionality. Schüco solar products produce electricity with photovoltaic s, turn solar thermal heat energy into warm water as well as support heating with solar thermal energy.

Schüco has been successfully developing and producing solar technology for over 10 years. A truly global company, Schüco works with architects, investors and partner companies. Based in Bielefeld, Germany, the building envelope specialist has approximately 4500 employees in more than 70 countries worldwide. When you purchase a solar system from Schüco, you can be sure that you are buying a product of the highest possible quality. Products that will provide hassle-free, low-maintenance operation and allow you to enjoy the benefits of solar energy for many years to come. Schüco PV packages are flexible enough for the most varied of applications, from systems for single-family homes to complex commercial roof projects. PV systems are generally subsidized on state, local, or even utility level, reducing the total system cost.

A typical Schüco solar thermal transfer system including two to four collectors and an 80 gallon tank could provide hot water for up to 4 people, depending on location. Schüco systems have a minimum lifespan of 20 years and provide hassle-free, low-maintenance operation.

The two significant parts of a solar thermal system are solar collectors and a storage tank. A glycol fluid circulates through the solar collectors, usually on the roof, to capture the Sun’s heat. Then the glycol circulates through a heat exchanger to heat water in a storage tank. The storage tank then supplies pre-heated water to a conventional gas or electric water heater, instead the water heater pulling in cold tap water as make up water. Most of the time the pre-heated water is hot enough to satisfy the water heater setting, and its heating element does not even turn on. A Solar Thermal system will reduce the cost of conventional water heating and it lets you be a part of decreasing energy consumption, pollution and climate change.

Sacramento California is considered an excellent area for solar thermal installations for homes or commercial businesses. It is considered ideal for solar thermal hot water heaters to be as south facing as possible, but other south (south east, south west) orientations will provide enough solar thermal hot water to significantly impact your hot water heating costs.

Blue Pacific Solar works with local Sacramento county architects, contractors, developers, engineers, LEED APs, property managers and other professionals to assist them with incorporating sustainable building practices such as solar thermal systems. Under LEED CA, points can be earned by providing a solar thermal system that meets LEED-established percentages of buildings energy requirements.