Local Resident Suggests Going Solar for Hot Water

by Ed Merians

(November 16, 2006) Despite the rain and clouds that have been darkening Larchmont skies this November, now is the time to consider installing a solar powered hot water system to lower your bills, reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil, conserve natural resources and protect our environment. I just did it, and I’d like to share my experience with you.

We live in the Winged Foot area of Mamaroneck where there are a lot of mature trees, but even without clear cutting our yard, there is sufficient sun for the hot water system we added to our roof. Solar systems are available that can remove your home from the power grid entirely, but we chose to keep our trees and install more limited equipment.

We also wanted the right aesthetic. The panels aren’t ugly. (See photo of our roof.) They look like two flat panel televisions on the roof, but we still didn’t want the neighbors to have to look at them. Our solar panels aren’t visible to anyone but the birds.

Given our requirements, a search for the right system and vendor began on the Internet, where we found the Solar Center of Denville, New Jersey. They were more responsive and more experienced than others. We learned there are a lot of people who claim expertise but not a lot who have it.

Step 1 of the installation was mounting the panels on the roof. You need a relatively unobstructed southern exposure, which we have. Step 2 added a new heavily insulated 80-gallon water tank in the basement. For Step 3, we called in our local plumber, Sound Shore Contracting, to run pipes in the basement between our existing water heater and the new 80-gallon tank where the solar heating takes place. Our own water heater, only four years old, was new enough that we didn’t need to replace it. The installation normally takes two to three days, and our project took two and a half.

The newer technology is much smaller than the old: our system uses only two solar panels to generate the heat. Solar heat is transferred to non-toxic liquid anti-freeze that is pumped through copper pipes into the 80-gallon tank. There the hot copper pipes meet cold tap water. The tap water gets heated, usually to 140 but somewhat less during the winter. The heated water is stored in the insulated tank. From there, hot water is distributed through the existing pipes. Our old gas heater does not go on because it is set for under 120 degrees; yours should be too. That’s another way to save and be safe.

The solar hot water system does not replace the gas system. Rather, it enhances it by reducing how hard it has to work to make hot water. On cloudy days, the gas system takes over, so we still have hot water.

We found, adding solar is not expensive. It will cost about $6,000 up front and then we’ll receive approximately $2000 back from New York State and $2000 back from the feds at tax time. (Disclosure: I have no financial interest in any solar company.) There is only one moving part to the entire system; an electric pump, which is extremely reliable. I estimate that I will save approximately $125 per month. In my case, the saving generated will pay for the system in about 2 years - or faster if the price of natural gas increases.

In short: installing solar hot water is relatively easy and inexpensive; you’ll get your money back quickly and reap the rewards over the system’s 20 year life span. You will substantially reduce your consumption of natural gas, oil and electricity, which will help cut back on the number of power generating plants Con Ed will need to build in Westchester and the need to find new sources of fuel in places like the north slope of Alaska. Plus, you won’t care that your teenager has been in the shower for a half hour. Peace in your house, too!

Want more information or a tour? You can contact me at emerians@verizon.net .

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