The Shift Home

Project > Building Science

What's your solar story?


Solar panels on the Shift Home, you say? Who wouldn't want free hot water all year around? Turns out that these systems are a good financial investment too, usually paying back in a few years. But what's the reality of living with a system

That's where you come in....

We'd like to hear about your experience with a solar water heating system. We want to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly.  Leave a comment and share your solar story with us.

We've surveyed a few local suppliers of these panels, such as Paper, Rock, Sun Ltd. and Nexus Solar, and have found lots of options for systems.  Recommendations we've received along with our research are pushing us toward the following strategy:

1. As always, apply conservation to reduce your heating load (low flow shower heads)

2. Use a glycol based system to prevent freeze up

3. Size the system for domestic hot water only and not space heating, which has a much lower return on investment

4. Install vertically on an exterior wall to avoid snow/ice collection

5. Take advantage of thermosyphoning if its possible to install the tank above the panels

Let us know if you agree, disagree, or have suggestions for improvement on this system. And if you're a contractor, supplier or manufacturer...shameless self promotion is strongly encouraged here.  Leave your website or business name so other people can find you.

Write a comment

  • Required fields are marked with *.

If you have trouble reading the code, click on the code itself to generate a new random code.
 
Lief Shiell, GreenLief Construction
Posts: 3
Comment
Solar water heat
Reply #3 on : Wed November 04, 2009, 23:29:41
solar water heat is a great way to take advantage of the "free" energy we get from the sun. I have been told that Saskatoon light and power have a plan for allowing grid tie solar electric systems in the city, and that they will actually credit you for the power you put back into the grid not just stop the meter when you feed back like saskpower. Also with the "green energy" push from the feds we have available to us (visit solar outpost for more details) grants of up to 30% on the purchase price of solar voltaic systems. not to mention the falling costs of procurring solar panels (thank the chinese, they can make anything cheap).

GreenLief construction is a new company to saskatoon and looks forward to serving the "green" side of the construction industry here. everything from finishing carpentry to roofing and siding and anywhere in between with a focus on quality workmanship, customer satisfaction, and the progression of newer better earth friendly methods to developing and redeveloping the world we LIVE in.

I can be contacted @ 260-6056 or by email liefshiell@sasktel,net
Bill Brown jr
Posts: 3
Comment
Apple Lover
Reply #2 on : Wed June 03, 2009, 11:02:51
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be coming back
Kris
Posts: 3
Comment
I know what I'd do in Ontario
Reply #1 on : Tue May 19, 2009, 12:04:20
The Ontario Green Energy Act will be providing a tariff of around $.80/kwh for solar generated residential power, which makes large residential systems not just economically feasible, but a great investment in their own right. If you expect that this inititive will move its way westward across Canada, then I'd put the infrastructure in place to support a larger solar footprint.