GREEN SYSTEMS
heating is a lucrative way to get residential and commercial customers to dip their big toes into solar without getting overwhelmed by costs and expectations. “Consumers do not have to go all or nothing on solar and try to heat their entire home,” explained Bud. “They can start slowly with solar water heating or pool heating and get a much quicker payback on a smaller investment.” The payback on solar water heating is four to seven years for residential, depending on square footage and family size and 3 ½ years for commercial. Because of the lower cost and ease of a pool pump system, the payback is only one year when compared to conventional heat. With the tax credits available in some states it becomes an even sweeter deal for the end user. Looking ahead in
the solar water heating industry, Bud sees great opportunity for plumbing manufacturers and professionals.
“Beyond hot water pumps and pool pumps, I envision solar as an option for submersible sump pump backup systems,” he said.
“Very often, in a flood, there are power outages, so having a backup system with collected solar energy makes perfect sense.” He explained that,
even though solar operates on DC voltage and sump pumps on AC, an inverter could be installed for backup. SunVolt is also providing solar energy as a way for farms to power irrigation pumps and outbuildings such as sheds and cottages, all of which can be converted to AC voltage. There is even a solution for mobile
homes, with vacuum tube solar collectors mounted on a pole in the yard. SunVolt Energy is moving in the
direction of marketing this type of photovoltaic technology for plumbers and offers HVAC training, which is not a huge learning curve. “We feel that trained HVAC contractors can capitalize on these solar upgrades to water heating and for backup systems
in case of power loss,” said Bud. He observes that, as the combined efficiencies of solar and pump technology continue to solidify and as acceptance of solar hot water gains ground nationally, it is likely the beginning of a very fruitful partnership. l For more information, visit
www.sunvoltenergy.net or
www.blueangelpumps.com.
153
e Circle 103 on reader reply card
phc may 2011
www.phcnews.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164