2.1kW Solar Electric System with Solar Hot Water
As part of a major remodel in 2008, the owner of this house incorporated as many green features as possible including LED lighting, Energy Star appliances, and both a solar electric and solar hot water system.
Innovative Power Systems installed this 2.1kW solar electric system in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2008. IPS expects this system to produce about 2,500kWh of electricity on average per year. Producing 2,500kWh of electricity annually from coal emits about 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Preventing this much carbon dioxide from being released to the atmosphere is equivalent to adding 255 trees to our forests. Over a 30-year span, IPS expects this system will offset 150,000 pounds or 75 tons of carbon dioxide.
For the solar hot water system, (2) 4’x8’ Solar Skies solar thermal collectors are mounted on the south facing roof and heat an 80 gallon solar storage tank. The solar storage tank provides solar preheated water for a tankless hot water heater. The hot water is then used for a household’s basic hot water needs, such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing. The system will offset about 130 therms of natural gas per year, or 75% of the total hot water usage of an average family of 4.
Innovative Power Systems prefers to use Solar Skies solar thermal collectors for several reasons. The collectors are manufactured in Alexandria, Minnesota. One of the many benefits renewable energy has is the creation of jobs. Solar Skies employs about 12 full-time employees, benefiting the local economy. Solar Skies collectors are also very reliable, with a ten-year warranty. In terms of performance, Solar Skies collectors compare favorably with more expensive flat-plate and evacuated tube collectors.