from John in Madison, WI:
#591
I'm a condo owner in a 16 unit building in Madison. We would like to learn about solar energy for heating our building and supplying hot water to the units.
Great idea! Multi-family properties are terrific candidates for solar thermal systems.
That’s a great idea! Multi-family properties are terrific candidates for solar thermal systems—especially buildings that share a single hot-water system among multiple units.
As we’d bet you already know, solar water heaters can also provide space heating. The same set of solar collectors can supply hot water for both domestic water and space heating, although space heating generally requires a much larger collector area and storage capacity. Additional controls and equipment are also needed; talk to a solar water-heating professional for recommendations. (More on that in a second!)
Your first step should be to evaluate the efficiency of your existing equipment. Because solar hot-water systems are meant to supplement, rather than replace, existing water-heating equipment, you’ll get more bang for your buck if your current system is operating efficiently.
If your current system could use some improvements, remember that Focus on Energy offers financial incentives to help you offset the cost of efficiency upgrades, from boiler controls and maintenance service to entirely new, energy-efficient equipment. Check this success story to learn how one Milwaukee apartment complex saved thousands of dollars each year—not to mention time-consuming maintenance headaches—by replacing its old boiler.
The best way to determine whether a solar thermal system is right for your building is to schedule a site assessment. During this evaluation, a certified site assessor will review your building’s renewable energy potential and answer any questions you may have. Afterward, you’ll receive a written report of the findings, including an estimate of the size and cost of your potential system.
Visit our Renewable Energy Site Assessment page to learn more about the site-assessment process and apply for a 50% discount!
Once you’ve made the decision to move forward with a solar hot-water system, we recommend that you contact at least three contractors to evaluate their services and secure bids for your project. Use the Focus on Energy list of Full Service Installers to get started. And don’t forget to take advantage of financial incentives to help you buy down the domestic hot-water portion of your system!
To find out more, visit our Information Center to read up on solar hot-water systems and learn about recent installations across Wisconsin.
Published Friday, November 06, 2009