Solar 101
Practical Applications of Solar Energy
for Residential and Commercial
Applications
Appalachian State University
Brandon Leavitt
847-677-0950
www.solarserviceinc.com
Solar 101 Overview
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Advantages of solar energy
Solar thermal technology
Residential solar thermal
Photovoltaic technology
Solar pool heating
Multi-unit buildings
Commercial Applications
Non-profit & school Applications
Government incentives
Celebrating Thirty Years of Solar
Tales from a solar survivor
Solar Potential
More solar energy hits the
earth in one hour than all of
humanity consumes in a
year!
Paradigm Shift in
Energy Generation
Mining Energy:
Petroleum, Coal,
Natural Gas, Uranium,
Oil
Living off savings
Harvesting
Energy: Solar, Wind,
Water, Earth, Biomass
Living off income
Significant Advantages
Uses Unlimited Energy Source
Reliable and Proven Technology
Improves Air & Water Quality
Free Fuel Deliveries Daily
Pays for Itself Over and Over
Again
Keeps Energy $$ Close to Home
High Cost of Fossil Fuels
High, volatile prices
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U.S. spends $440 billion annually on energy
Natural gas prices gone up 350% since ’95
IL exports $6 billion for natural gas annually
Pollution
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Therm of natural gas emits 11.6 lbs. of CO2
kWh of electricity emits 1.3 lbs. of CO2 (national
average)
120, 000+ people die from air pollution annually in
US
30 billion barrels of oil consumed in ’06 globally
Solar Thermal & Solar PV
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Heats water &
living spaces
Has been used
throughout time
More economical
than PV
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Produces electricity
Can use batteries or
electric grid
Can sell excess power
through electric grid
Rapidly evolving
technology
4 Hours of
SUN
Can Produce A
24-hour Supply
Of Hot Water
Solar Thermal
Technology Is Heating
Water, Homes And
Buildings In Over 150
Communities
Solar Heat and Hot Water
The Affordable Alternative
Lifetime supply of hot water:
$5,000 to $7,000*
Lifetime supply of heat & hot water:
$10,000 to $14,000*
*Includes complete standard installation 30% state rebate** &
30% federal tax credit (maximum residential credit $2,000)
**Based on availability
THE MORE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU SAVE!
How Easy Is It?
Fully Automatic
Maintenance-free
Stored Energy Available 24-hours A Day
Virtually Every Home and Building Has
Solar Thermal Potential
Works With Existing Water Heaters,
Forced-air furnaces and Radiant Floors
Solar Heat Assist
Radiant floor
Gas Forced Air
Independent
Space Heat
Solar Hot Water with Heat
Assist
One 4’ X 8’ solar panel heats over
10,000 gallons of hot water
annually in Chicago.
Produces a lifetime supply of heat and hot water
Protects against energy price increases
Saves up to 70% of annual water-heating expense
Works with existing furnace - day or night
Increases home resale value
Exempt from Illinois property taxes
Qualifies for State Rebates and Federal Tax Credits
Wilmette
Winthrop Harbor
ArlingtonEvanston
Heights
Arlington
Heights
Zion
Wood
Evanston Lincoln
Burr Ridge
Solar Service Inc
Arlington Palatine
Heights
Naperville
Spring
GroveArlington Heights
Wilmette
Arlington
Evanston
Heights
Evanston
Evanston
Highland Park
Zion
Carol Stream
Lincoln
Wood
Evanston
Wilmette
Hawthorn
Woods
Solar Service Inc
Chicago
Deerfield
Evanston
Michigan
City, IN
Arlington
Naperville
Winthrop Harbor
Chicago
Spring
Grove
Wilmette
Westchester
Westchester
Heights
Zion
Carol Stream
Lincoln
Wood
Evanston
Wilmette
Deerfield
Arlington
Deerfield
Heights
Evanston
Deerfield Chicago
Evanston
Evanston
Solar Service Inc
Naperville
Spring
Deerfield
Grove
Wilmette
Carol Stream
Lincoln Wood
Evanston
Wilmette
Deerfield
Solar Service Inc
Arlington
Spring Heights
Grove
Chicago
Evanston
Chicago
Solar Service
Producing Solar Energy Since 1977
Lincolnwood, IL
ComEd Questions Substantial
Drop in Energy Use
Solar Savings –
Case Study
“My first (gas) bill for two months
was $29…After the solar system
was installed for approximately
four months, my gas company
recalculated my budget amount
and reduced it to $70 per month
(from $158).”
Antioch, IL
“It’s like having a gold
mine on my roof. Our solar
system supplies more than
enough hot water for my
family and tenants.”
-Susan Besson
Evanston, IL
• Four 4’ x 8’ Panels
• Heats 200 gallons of hot water daily for
two families
• Prevents 6,000 pounds of CO2 emissions
annually
Wilmette, IL
System Installed: 1985
System Type: Solar Hot
Water and Heat Assist
•Saved: 1.2 billion BTUs in 20 years
•Heats: 270 gallons of water daily
•Heated: 1.4 million gallons in 20 years
•CO2 emissions Saved: 60 tons since 1985
“If more people used solar
we would save energy and
make the world cleaner for
our children’s future. But for
us, we went solar so we
could take a long hot bath in
our 80 gallon tub.”
Dr. Kalal
Skokie, IL
“After using the system
for 6 months I estimate
we have saved 50% to
60% on our gas bill this
winter.”
-A.I., Northbrook, IL
Solar Thermal &
Photovoltaic
Zion, IL
Chicago, IL
Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic
Antioch, IL
Building Integrate Photovoltaic
Evanston, IL
1.2 kWh Photovoltaic System
“I think what is the most fun
is watching our power meter
running backwards.”
Harry Drucker
Wilmette, IL
Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic
“After we saw Al Gore’s movie, An
Inconvenient Truth, we were inspired to do
our part. We thought solar energy was the
way to go.”
The Walsh Family
Chicago, IL
Solar Pool Heating
Most efficient use of solar energy
20-30 year life of equipment
Minimum or no maintenance
needed
Simple, automatic operation
Extends life of conventional
heating equipment
Suitable for indoor and outdoor
pools
Residential Indoor Pool
Inverness
Inverness
Residential Outdoor Pool
Northbrook
Schiller Park - Municipal Pool
Reduces hot water energy expense up to
70% annually
Protects against future energy cost increases
Reduces maintenance costs and extend the
life of the conventional water heater
30% Federal Investment Tax Credit + 5-year
Accelerated Depreciation
Eligible for State Rebates & Grants
Increases property value
Helps keep rent & overhead affordable
12-Unit Apartment Building
Chicago
• System Installed: 1985
• Heats: 600 Gallons of hot water daily & 150,000 gallons
annually
• Saved 32,300 therms in 22 years
• CO2 emissions Saved: 376,000 pounds since 1985
2 and 3 Unit Apartments
Multi-Family Housing
Oak Park, IL
System Type: Solar Hot
Water
Heats: 550 gallons daily
for about 25 people
“In the future, the price of energy is
going to go up. It is better to get a
solar system now and you can save
as much as possible later on. ”
Dr. Eugene Anandappa
Substantially reduce energy expense
Protects against future energy cost increases
Illinois State Grants up to $400,000
30% Federal Investment Tax Credit + 5-year
Accelerated Depreciation
Free Publicity and community good-will
Restaurant Hot Water Systems
Niles and Chicago, IL
System Type: Solar Hot Water
Heats: 680 gallons daily
Saves: 163 million BTUs annually
“We looked for ways to
reduce the energy cost,
and solar was the answer.”
Salvador Lamas
Owner, Electrical Engineer
Greenworks
Christy Webber Landscapes - Chicago, IL
Solar Hot Water and Assist for Heat Pump
Laundromat Hot Water System
2,000 Gallons Per Day
Chicago
Laundromat Hot Water System
Berwyn
New Rebuilt World’s Largest Laundromat
Berwyn
“Despite natural gas prices going up,
my solar hot water system enables me
to maintain lower prices for my
customers.”
• 485,000 gallons of hot water
annually
• Saves 68,000 pounds of CO2
emissions per year
Solar Publicity Pays!
Not-for-profit Solar Application
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Chicago, IL
Notre Dame High School
Niles, IL
“There will be tens of thousands
of jobs in renewable energy in
the future. Why not put the
boys in this school in the front of
this industry? If this is the
future, let it start here.”
Tim Herling
Director of Operations
Illinois’ LARGEST institutional Solar Thermal
Installation - 4,400 gallons per day
Chicago Fire Department – Installed in 1980
for NON-PROFIT organizations, Schools, Local and
State Government Agencies
For the purchase and installation of
Solar Thermal Systems
The Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity GIVES…
REBATES up to $10,000 for homeowners,
businesses and municipalities
GRANTS up to $400,000 for
larger solar installations
For owners or buyers of certified
Historic Chicago Bungalows
Energy Savers Grant
For the purchase and installation of
Solar Thermal Systems
Five-Collector Solar Thermal System – Certified Bungalow - Chicago
Solar Service Inc
Solar Service Inc
after State incentives
For the purchase and installation of Solar Systems
Example:
Residential Solar Thermal Energy System: $18,000
State Rebate: -$ 5,400
Federal Solar Tax Credit: -$ 2,000
$18,000 Solar Thermal System = $10,600
Join ISEA Today WWW.ILLINOISSOLAR.ORG