A E-book exclusive

Solarize
Your Home
A practical guide to solar design, building and power.
Copyright© 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc.

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Table of Contents

green building Solar Design and Building

Build a Solar Home and Let the Sunshine In............................................5

Learn the basic principles of building a passive solar house.

Go Solar and Save Big!...............................................................................8

Passive solar design results in huge savings on energy bills.

Super Solar Homes Everyone can Afford.................................................12

Superefficient solar homes are just the beginning. The ultimate goal is “net-zero-energy” homes.

Solar in the City........................................................................................16

This solar-powered green dream home presents a shining example of what every new house can be.

green building Solar Heating and Cooling

Simple Solar Heating & Cooling..............................................................18

Even when you’re remodeling, these energy-saving options should be your first choice.

Build a Simple Solar Heater......................................................................20

This low-cost plan lets you turn any south wall into a source of free solar heat.

Buyer’s Guide to Solar Heating.................................................................24

Tap free heat from the sun with these solar hot-air collectors.

green building Solar Hot Water

Save with Solar Hot Water.......................................................................27

Learn all about solar hot water heating and slash your water heating costs.

Go Solar for FREE Hot Water.................................................................31

Solar water heaters are the easiest entry into renewable energy.

green building Solar Electricity

8 Compelling Reasons to Buy a Solar Roof..............................................35

Eight reasons why you should install your own solar electric roof.

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Table of Contents, Continued

Simpler Solar Power..................................................................................36

Grid-tied solar systems make choosing clean, renewable electricity easier and more affordable than ever.

Easy Solar Power.......................................................................................40

Try new thin-film photovoltaic (PV) laminates to start generating solar electricity.

You Can Afford Solar Power............................................................................43

Here’s how to calculate the payback period for a photovoltaic (PV) system.

Eliminate Your Electric Bill: Go Solar and Be Secure..............................45

You can install a solar photovoltaic (PV) roof, which will generate your electricity from the free, unlimited supply of sunshine.

A Simple Solar Solution...........................................................................48

Living off the grid is a cost-effective option when you have to pay big bucks to connect to utilities.

Easy DIY Solar Lighting...........................................................................51

Learn renewable energy basics and generate serious solar excitement!

green building Solar Water Distiller

Water Wise Solar Stills.............................................................................55

Passive solar distillation is an inexpensive, low-tech alternative for pure drinking water.

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green building
Solarize your home Solar Design and Building

Build a
Solar
Home and
Let the
Sunshine In

CATHERINE WANEK
By Dan Chiras

If you’re planning to build your dream home someday, this

article could save you thousands of dollars.

M illions of homes easily could be de-

signed to capture free heat directly
from the sun. But instead we are
burning — wasting — huge amounts of oil and
natural gas every winter. The missed opportuni-
HOW IT WORKS
Heating homes with sunlight, known as
passive-solar heating, is based on the simple
idea of using south-facing windows to admit
low-angled winter sun. Sunlight streaming
ties to tap into solar energy are so fantastic they into the home warms the interior space. Ther-
boggle the mind, and nowhere is our blindness mal mass, such as tile floors and interior ma-
to the potential of solar more troublesome than sonry walls, stores the sun’s heat and releases South
in the home-heating arena. it when room temperatures fall at night or Low Winter Sun Shines Deep into Home
You can incorporate passive-solar heating during cloudy weather. Choose a house de-
in any style home. Or you can add solar fea- sign that accommodates the right amounts
ADAPTED FROM ENERGETIC DESIGN
tures when remodeling an existing home, as of south-facing glass and thermal mass. Add
long as the south side of the house receives full careful caulking and ample insulation (usually
sun most of the day. When correctly designed, slightly higher than building codes currently
solar homes provide unrivaled comfort in win- require), and you’ll have a solar heated home
ter and summer. They offer large, south-facing that requires little or no heat from any non-
windows, generous views, sunny interiors and renewable fuel source. In the summer, a solar
open floor plans. home’s thermal mass and insulation, together
Architect Debbie Rucker Coleman, who with properly sized overhangs to shade the South
has been designing solar homes since 1985, says windows, keep the home comfortable and re-
her clients are impressed with how spacious the duce cooling requirements. High Summer Sun Blocked by Overhang
sunlight makes the home feel. “In addition to Simply orienting a conventional house to the
low heating bills, passive-solar homes are cool south will cut annual energy bills by at least
in summer. They are delightful places to live,” 10 percent, saving thousands of dollars over a quirements. Do your homework or hire a solar
she says. home’s lifetime. Add a long south-facing wall architect to create a rigorous passive-solar de-
Coleman’s drawings (Page 6) show how of windows and some thermal mass and you sign and you can reduce your energy bills by 80
two conventional house styles could easily be- easily can tap sunshine’s free energy to meet 50 percent to 100 percent. Given the probability
come passive-solar homes. percent to 70 percent of a home’s heating re- energy costs will increase steadily in the coming

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 Navigation Bar
3. Orient the longest wall of the house
so it faces true south. Rectangular floor plans
Conventional passive solar minimize the exposure of east and west walls
to summer sun, which is especially helpful in
hot climates. The front, back, or side of the
house can be the south wall. (True south is
not the same as the magnetic south shown by
compasses. Check with a local surveyor’s office
to find out how many degrees to adjust from
magnetic south.)
Can you deviate from a due south orien-
tation? Sure, but you’ll pay a price in dollars
and thermal comfort. Straying from a solar-
DEBBIE COLEMAN

south design reduces wintertime heat gain and

may increase summertime solar gain, leading
to overheating.
The more rooms that have some south win-
To harvest free energy from the sun, just orient the long side of the house to the south, add more dows, the better. This helps eliminate the need
windows to the south side and pay attention to overhangs, as we’ve shown for this conventional for fans or ducts to move warm air from one
ranch house and colonial-style home. area to another. Place rooms that require less
heat, such as workshops, bedrooms and kitch-
ens, on the north side of the house.
years, the long-term savings from a passive solar annual increase in energy costs, the potential 4. Maximize windows on the south side.
home could become very substantial. 30-year savings from a passive solar home jump South glass should be a minimum of 7 percent
to $141,400, quite a return on a maximum in- of the house’s square footage for a sun-tem-
UP-FRONT COSTS vestment of just 3 percent of your construction pered home and a maximum of 12 percent for
According to Ron Judkoff, director of the costs. If energy prices increase 10 percent per fully passive-solar designs. Don’t go wild on
Buildings and Thermal Systems Center at the year, the estimated 30-year savings in cold cli- windows. North, east and west windows should
National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, mates could be more than $400,000. follow the “Window Allocation Guidelines.”
Colorado, passive-solar features increase the No one knows for sure how fast fuel prices Exceeding the 12 percent guideline for south
cost of building a new home by anywhere from will increase. But whatever happens, passive so- windows may cause the home to overheat in
nothing to about 3 percent. (On a $200,000 lar clearly makes fantastic sense from a financial summer, and may allow excess heat loss from
home, for example, the maximum additional standpoint. And the bonus is the environmental the windows during the night and during long,
cost of incorporating passive solar heating might benefit of reduced air pollution. Coleman esti- cold, cloudy periods.
be only another $6,000.) Since many building mates that compared to the average home, her Coleman recommends choosing south
codes now require much more energy-efficient 2,100-square-foot solar home—with its average glass carefully for your climate. Many of the
windows, walls, ceilings and foundations than heating or cooling costs of $12 per month will new low-emissivity (low-e) coatings reduce
in the past, and you’ll need a much smaller fur- save 574,410 pounds of carbon dioxide emis- heat loss and gain, but for south windows you
nace or other backup heat source, passive solar sions over 30 years. do not want glass that keeps out the solar heat.
frequently adds very little or nothing to the cost She recommends south glass that has a Solar
of a new home. SOLAR DESIGN BASICS Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of at least 0.5.
Judkoff bases his cost estimates in part on Here are the basic principles to follow In warmer climates with properly designed
a series of case studies sponsored by NREL in designing a new or remodeled passive solar south overhangs, uncoated double-pane glass is
and the American Solar Energy Society, head- home: preferred.
quartered in Boulder, Colorado. Data on pas- 1. Choose a site that receives south sun 5. Design the roof overhangs to shade
sive-solar homes were collected from a vari- during winter. Obstructions to the south of the windows properly from the high summer sun.
ety of locations across the United States. The site, such as tall evergreen trees, buildings or Overhangs are key to successful solar homes.
study found the addition at cost of building a hillsides, need to be kept at least 1.7 times their Judkoff says the exact geometry of overhangs is
passive-solar home ranged from nothing to 3 height away from the home. When in doubt, critical for balancing the need to admit maxi-
percent, while the annual savings from passive- visit the site around December 21, when the mum sunlight in winter and minimize solar
solar heating in the homes ranged from $220 sun is the lowest in the sky. The site should re- heat gain in summer. Generally, the warmer and
in New Mexico to $2,255 in New Hampshire. ceive full sun from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. sunnier the climate, the deeper the overhang
Based on recent energy prices, a passive-solar If you’re choosing to build on a small lot, should be. A 2-foot overhang nicely shades an
home in a northern location could save you as select one that is deep from north to south, to 8- to 9-foot wall in most locations. If overhangs
much as $67,000 on heating and cooling costs ensure good solar access. Locating the house’s aren’t possible, use insulated shutters to keep
over a 30-year period. septic drainage field within the solar access out the summer sun.
We all know energy prices are only going zone is another strategy for maintaining good 6. Provide thermal mass (tile floors and
to rise. Some regions already have experienced solar access, since that area will need to be kept brick or masonry walls) in the south side of the
sudden 100-percent spikes in natural gas prices. clear of trees and shrubs, which would other- house. Mass absorbs and stores heat when sun-
Major increases in natural gas and oil prices wise block the southern sun. light strikes it or when its temperature is lower
seem inevitable. Without an inexpensive, reli- 2. Choose a home design with few pro- than the air temperature. As the room’s air
able fuel source, millions of homeowners who jections below the roof line and no porches on temperature drops below the mass’ surface tem-
rely on natural gas and oil may suffer enor- the south. Projections shade adjacent windows; perature, heat is released and the air is warmed.
mous economic hardship. So let’s take another porches on the south prevent the sun from Temperatures indoors remain relatively stable
look at those estimated cost savings from the entering. Porches on the east and west can be and comfortable, despite dramatic oscillations
NREL and the American Solar Energy Society beneficial by shading windows from the hot in outdoor temperatures.
(ASES) case studies. If we assume a 5 percent summer sun.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 

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The mass in floors, framing, wallboard and fur- HELPFUL DESIGN TOOLS
niture is usually sufficient to accommodate the Many professional solar designers use BOOKS AND PLANS
solar heat in sun-tempered homes. But when powerful software like Energy-10, a computer The Solar House: Passive Heating & Cool-
you build a full passive solar design with up program that allows designers to predict the ing by Dan Chiras
to 12 percent south glass, you need to add ex- energy performance of various building-design
tra thermal mass in the form of tile, concrete strategies, permitting a fine tuning of designs Sun-inspired Home Plans by Debbie
floors, or masonry walls or planters. For optimal to achieve optimal comfort, performance and Rucker Coleman Available from Energetic
results, some mass should be in direct contact economy. (Energy-10 is available from the Design
with the incoming sunlight throughout the day. Sustainable Buildings Industry Council. See
The mass also should be distributed through- “organizations” right.) Designers also use a The Best of Fine Homebuilding: Energy
out the house. Add about 7 square feet of 4- Solar Pathfinder, a device that allows a builder Efficient Building by Fine Homebuilding
inch-thick mass for every 1 square foot of south or architect to fully assess the year-round solar
glass above the 7 percent minimum. One easy, potential of a site in about 15 minutes. Solar Energy: Today’s Technologies for a
inexpensive way to add this mass is to choose a Debbie Rucker Coleman prefers a simpler Sustainable Future by Burke Miller
concrete slab-on-grade foundation. approach using Passive Solar Design Strategies:
In addition to these solar design factors, Guidelines for Home Building by the Sustain- VIDEOS
follow these two principles that apply to all en- able Buildings Industry Council (see “Orga- The Solar-Powered Home with Rob Roy.
ergy efficient homes: nizations”). “Most homeowners would be able An 84-minute video examining basic prin-
7. Insulate and seal the structure well. to follow these guidelines, as the notebook is ciples, components, set up and system
Careful attention to detail is essential. Insula- put together very well. I like the program be- planning for an off-grid home. Features
tion should not be compressed and air should cause it tells you the percentage of your heat- tips from America’s leading experts in
not leak in. If you can’t get as much south glass ing needs the sun is providing and lets you the field of home power. Available from
as you would like, adding extra insulation can compare strategies such as adding insulation Earthwood Building School
result in the same overall lower energy con- or increasing south glass. You can complete the
sumption. Judkoff recommends insulating at work sheets manually or with the computer ORGANIZATIONS
least to the level prescribed by the International software version.” American Solar Energy Society Publishes
Energy Conservation Code or ASHRAE 90.2, Solar Today magazine and sponsors
which are region-specific recommendations for SIMPLE SOLAR an annual national meeting. Also pub-
the building-envelope elements and mechani- lishes an online catalog of publications
cal systems. Choose energy-efficient windows SOLUTIONS and sponsors the National Tour of Solar
and consider using insulated shades to keep So what are the worst-case consequences Homes.
heat from escaping at night (and to keep the if you follow the basic principles, but don’t
heat out in the summer), especially in cold cli- want to perform your own detailed energy Center for Renewable Energy and Sustain-
mates. Entryways separated from the main liv- analysis or hire a professional to do it for you? able Technologies (CREST) Online source
ing space by an, inner door are especially helpful Less-than-optimal amounts of south-facing of renewable energy solutions.
in preventing cold air from rushing in whenever windows may require running an auxiliary
the outside door is opened. heating system more, or may necessitate add- Florida Solar Energy Center Offers de-
8. Correctly size the heating and cooling ing another log to the woodstove or putting on sign guidelines for building homes in hot,
system. Many solar homes require almost no a sweater. Undersized mass will cause winter humid climates.
additional heat, so you will need a much small- daytime overheating, which is easily remedied
er, less expensive heating system. A woodstove by opening windows. Alliance to Save Energy Excellent infor-
or natural gas wall heater may be sufficient, or A less-than-perfect passive-solar design mation on saving energy and money.
you can connect baseboard radiators to your hot can be remedied after construction. What you
water heater. The insulation and thermal mass cannot easily change later is the basic shape, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
features of a solar home make it more resistant design and orientation of the house. That’s why Green-building, clean-energy and sustain-
to summer overheating, and in some climates a well-insulated, south-facing structure is the able transportation site.
you may get by with using ceiling fans instead essential foundation for a comfortable passive-
of air-conditioning. solar home. National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Center for Buildings and Thermal Systems
Key players in research and education on

Windows in Passive Solar Design energy efficiency and passive-solar heat-

ing and cooling.

For optimum passive solar design, window placement Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
should follow the guidelines below as closely as possible: This organization has a terrific Web site
with information on workshops, books
and publications, and links to many other
South-facing Walls: North-facing Walls:
international, national and state solar-en-
At least 7 percent to ergy organizations.
12 percent glass No more than 4 percent glass

west-facing Walls: east-facing Walls:

No more than 4 percent glass No more than 4 percent glass

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green building
Solarize your home Solar Design and Building

Go
Solar
and Save
Big!
By Clarke Snell

CATHERINE WANEK
Every homeowner needs to know that passive solar design
results in huge savings on energy bills.

G reat news! You have free access to a

source of energy that can save you
thousands of dollars on your home’s
heating and cooling bills. You can harness this
eco-friendly energy source using inexpensive,
passive solar home stays cool in the summer
without air conditioning, and in the winter it
requires much less energy to heat. The com-
bination of a woodstove and solar design is
often enough to keep a house comfortably
the biggest bullhorn ever made (solar-powered,
of course) to broadcast this message: There’s a
better way! Everyone should use solar design to
save energy, save money and reduce pollution.

readily available technology, and it comes with warm, even in very cold climates. LOCATION, LOCATION
a lifetime guarantee. The best aspect of solar design is that if In nearly every kind of climate, heating
The energy source is the sun, and the tech- you’re building or remodeling a home, you and cooling a building is a challenge. Maintain-
nology is passive solar design—the conscious can incorporate it at little or no extra expense. ing a stable temperature for a tiny air mass (the
manipulation of building temperature by using With oil and natural gas prices rising, and inside of your house) is a difficult undertaking
the sun’s direct energy. If you are planning to power blackouts becoming more common, it because of the constantly fluctuating tempera-
buy a new home or remodel your current resi- now makes more sense than ever to take ad- ture of a much larger surrounding air mass (the
dence, put passive solar design on your “must- vantage of natural heating and cooling rather great outdoors). Unlike most other approach-
have” list. than depending on fossil fuels. es, though, solar design makes the sun an ally
Everyone is already aware of some of the After all, we already heat and cool our rather than an adversary in this task; the key
advantages of solar design: We all appreciate homes with solar energy. That’s because the is adapting the design to the specific location
the coolness of a shady porch or patio in the fossil fuels we burn today are nothing more where you live.
summer, or the warmth of a sunny window in than stored solar energy. Plants captured that Building site. Two facts about the sun
the winter. But most people are not aware of solar energy through photosynthesis, and make solar design possible. First, the sun’s path
the huge difference solar design can make in then—over millions of years—heat and pres- through the sky changes throughout the year.
the amount of energy needed to heat and cool sure transformed dead plants and animals into Second, this path repeats the same cycle every
our homes. In most situations, a well-designed deposits of coal, oil and natural gas. I wish I had year. That’s why for any given building site we

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know exactly where the sun will be during every that are long and thin on their east-west axis materials that store solar energy effectively.
season, so we can design our homes to capture are best because they expose more wall surface Thermal Mass. Everything stores temper-
the sun’s heat in the winter and block it during to the south, where it will be warmed by the sun ature, but some things store it better than oth-
the summer. in winter. This building shape also helps houses ers. Dense materials—such as stone, concrete,
In northern climates where winter heat- stay cool in the summer, when the sun is higher bricks and earth—are known as thermal mass,
ing is necessary, the winter sun is conveniently in the sky, because it has little wall surface onand they excel at heat storage. Walls and floors
lower in the sky, so we can point the majority the east or west sides, which will be most ex- built with these materials act as heat sinks that
of the building’s windows toward that free heat posed to the sun’s heat at this time of year. help maintain a comfortable interior tempera-
source. The low angle of the sun allows a maxi- But in a warm climate where summer ture throughout the year. This works because in
mum of solar heat into the building through cooling is the main concern, houses that are any environment, heat will move from warmer
windows, which will then be absorbed by the compact in shape are easier to cool than long, to cooler objects.
floor and walls. In the summer, the sun will be thin houses, because they expose less interior In the winter, thermal mass located in-
higher overhead, so the roof can be designed to area to direct sun from any direction. (See “So- side the house in front of south-facing win-
block much of the unwanted solar heat. (See lar Design for Warm Climates”.) In the ab- dows will absorb and store the direct heat of
“Solar Design for Cold Climates.”) sence of natural features such as hills or shade the sun. After sunset, the mass slowly releases
In southern climates, where cooling is the trees, you also can use the shape of the house heat into the air to warm the building. Dur-
main concern, the sun is higher in the sky year- to shade living space by building an interior ing the summer, that same mass stays cooler
round. This makes it even easier to use building courtyard or covered north veranda. because it is shaded by the roof and overhangs,
elements such as roof overhangs or porches to and it pulls heat out of the interior air during
block the sun and keep the building cooler. If THERMAL MASS AND the day. At night, when windows are open to
you are choosing a piece of property to build on, GLASS allow cooler air inside, the mass releases that
you also can take advantage of hills, trees and heat back to the air. A 4-inch thick concrete
other buildings to block unwanted summer sun Designing to take advantage of the sun’s slab floor is a good option for thermal mass
and winter winds. position during the year has a huge effect on a if you don’t cover it with insulating materials
Building shape. The right shape also is im- building’s temperature while the sun is out, but such as carpet. Earthen floors also work well.
portant. In a climate with cold winters, houses you’ll also benefit from building a house with Additional mass also can be added to interior

Solar Design for Cold Climates

These solar design strategies can be effective in a climate with cold usually from the north.
winters and moderate summers. The greatest need here is winter 2. Chose a design with a long south wall facing within 15 degrees
heating, and the building will be oriented to the south. of true south.
3. The house should include ample thermal mass (dense, heat-stor-
1. Choose a building site with no obstructions to the south for com- ing materials such as concrete or earthen floors). Consider building
plete access to the low angle of the winter sun. Another plus is a an earth berm on the north side for more thermal mass.
site with trees that can block prevailing winter winds, 4. Most of the windows should be to the south for access to the
which are winter sun. Minimize windows on the east and west
sides and place very few in north walls.
5. Use shorter overhangs over
south windows for better winter
heat gain and ample overhangs
over other windows
for shading.
6. Cover windows and glass doors at
night with insulating shutters or insulated
drapes to prevent heat loss.
7. Maximize insulation in walls and
ceiling. Use rigid insulation under
the floor and around its edges.
8. Consider using a dark roof
surface to pick up solar gain in
winter.
9. Mechanical ventilation will
probably be needed in winter; a
heat recovery ventilator, which pre-
Olivier Rollin (2)

heats incoming air, is a

good option.
10. Consider a porch or plantings
to the west to block afternoon sun
in summer.

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 Navigation Bar

walls, with the first 2 inches in depth from the Windows and glass doors. The careful how the wind moves there, then place windows
surface doing the most good. Interior brick or placement of glass doors and windows is the and doors accordingly. Still, many generalities
cob walls, thick plaster on straw bales, or plas- next step in tapping solar energy. To capture apply. For example, window screens reduce air
tered drywall are all possibilities for interior heat, you’ll want to place windows and glass flow by up to 50 percent!
thermal mass.   doors along the long south wall to allow the In the summer, the more shade you can
In some warm climates, thermal mass also low winter sun to shine in. Be conscious that create, the cooler your breezes will be. Large
can be used as a kind of dynamic insulation in ex- glass on the east, west and north sides will let porches and roof overhangs over windows and
terior walls. In the desert, where it is very hot dur- more heat escape than it will collect from the doors are a good way to create shade. Of course,
ing the day and significantly cooler at night, many sun during the winter. The most common pas- trees and other vegetation also create shade.
homes are built from adobe, cob, rammed earth sive solar design mistake is to use too much Plants around the house also provide evapo-
or concrete. Heat absorbed by the dense walls of southern glass and not enough mass. Fortu- rative cooling, a process by which hot air is cooled
these homes slowly moves inward during the day. nately, a lot of information is available about by taking on water vapor, in this case from the
But before it has a chance to reach the interior, the how to compensate for variations of climate constant transpiration of water by plants. Various
sun goes down, and exterior temperatures begin and design. Do your research and enlist the studies have shown that a large hardwood tree
to drop. When the outside temperature drops be- help of experts. can evaporate 100 or more gallons of water a day,
low the inside temperature, the heat stops pushing creating a cooling effect equivalent to 10 win-
inward. This happens because heat always moves NATURAL COOLING dow-unit air conditioners running for 20 hours.
toward cold. The heat then moves back toward the For summer cooling, you’ll want to block This, too, is tapping solar power, which is fueling
outside, causing the wall to cool down. direct sunlight, but open doors and windows photosynthesis in the tree.
On the other hand, thermal mass isn’t always to let in wind. Using air movement for cooling
useful. For example, in a tropical climate where can be difficult to fine-tune because wind is SLOWING HEAT
it is breezy, humid and shaded by forests, direct the natural element that varies most from site MOVEMENT
sunlight isn’t the issue, so thermal mass wouldn’t to site. The most effective research you can do
be an effective way to cool your home. In this case, when building a home is to spend a lot of time To maintain temperature, we have to slow
solar design would focus on ventilation. on-site during different seasons to understand the inevitable movement of heat. Materi-

Solar Design for Warm Climates

These solar design strategies can be effective in a climate with mild sleeping and relaxing. Comfortable shaded verandas are inexpen-
winters and hot summers. Cooling is the main need, and more of the sive additions that make a house feel luxurious.
living space should be oriented to the north. 4. Take advantage of the cooling effects of vegetation by planning
for plenty of trees, vines and garden space. Established shade trees
1. Look for a site where the house can be positioned with plenty of are an invaluable resource — protect them!
outdoor living space to the north. Another plus is a site with trees to 5. Maximize insulation in the walls and in the ceiling.
the east and west to block morning and afternoon sun. 6. For the roof, use a radiant barrier and reflective metal or light-
2. The house should be compact in shape, with less wall area ex- colored roof tile and create air space between the roof surface and
posed to the sun. Build shaded porches and patios. the sheathing.
3. Focus on outdoor living space to the north and east for cooking, 7. If some winter heating is required, thermal mass, such as a
concrete floor, and windows to the
south can be used.
8. If using south-facing thermal
mass for winter heating, use de-
ciduous trees or a vine-covered
arbor to shade it in summer.
9. In arid climates, use thick
walls as a buffer against the
sun. Minimize windows to in-
crease this effect.
10. In hot, humid climates with
no winter, don’t worry about
thermal mass. Lift the
building off the ground
over open crawl space
to encourage air flow.
Maximize window and door
openings on all sides.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 10

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als placed to slow the movement of heat are MORE BENEFITS OF “Passive solar additions to existing build-
generically called insulation. However, heat PASSIVE SOLAR ings bring an excellent return on your initial
moves in different ways, so insulation needs to investment,” says builder and educator Marcus
be chosen based on the type of heat movement We’ve quickly outlined some of the basics Renner of Appropriate Building Solutions. “A
you’re trying to prevent. of solar design, but they only begin to describe well-designed sunspace addition, for example,
Light, airy materials such as fiberglass and the benefits of living in a passive solar home. will cut energy bills by providing both solar
straw bales slow conduction. Conduction is Here are a few other advantages of using solar heat and illumination. It will also create a cozy
the transfer of heat from molecule to molecule design strategies. room that increases floor space and provides a
through a material, such as the metal in a pot on Long-term savings. Ron Judkoff, director great environment for plants. As if that weren’t
a stove. It is best slowed by materials that form of the Center for Buildings and Thermal Sys- enough, all of these features add value to your
a complicated web that the heat must traverse. tems at the National Renewable Energy Labo- house.”
This is the principle behind most materials we ratory, says, “There is nothing intrinsically more The bottom line. As heating and cooling
normally label as insulation, including fiber- expensive about passive solar construction. In costs rise and the scramble for dwindling fossil
glass, polystyrene foam and forms of organic fact, basically the same materials used to con- fuels escalates, it’s time to tap the elegant, com-
cellulose such as cotton, straw bales and shred- struct many modern homes can simply be rear- mon-sense principles of passive solar. As corny
ded newspapers. ranged to make a passive solar building.” as it may sound, we really can build a better
Stopping air leaks slows convection. Con- Once built, passive solar buildings are world. The sun is shining down on us with the
vection is the transfer of heat by physically cheaper to operate, so they will save you mon- answer; all we have to do is soak it up.
moving molecules from one place to another, ey—and lots of it—over the life of the building.
such as the air that rises in a fireplace chim- “It’s relatively easy in most climates to create a
ney. Many materials won’t let air move through passive solar building that will use 30 percent to Clarke Snell is a builder, consultant, writer and edu-
them: Wood, concrete and plaster, to name 70 percent less energy than a comparable non- cator. He is the author of The Good House Book: A
a few, allow basically no convective heat loss solar design,” Judkoff says. Common-Sense Guide to Alternative Homebuilding,
through their volume. Problems often arise, Attractive home designs. A common mis- and, with contractor and master builder Tim Callahan,
however, at joints between and breaks in these conception about passive solar homes is that Building Green: A Complete How-to Guide to Alterna-
and other materials. Windows, doors, plumbing they are designed like space-aged cubicles. tive Building Methods. You can contact him through his
vents and electrical boxes are all potential con- Older books on passive solar homes are full of Web site, www.thinkgreenbuilding.com.
vective weak points. Once identified, though, wild, complex designs, including such things
they can be sealed effectively. One huge source as retractable exterior walls and roof pond
of convective air loss is opening the front door. storage masses with movable nighttime covers.
This can be greatly reduced by creating an entry Forget that stuff! Passive solar homes can be
room, sometimes called an airlock or mudroom, designed to fit almost any style or aesthetic. Books
that isolates the living space from the outside. “Far from being limiting, passive solar de- The Good House Book
Reflective surfaces slow radiation. Radia- sign gives you a wealth of building elements By Clarke Snell
tion is the direct transfer of heat by means of to work with,” says Greg Jackson, an architect
electromagnetic energy: The sun heats the and adjunct professor of sustainable design at The Passive Solar House
Earth through space with radiant energy. Heat the University of Kentucky. “Overhangs, roof By James Kachadorian
absorption from radiation is best slowed by us- articulation and a focus on the relationship be-
The Solar House
ing reflective materials. How reflective a surface tween sunlight and glass all add visual interest
By Dan Chiras
is depends on its color. A white surface is an to a building.”
effective reflector of light, but a poor reflector Buildings can be retrofitted. You don’t need
of heat. On the other hand, a shiny metallic sur- to have the perfect site or the opportunity to Web Resources
face is a good reflector of light and heat, but a build a new home to take advantage of passive Passive Solar Design
poor emitter of heat. If you’re trying to cool a solar design, because you can make meaning- An overview of passive solar de-
home in the summer, a shiny metal roof does ful adjustments to an existing building. Any of sign strategies from the California
a good job of reflecting the light and heat of the following can have significant effects on the Energy Commission.
a sunny summer day away from the building, thermal performance of your house: major work
Sustainable by Design
but at night a white roof will release the heat such as a complete solar retrofit; intermediate
Advanced tools for calculating sun
trapped in the attic more rapidly than a shiny actions such as adding windows and an interior
metal roof. mass wall facing the winter sun; or simple do- position, the impact of window
it-yourself changes such as adding arbors with overhangs and more.
deciduous vines over windows and doors.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 11

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar Design and Building

Super
Solar
Homes
Everyone
Can Afford
By Amanda Griscom Little

Martin Photography
Superefficient solar homes are just the beginning.
The ultimate goal is “net-zero-energy” homes.

S uperefficient solar homes are now avail-

able that reduce monthly energy bills 50
percent to 70 percent compared to com-
parable conventional homes, thanks to the de-
sign innovations of private-sector pioneers and
tional homes. By 2020, he predicts, they could
become the building-industry standard.
That’s the exciting news emerging from
the DOE-sponsored Building America pro-
gram, which has built more than 26,000 homes
America homes program through the DOE’s
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in
Tennessee. “Let’s make it the grand challenge.”
Today, anyone can have a zero-energy
home by paying, upfront, roughly 10 percent to
the U.S. government’s energy gurus. But these as research projects. Zero-energy homes will 20 percent more than the cost of a traditional
trendsetters won’t be satisfied until they’ve per- incorporate the best energy-efficient strategies home for renewable energy technology, which
fected “net-zero-energy” home designs. and renewable energy systems, and home de- generally has a payback in energy bill savings of
Net-zero-energy means the homes are su- signs will be keyed to regional climates. Right about 20 to 30 years. But the grand challenge is
perefficient, with much of their electricity pro- now, more than a third of total U.S. electrical making solar homes affordable enough on the
duced by rooftop solar panels; they draw elec- use goes to heat and cool our houses and power front end to become the norm in U.S. neigh-
tricity from the grid at night or on cloudy days, the appliances within. Through the ground- borhoods, rather than the exception. The goal,
but overall they generate at least as much en- breaking work of the DOE and commercial Pratsch says, is to lower the cost of such homes
ergy as they consume each year. It’s just a matter innovators, we can move steadily toward “en- across the nation to the point that the expense
of time before such homes are truly affordable ergy independence” one home at a time. of the zero-energy technology will be no higher
for the masses, according to Lew Pratsch, Zero “My feeling is we — and the leaders in than the monthly energy bill savings — there-
Energy Homes project manager for the U.S. Washington — should put zero-energy living fore the added initial costs will cancel out. Over
Department of Energy (DOE). Pratsch says up there with putting a man on the moon,” says the long term, there will be additional savings
that within the next decade, zero-energy homes Jeff Christian, director of the Buildings Technol- once the mortgage is paid and the lower energy
could cost no more than comparable conven- ogy Center, which participates in the Building bills keep coming.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 12

 Navigation Bar

Allan B. hunt (2)

Above: Bethel Drive in Lenoir City, Tenn., where four solar homes are paving the way for energy-independent living.
At right, two residents, Cotton Duncan and Becky Clark, show off their lowest-ever monthly energy bill: $11.90.

VOLKSWAGENS & “What we’re trying to do is come up with the All the houses were built with structural insu-
CADILLACS Volkswagen of net-zero-energy homes,” Christian lated panels (SIPs), which are made of rigid foam
Net-zero-energy test homes have been built says. “All too frequently, the typical solar home is sandwiched between two structural layers made of
in dozens of cities along the East and West Coasts, something more akin to a customized Cadillac.” In wood. SIPs are highly energy-efficient and cost-ef-
where air pollution and electricity demands are the other words, it features whiz-bang technologies, it fective for walls and roofs, Christian says. He also
most intense, and where many states offer incen- simply isn’t affordable for most of us. is testing precast concrete walls that absorb and se-
tives for green building and renewable energy. Designing the “people’s car” of solar homes, quester heat to help keep the houses cooler in the
Steven Winter Associates, an East Coast- though, comes with challenges. “Because these are summer and warmer in the winter, cutting down
based green-building consulting firm, is overseeing Habitat for Humanity houses, which are by defi- on cooling and heating demands.
solar home developments in Connecticut, Illinois, nition no-frills, simple and affordable, we have to The prefabricated SIPs have superior insula-
Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Texas. take minimum risks,” Christian says. “We would tion value and are tightly joined, to form an airtight
In San Diego, more than 100 large homes in love to use fancy controls and a lot more aggres- building envelope (for maximum energy efficien-
the city’s San Angelo subdivision are rigged with sive technologies, but we have to be disciplined cy). The houses all have a relatively simple ventila-
solar panels and a wide array of energy-efficient and work within the realm of financial reason that tion system that maintains indoor air-quality to the
building technologies. Just up the coast on the makes sense for our occupants.” high standards recently mandated by the American
shores of Clear Lake, Calif., a development known To find out exactly how well each technology Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-condi-
as Grand View Estates — composed of 90 solar they incorporate functions, the houses are equipped tioning Engineers. These ventilation systems filter
homes — is under construction. At $230,000 to with dozens of sensors that monitor electricity con- outside air into the houses throughout the day and
$330,000 each, the 1,400- to 1,900-square-foot sumption, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide condition it in response to interior carbon dioxide,
homes are remarkably affordable considering that and hot-water usage. Christian regularly visits with humidity and temperature measurements.
10 years ago they would have cost at least 25 per- the owners to learn about their experiences and The homes also have “cool roofs” made of
cent more to build in that location. Their afford- perspectives on their homes, and updates his da- light-colored reflective materials or infrared re-
ability is largely due to the steady decline in the tabase daily with automatically collected data that flecting pigments that allow darker colors to reflect
costs of energy-efficiency and solar technology. chronicles the flow of electricity to appliances such heat like lighter colors. That keeps heat from be-
The four homes Jeff Christian has built, on as refrigerators, air-handler units, water heaters, ing absorbed by the roof and conducted into the
Bethel Drive in Lenoir City, Tenn., are much more compressors and inverters. house, and can provide a 30-percent reduction in
modest in size — just 1,000 to 1,200 square feet — peak heat gain into the building during summer
but they might offer the most convincing evidence HIGHER-QUALITY HOMES afternoons. Exterior wall panels also have special
to date that the dream of affordable net-zero-en- The Harmony Heights homes gain their ul- coatings to reflect heat.
ergy homes is on a fast track to reality. Collectively tra-low $25-a-month utility bills with the help “The result is not just energy-efficient homes,
dubbed “Harmony Heights,” the homes were con- of a long list of proven energy-saving features: but higher-quality homes,” Christian says. “They
structed by Habitat for Humanity volunteers for airtight envelopes, Energy Star appliances, com- are healthier and more durable, with fresher air
about $100,000 each. That includes the cost of the pact fluorescent light bulbs, HVAC distribution and more stable thermal comfort. They also have
photovoltaic solar system and factors in the labor systems and low-emissivity windows, for start- more natural lighting than you find in conventional
provided by the Habitat volunteers. ers. Christian’s team also designed all the homes homes today.”
At first glance, nothing about the homes, lo- with passive solar principles in mind: Though they One of the biggest energy-saving features is
cated just a few minutes from Christian’s office, weren’t able to position the front or back of the the geothermal heating and cooling system. “It’s
seems out of the ordinary. The houses are pleasant homes to face south, they put at least 70 percent hard to find much better energy savings than those
colonials with porches and shutters, and the lawns of the windows in each house on the south-fac- from geothermal,” Christian says. Over a roughly
are strewn with bikes and soccer balls. Christian ing side. They also included extended overhangs 20-year life span, a geothermal system would save
reveals, though, what makes them extraordinary: above the south-facing windows to block light a homeowner about 25 percent annually com-
Each of these homes’ total energy bills averages less during the hottest hours of the summer, when the pared to fuel costs for a typical gas furnace. That
than $25 per month! sun is directly overhead. estimate is based on current natural gas prices; as

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 13

 Navigation Bar

prices increase, the benefits of geothermal will be ZERO-ENERGY SOLAR wise in southern climes, it is more practical to in-
even greater. HOME KITS vest in state-of-the-art central air for the savings in
Geothermal systems include a heat pump that cooling and dehumidifying expenses.
taps the solar energy stored underground, where The walls and roof on Christian’s Harmony
the temperature is relatively constant year-round. Heights homes were constructed with SIPs, which LEARNING TO CONSERVE
In the winter, using a heat-transfer fluid pumped cut construction costs because they are so quick to Before Kim Charles moved into her net-zero-
through a labyrinth of pipes buried about 5 feet erect. The envelope of the newest house was built energy home at the end of the Bethel Drive cul-
underground, the system warms the house. In the in just two days. The bottom floor, a walkout base- de-sac, she had seen solar panels only once — at
summer, the earth is colder than the air, and the ment, took only six hours and was assembled with Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s theme park in Pigeon
system helps cool the house. premanufactured insulated concrete panels. The Forge, Tenn. They were mounted on the parking lot
Geothermal technology is relatively new, and walls on the main floor are made of SIPs and were canopy to power its lights.
right now systems cost more up front than a gas installed in five hours, and the insulated roof was up “I felt totally clueless going into this,” Charles
furnace and air conditioner. So builders tend to in just three hours. The solar system was installed in says. “At first, when we were getting all this atten-
install minimum-efficient furnaces, air condition- just one day. The final product totals 1,100 square tion with the media, I’m going, ‘What is the big
ers and heat pumps to keep the initial costs of new feet with three bedrooms. deal? What is so great about all this?’ I didn’t get
homes down. But those systems will use more en- Christian’s vision is a market-ready solar home the big picture. It took me a couple weeks to realize,
ergy for the next couple of decades than geothermal kit, customized for each region: “We want to pack- wow, it’s the first one of its kind.”
would. In fact, the energy savings from geothermal age the best-tested features and appliances, and Another fantastic first for Charles was study-
systems are so substantial that even now the cost make the whole home package available commer- ing her utility meter. As gratifying as it was to see
of the technology can be recouped in less than 10 cially to contractors and owner-builders.” it spin backwards on sunny days when her son and
years through lower energy bills. He says these kits could be adapted to any daughter weren’t home and there was little energy
According to Pratsch, geothermal markets are style of home, be it a Cape Cod, ranch or colo- demand on the house, Charles says it was even
developing in more than a dozen states, including nial: “We’re basically talking about bundling the more riveting when she saw it hurtle forward, mak-
Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, concepts — airtight construction, panelization, ing her think about her family’s energy usage.
Pennsylvania and Texas. In good markets, a ba- mechanical ventilation, dehumidification and so “I’ll never forget, I was on the back porch one
sic geothermal system for a standard four-person on. These are all generic ideas that can fit into any evening, and I heard the clothes washer and dryer
home sells for roughly $8,000. Communities can style of home.” These bundled concepts could even start,” she says. “I looked at the utility meter and all
help create markets for geothermal by organiz- be applied to straw bale homes, he says, though it of a sudden it started flying, but not backwards.” It
ing bulk purchases. “Once you have schools, office would require extra effort to assure durable airtight made her realize that laundry is one of her most
buildings or groups of homes making large-scale construction. energy-intensive chores. Charles admits she wasn’t
purchases — you have competitive bids, which Different kits will be needed for different cli- exactly mindful of energy efficiency before moving
lowers the [upfront] cost,” Pratsch says. mate zones, Christian says. You can’t put a home to Harmony Heights. “I used to think that electric-
Eventually, he adds, the economies of scale designed for Tennessee humidity levels and air ity is like air — it’s a given,” Charles says. “I never
will kick in and the time it takes to recoup the ini- conditioning demands in northern Maine, for really spent much time thinking about it.”
tial cost of geothermal systems will become shorter instance. Different climates also justify different Christian says there are advantages to work-
and shorter — Pratsch predicts that by the end of expenses — in northern climates, it is more reason- ing with people like Charles, who are previously
the decade, geothermal will be much more afford- able to invest in a high-tech geothermal heat pump unfamiliar with green building — it gives a real-
able and common in markets nationwide. because it will yield more savings in heat bills; like- istic picture of mainstream habits — but no mat-

This chart shows the kind of detailed monitoring conducted on net-zero-energy test homes.
70-
Home’s Electricity Consumption and Utility Credit (kw)

60-

50-

40-

30- Courtesy NAHB Research Center, 2004

20-

10-

0-
Spring Summer Fall Winter Spring
-10- Utility-based electricity used by the home
Solar electricity used from the home’s photovoltaic system
-20-
Excess electricity from home’s photovoltaic system sold back to the utility company

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 14

 Navigation Bar

electricity use,” Pratsch says. “I can’t imag-

Zero-sum Details Xantrex/Trace Sun Tie inverter

(800) 670-0707
ine a better reminder to conserve.” Even
better, he adds, appliances and heating
and cooling systems should be comput-
For more info on the Building America program’s www.xantrex.com
erized, with “smart economizers,” so that
net-zero-energy homes, including building part- they automatically run at optimum times
ners, contact: Big Frog Mountain (equipment
installers) of the day to keep electricity costs down.

ORNL Buildings Technology Center (877) 232-1580

www.ornl.gov/btc www.bigfrogmountain.com THE ZERO-ENERGY

allan B.. hunt

REVOLUTION
Building America WAlls and sips
Why, you may wonder, would utility compa-
www.buildingamerica.gov Insulspan
nies have any interest in cooperating with zero-
(517) 486-4844
energy home programs, thereby encouraging
For more info on the products and technologies www.insulspan.com
consumers to use less of their product? Because
discussed in this article, contact: the demand for electricity over the past decade
FischerSIPS has grown faster than the utilities’ capacity to pro-
Appliances (800) 792-7477 duce it. That situation was dramatically illustrated
Energy Star www.fischersips.com by the August 2003 blackout: The largest ever in
(888) 782-7937 North America, it affected 50 million people in
www.energystar.gov Winter Panel eight states and southeastern Canada.
(802) 254-3435 “It’s very expensive for utilities to invest in
www.winterpanel.com greater transmission line capacity to carry the
COOL ROOF
ATAS International growing electricity loads,” Christian says. “And it’s
Dow STYROFOAM T-MASS System becoming increasingly difficult, especially in con-
(800) 468-1441
(800) 232-2436 densed urban areas, to find sites for new substa-
www.atas.com/dutchseam
www.t-mass.com tions and transformers to generate extra capacity.
HEATING AND COOLING So, investing in on-site generation that goes di-
DuPont Tyvek Envelope Weatherization rectly into the home without all that infrastruc-
Lennox Heat Pump HPX19
(800) 448-9835 ture makes good economic sense.” Rooftop solar
(800) 953-6669
www.tyvek.com panels produce power during the afternoon and,
www.lennox.com
along with other features of these homes such as
WATER Heating continuous fresh-air ventilation and thermal mass,
American Geothermal
ECR International WatterSaver help reduce the utilities’ peak demand.
(800) 776-8039
(800) 228-9364 That’s one of the main reasons why the Ten-
www.amgeo.com
www.ecrinternational.com/ nessee Valley Authority (TVA), the local utility
prod_wattersaver.asp in the Tennessee Valley (which includes Lenoir
SOLAR Electric System
City), agreed to help fund the ORNL project and
BP Solar
WINDOWS has offered to pay a premium price for the solar
(866) 277-6527
Andersen Windows energy from the Harmony Heights homeowners.
www.bpsolar.com
(888) 888-7020 In the last two years, TVA has initiated its own
www.andersenwindows.com “Green Power Switch” program, which offers cus-
Sharp multi-crystalline silicon modules
tomers the option of paying a monthly premium
(800) 237-4277
for solar- and wind-generated electricity; more
www.solar.sharpusa.com
than 7,000 residential customers are now enrolled.
The strong response encouraged TVA to launch
another program called “Generation Partners,”
ter how technologically savvy a person becomes, financial return: The homes have rooftop solar elec- which offers homeowners the option of installing
mindfulness will always have to be a part of en- tric panels that create electricity whenever the sun their own rooftop solar system or windmill, and
ergy-independent living. is shining. When Charles’ neighbor Becky Clark selling the electricity generated back to TVA for 15
“To really get to net-zero, a certain amount received her first electricity bill there, it showed a cents per kWh, more than twice the rate that TVA
of prudent practice in everyday habits is going credit of $35 in one month. “We got paid!” she says, customers pay for traditionally generated electric-
to have to be a part of it,” Christian says. “Lights beaming. “It’s like we’re our own little power plant.” ity, but less than it costs the utility to install new,
being left on when nobody is home during day- At her old apartment, Clark paid nearly $200 per renewable generating capacity.
light hours is sacrilege. This has to be about the month for her combined utilities. The more interest TVA detects among con-
best utilization of resources.” Living in these Price signals, Pratsch says, are a good way to sumers, the more large-scale projects it — and
homes, he says, will instinctively teach families change consumer behavior: “We’re working with other utilities — will want to finance, Christian
to become more mindful. “It’s just like when we utilities on ways to give consumers good indica- says. This means if all goes well, we won’t be mov-
garden — you’re more in tune with what the sun tions of time-of-use-pricing.” It’s much more ex- ing toward energy independence just one home at a
is giving today.” pensive for consumers to use electricity at peak load time — it will be one subdivision, one community,
times, which occur during the work day when busi- maybe even entire cities at a time.
THE UTILITY COMPANY nesses are buzzing, air conditioners are humming
and energy demand is at its highest.
PAYS YOU “We’re trying to come up with user-friendly
In the case of Harmony Heights, the sun meters that could go in every home so consumers
translates not into flowers or food, but into direct could have a real-time read-out of the cost of their

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 15

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar Design and Building

Solar
in the
City
Story and photos by Catherine
Story and Photos by Catherine Wanek

This solar-powered green dream home presents a shining example

of what every new house can be.

O n a narrow lot in Capitola, Calif.,

stands a modest and inviting crafts-
man-style home. This not-so-big
house fits into the quiet neighborhood, yet it is
anything but ordinary. Its energy-efficient design
is grid-tied, the Sullivans did not need to buy
costly batteries — the grid essentially functions
as their backup power source. (For more infor-
mation about grid-tied PV, see “Simpler Solar
Power,” Page 36. — Mother)
comfort and energy conservation — and the
Sullivans are prime examples. “When you live
in a home that’s run by nature, you’re constantly
aware of what is going on outside,” Kristin says.
Mark and Kristin enjoy savings from en-
features and solar technologies make this home a ergy-efficient appliances such as their clothes
cutting-edge model of sustainability. PASSIVE SOLAR, ACTIVE washer, dishwasher, stove and refrigerator.
Stroll by this attractive house and the gleam OWNERS What’s more, all their lighting fixtures have effi-
of a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar system cient compact fluorescent bulbs. Their entertain-
and solar hot-water collector will catch your The home’s primary means of saving en- ment appliances are plugged into power strips,
eye. These systems, combined with passive so- ergy is its passive solar design—specifically so they can be completely turned off when not
lar design and superinsulated walls and ceilings, the concepts of “orientation, insulation, glass in use. This eliminates the “phantom loads” cre-
translate to rock-bottom energy bills. The home’s and mass.” By orienting the main living areas ated by devices with remote controls and con-
2004 average monthly energy bill from Pacific of the house to the south, the low winter sun stant displays (such as a digital clock) even when
Gas and Electric Co. (which includes natural gas shines in and its heat is absorbed by the thermal they are turned “off.” And instead of buying a
use and numerous administrative fees) was just mass of the floors and wall plasters. In the sum- clothes dryer, the Sullivans installed a retractable
$13.22. According to the company, the average mer, roof overhangs and deciduous vines block clothesline in the back yard. “Honestly, hanging
monthly energy bill for customers in the same sunlight from entering the house. The home’s laundry is fun, and it gives me an excuse to be
area is $83. airtight straw bale walls and recycled cellulose outdoors,” Kristin says.
Homeowners Mark and Kristin Sullivan insulation create a building envelope that helps
took full advantage of California’s renewable en- the thermal mass retain heat or coolness, which BUILDING A DREAM WITH
ergy incentives — namely net metering and gen- releases over time, keeping the house at a com- BALES
erous rebates for grid-tied solar electric systems. fortable temperature.
The Sullivans paid $11,563 for their PV system, Passive solar design requires active own- When Mark and Kristin met in 1983, they
but after state rebates and tax credits, the net cost ers — people who understand when to open both dreamed of having a solar homestead in
was reduced to $6,710. And because the house and close windows and curtains for maximum the country. But when the time came to build,

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 16

 Navigation Bar

mediately receptive to the proposal, Mark says. best sustainable materials at each step along the
The Sullivans had a structural engineer evaluate way,” Mark says. “When building a house, you
the home’s design; they also gave the city of- have to make a hundred decisions a day — it’s
ficials the state of California’s model for straw- not cut and dried which choice is the best.”
bale building codes. After that, the Sullivans At $200 per square foot, the Sullivans’
were approved and on their way to building home was more expensive than conventionally
Capitola’s first straw bale home. built stick-frame houses. “The slightly higher
By siting the house along the north side price per square foot reflects the extra-care-
of the 45-by-100-foot lot, all the living space ful design and small engineering details — we
is oriented to the south, for maximum daylight squeezed a lot of features onto a small urban
and solar heat in the winter. To keep the scale of lot,” Landegger says. “The PV and solar hot-
the home modest, they designed the line of the water systems were reasonably priced, and the
FSC-certified [Forest Stewardship Council]
wood only added about 10 percent more to the
wood cost. But when you build a smaller house,
it will generally cost more per square foot than
a larger home, with larger rooms. There is less
material cost, but more labor cost relative to the
finishing details.”
But the Sullivans regard their home as an
The front door was a bar- investment rather than an expense. “It’s not just
gain find at a salvage yard. about the cost up front, but overall life-cycle
costs, of which energy is the biggest piece in
they were quite happy in the average home,” Kristin says. “We couldn’t be
the city. They decided to happier with how the house turned out.” Mark
look for a lot in Capi- concurs, “One of the first mornings I woke up
tola, a quiet beach com- in the house, I watched the different tones and
munity near Santa Cruz, shades of the wall as the sun moved across the
where they could walk The long, narrow plan of the home utilizes passive solar design. sky. I’m still amazed and in awe of all that.”
to restaurants and bicycle
to the grocery store. “It’s energy-efficient to live gabled roof to cascade back from a front porch, PLANTING SEEDS
close by the amenities you need,” Kristin says. to a slightly higher first-floor roof, then to the Kristin teaches environmental studies at
“We wanted to build in the city to show that you taller second-floor roof. De Anza Community College in Cupertino,
can bring sustainability there.” Inside, the 1,460-square-foot home feels Calif., and her students visit the house to ex-
After searching for nearly two years, the spacious, in large part due to the expanse of perience its eco-friendly features. Mark teaches
Sullivans finally found their prize — a run- south- and east-facing windows that extend the the same subject there, but on a part-time ba-
down bungalow on a narrow lot just blocks view. Built-in design features such as arched sis; he works full time as an environmental en-
from the beach. The existing cottage was taken doorways, a vaulted ceiling, nichos (recessed gineer. The Sullivans also open their home to
down, and the materials were set aside to be niches) and wall “see-throughs” add elegance monthly tours. “We’re planting seeds,” Mark
used for the new house. without clutter. Everywhere there is a con- says. The Sullivans’ experience has made them
Initially, the Sullivans were hesitant about sciously efficient use of space. local green building authorities. Kristin now is
straw bales — they had been told that bales are Luscious earthen plasters adorn the inte- an environmental commissioner for Capitola,
too bulky for urban building. They also had other rior bale walls, hand applied with natural clay and she serves on several environmental com-
common concerns about straw bale building from New Mexico. Ferrous sulfate, a benign mittees at De Anza College.
— fire, bugs, mold and earthquakes. But after in- and inexpensive agricultural fertilizer, was used The Sullivans walk their talk in other ways,
vestigating their questions, they said, “Why not?” to stain the exterior lime/cement stucco and ce- too. When they need to, they hit the road in
“With all my initial skepticism about straw bale, I ment floors. Other handcrafted details include hybrid cars — Kristin drives a Honda Insight
never thought I would become a proponent of it,” built-in window seats, a recycled tile mosaic and (about 60 miles per gallon), and Mark drives
Mark says. “But straw bales covered with earthen the requisite “truth window” — a small, deco- a Toyota Prius (about 50 mpg). They also buy
plaster make a wonderful natural interior space.” rated hole in a wall that reveals a straw bale. their produce from a local all-organic farmer’s
They interviewed five architects with straw The 10-month construction process in- market and belong to a community-supported
bale experience and eventually chose Kelly Le- volved more than 200 friends, family members agriculture co-op in nearby Watsonville. “Part
rner of One World Design. For the general and subcontractors who joined the Sullivans’ of being a leader is showing change is possible,”
contractor, the Sullivans chose Boa Construc- straw bale and plastering parties. All the wood Kristin says. “It’s not about perfection; I tell my
tor Building and Design, consisting of Michele used in construction was salvaged or sustain- students it’s the things you do 90 percent of the
Landegger and Debrae Lopes. The Sullivans also ably harvested. time that matter.”
employed longtime friend Frank Schiavo to de- The Sullivans’ landscape incorporates fruit Kristin describes the semester’s final as-
sign their solar system. trees and vegetables among other native Cali- signment for her students — a 10-year environ-
Lerner asked the Sullivans to fill out a fornia plants. Rainwater is collected off the roof mental action plan. “Some say ‘I want to build a
questionnaire before she began the design and and used to sustain the landscape. The front passive solar straw bale home within 10 years.’
floor plan. Then Lerner, Landegger and Lopes yard is a mix of native flowers, bunch grasses It gives you hope.”
worked with the Sullivans to refine the two- and low bushes that are drought-tolerant.
bedroom, two-bath, two-story floor plan and The Sullivans’ biggest challenge was balanc-
the craftsman exterior. ing their ecological ideals with budgetary con- Author and photographer Catherine Wanek has been at
Even though straw bales were not in Capi- cerns. “We knew the result that we wanted, but the forefront of the straw-bale building movement for more
tola’s building codes, the local officials were im- the most challenging part was determining the than 13 years.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 17

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar heating and cooling

Simple
THE ROLE OF WINDOWS
Windows play a big role in passive solar design
and in the energy efficiency of homes. In the sum-
mer, windows can allow unwanted heat into your
house, and in the winter, windows can account for

Solar
as much as 25 percent of a house’s total heat loss,
equaling more than $20 billion in electricity costs
nationwide. The cost of replacing faulty windows
in an existing house is high, but replacing them
will make a substantial difference in the comfort
of your home and likely will be well worth the cost.

Heating
Upgraded windows typically add to the value and
salability of your home because of their energy ef-
ficiency and resistance to outdoor noise.
Install multipane windows for efficient

and
heating and cooling. Windows can be constructed
with one, two or three panes of glass. Typically, the
more panes of glass, the better your windows will
insulate your home. Good double-pane windows

Cooling
add to the value of your home because they insulate
almost twice as well as single-pane windows. Bet-
ter-quality double-pane windows have inert gases,
such as argon or krypton, installed inside the air
space to further slow heat transfer from the sun.
In addition to creating savings on energy bills,
By David Johnston and Kim Master multipane windows also make the whole house
quieter and more comfortable during all seasons.
Upgrading from single-pane windows to energy-
efficient multipane windows can save up to 15 per-
cent of your heating costs. Depending on where you
live, this can add up to $100 per year, and over time,
the savings can reach thousands of dollars. You can
get a savings estimate more specific to your home
by using the Lawrence Berkeley National Labora-
tory online energy calculator. Check with your local
utility company for rebate programs.
Install low-emissivity (low-e) windows.
Low-e coatings—virtually unnoticeable to the
eye—are installed inside the air space of double-
pane windows. One kind helps prevent heat from
CATHERINE WANEK

escaping through the glass in winter by reflecting it

back inside. Another type of low-e coating blocks
heat from entering the home during the summer
by reflecting sunlight out of the structure. In some
areas, the 10-percent to 15-percent higher cost for

When remodeling, these energy-saving

low-e glass can pay for itself in a few years. Many
window manufacturers now include it as standard
in their products.
options should be your first choice. Choose one of three types of e-coatings ac-
cording to your climate:

R
• High-transmission, low-e: These windows
emodeling is the perfect time to improve close to the windows. Passive cooling involves us- are best suited for use in cold climates.
energy efficiency in your home using both ing overhangs, windows with reflective coatings • Selective-transmission, low-e: These prod-
active and passive solar designs. Passive and other natural cooling approaches. Active solar ucts are ideal for homes in mixed climates that have
solar design is both environmentally friendly and retrofits include collectors to capture heat from both significant winter heating and summer cool-
cost effective, and can cut your heating costs by up the sun and use pumps to distribute it through- ing requirements. Low-e qualities ensure winter
to 50 percent. It involves placing large windows on out your home. If the sun shines on your home for performance by allowing sunlight to penetrate. The
south-facing walls and locating thermal mass, such most of the day in the winter, it is a good candidate selective properties block most solar infrared energy,
as a concrete slab floor or a heat-absorbing wall, for an active solar-heating retrofit. keeping the home cooler during summer months.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 18

 Navigation Bar

• Tinted, low-e: This glass provides glare con- into heat: Interior roll-down shades don’t keep out on your home for most of the day in the winter, it
trol along with a high level of solar heat rejection, much heat because the light is already through the is a candidate for a solar-heating retrofit. The two
which helps to control solar gains in hot climates glass. However, if you can’t afford to upgrade your major types of active solar retrofits are solar collec-
especially on east- and west-facing windows. windows or are looking for additional ways to con- tors that heat a fluid circulated within them and air
Install superwindows. These are windows serve energy, shading windows or installing exterior collectors that capture solar heat and distribute the
with one or two thin, plastic films suspended be- blinds can be cost-effective ways of reducing solar air current throughout the house with fans.
tween the glass panes, effectively making them heat gain and cooling load costs. Overhangs are Solar collectors are the basic component of
triple- or quadruple-pane windows. They can most effective at shading when they are 2 feet wide both systems. The most common collector for resi-
reduce ultraviolet rays that can fade fabric, rugs and positioned 1 to 2 feet above windows within 30 dential water and space heating is a flat-plate collec-
and art. The larger the window, the more effec- degrees of true south. tor, which is basically an insulated metal box with a
tive superwindows are in providing a comfort- In the winter, do not shade south-facing win- glass or plastic cover — called the glazing — and a
able temperature. dows between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For east- and dark-colored absorber plate. The sides and bottom
Install windows tuned to solar orientation. west-facing windows, it is best to use vertical lou- of the collector are usually insulated to minimize
East-, west- and south-facing windows work best if vers to prevent overheating. Tight-fitting, insulated heat loss. Sunlight passes through the glazing and
you choose glass with the right characteristics. Glass window shades help keep heat inside at night. As strikes the highly conductive absorber plate, which
with a low solar heat-gain coefficient (SHGC) has a minimum in the summer, install white window heats up. The heat is then transferred to the air or
built-in shading that reduces the amount of solar shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the liquid passing through the collector.
energy that shines into your home. the house. Close curtains on south- and west-fac-
On the west and east facades, windows with a ing windows during summer days.
low SHGC should be used to minimize heat gain CHOOSE A SOLAR SPACE
that will contribute to overheating or higher cool- LANDSCAPE SHADING HEATER
ing loads. Also, check the visible light transmittance A well-placed tree, shrub or vine can provide Active solar space heating uses solar col-
(often referred to as VLT) so that you don’t block effective shade and reduce energy bills. Trees are lectors to heat liquid or air, which then heats a
solar heat at the expense of the light and view you amazing in their ability to change the local micro- space. Solar space-heating systems are usually
want to achieve from the window. On south-facing climate: Not only do they create shade, but they designed to provide 30 percent to 80 percent of
windows, use a high SHGC to increase the amount evapotranspire (or “sweat”), cooling the air in the heating needs, depending on geographical loca-
of solar heat that can warm your home. In most cli- process. A mature tree with a crown of 30 feet can tion, system type and size. Solar air heaters that
mates, the north-side solar heat gain is minimal, so release up to 40 gallons of water in a day — that’s directly heat interior air do not require a heat
SHGC values are not significant. Work with your comparable to removing the heat produced in four storage component and can complement most
window supplier to choose the right combination hours by a small, electric space heater. Mature tree existing heating systems. They are the least ex-
for your climate. canopies reduce the average temperature in subur- pensive and simplest solar technology to install.
Choose low-conductivity frames. Most ban areas about 3 degrees, compared to areas with Active solar space-heating systems are most
window frames and sashes are made of wood, vinyl, no trees. economical in cold climates that have extended
fiberglass or aluminum. Wood, vinyl and fiberglass Locate deciduous trees to the east and west heating seasons with many sunny days and/or
generally insulate better than aluminum or steel sides of the house, but only those areas more than high utility rates.
frames because they conduct less heat. 60 degrees east or west of due south from the Solar collectors are usually installed on the
house. In particular, west and southwest facades roof, which means the roof must be in good
THERMAL MASS should be shaded from low-angle sun that can condition and be capable of supporting the col-
Thermal mass (usually a floor or wall) works in cause overheating. It is not recommended that you lectors. You also can mount collectors on ground
conjunction with south-facing windows to capture place deciduous trees on the south side of a home racks, vertically on a south-facing wall or on an
and store the sun’s heat for passive solar heating. because, even with their bare branches, these trees adjacent structure such as a garage. Pipes (for
Choose materials such as brick, masonry, poured can block as much as 30 percent of the available liquid systems) or ducts (for air systems) that
concrete or tile to soak up most of the heat that winter solar energy. transfer heat from the collector(s) to the inte-
hits them. They will gradually release heat when rior require a roof or wall penetration. You can
the sun goes down, which in turn will moderate the ACTIVE SOLAR OPTIONS increase the effectiveness of liquid solar space-
interior temperature of the house. Thermal mass in Adding a solar heating system to your home is heating systems by storing the solar heat in a
properly designed passive solar homes will prevent another way to combat increasing energy costs and large, well-insulated tank during the day for use
high midday interior temperatures in the summer to raise your home’s market value. If the sun shines at night or on cloudy days.
or on sunny days in the winter, and help keep the

Windows in Passive Solar Design

home from becoming uncomfortably cool on win-
ter nights.
The thermal mass should be about six times
the area of your direct-gain, south-facing glass. For
For optimum passive solar design, window placement
most thermal mass materials, their cost and energy
effectiveness increases with thicknesses up to about should follow the guidelines below as closely as possible:
4 inches. At a minimum, your drywall should be
one-half to five-eighths of an inch thick to increase
the thermal capacity on walls in sunlit rooms.
South-facing Walls: North-facing Walls:
At least 7 percent to
12 percent glass No more than 4 percent glass
WINDOW SHADING
Carefully designed shading blocks unwanted
sunshine (typically in summer and early fall), but west-facing Walls: east-facing Walls:
does not block sun that is desirable for heating
(typically in the spring, late fall or winter). Keep in No more than 4 percent glass No more than 4 percent glass
mind that when sunlight strikes any surface it turns

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 19

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar heating and cooling

Build a
mate like ours, this simple system can produce
heat equivalent to burning about $2 worth of
propane (equivalent to about $3 for natural gas).
To minimize costs, I integrated the collector
with the structure and used readily available ma-

Simple
terials. It cost me about $350 and took only one
trip to the hardware store. I built and installed it
in about three working days. Follow the sugges-
tions below, and you may be able to do it faster!!

Solar
HOW IT WORKS
The thermosiphon collector consists of clear,
corrugated polycarbonate panels fastened to 2-
by-6-inch studs. The clear panels admit sunlight,
and an absorber suspended inside the collector

Heater
captures the sun’s heat energy. The air around the
absorber warms, expands and rises, creating a
convection current. Vents at the top and bottom
of the collector allow air to circulate through it.
Cool air enters the lower vents from the interior,
By Gary Reysa
is heated by the absorber, rises to the upper vents
and returns to the interior. Air circulation con-
tinues as long as the sun shines on the collector.

How It Works
INTERIOR OUTSIDE

2 x 8 Top Sill
Flapper Valve sloped to
prevents shed rain
backflow
at night
Glazing
Suntuf corrugated
polycarbonate
panels:
WARM 8 ft. x 26 in.
AIR
enters room
through
upper vents
Gary Reysa

This low-cost plan lets you turn any south

WARMING SUNSHINE
AIR ENTERS
RISES COLLECTOR

wall into a source of free solar heat.

A fter walking into my workshop one
December morning and feeling a
bone-chilling 10 degrees, I decided to
install a heating system. Given the rising costs of
propane and my family’s environmental concerns
here, you can heat your workshop, barn or even
your home with free heat from the sun. If it
works here in Bozeman, Mont., it’s bound to
work wherever you are.
I reviewed many solar collector concepts
Exterior Wall
(framing
not shown)

about using nonrenewable fossil fuels, a solar so- and decided to install a thermosiphon air col- Dark Window
lution seemed fitting. lector on the south wall of the workshop. The Screen
COOL captures sun’s
I’m a retired aircraft engineer, but you don’t elegant, simple thermosiphon design uses only AIR heat: transfers
heat to air
need a similar background to tackle this project. the buoyancy of heated air to create circula- enters lower
vents
In fact, a solar hot-air collector built into new tion through the collector, eliminating the cost, “Wiggle”
construction or added to an existing building can maintenance and power consumption of fans, Closure Strip:
Hardware spacer for
be an easy and inexpensive heating solution. Fol- sensors and controllers commonly used in other Cloth 2x6 corrugations
over vents Bottom Sill (top & bottom)
lowing the simple principles and plan outlined collector designs. On a sunny day, in a cold cli-

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 20

 Navigation Bar

Gary reysa
Collector Materials

Joan reysa
The author checks airflow.
At night, airflow reverses as air in the Left: The collector is built from
This list shows what I used and my costs, and should help these simple materials.
collector cools to outside temperatures.
you figure totals for your installation:
Simple flapper valves on the top vents
stop this reverse circulation and keep
2” x 6” lumber (verticals, bottom sill) 68 ft. $42
the heat inside.
2” x 8” lumber (top sill)
1” x 1” lumber (glazing supports)
22 ft.
130 ft.
$18
$15
NUTS & BOLTS
PERFORMANCE Suntuf 8’ x 26” corrugated
The collector frame is built of com-
AND mon dimension lumber and consists of
polycarbonate panels* 10 $160
vertical members, a bottom sill and a top
ECONOMICS Foam closure molding* 40 ft. $10
sill. In mine, the six vertical 2-by-6-inch
On sunny winter days, the col- Screws w/EPDM washers* 200 $10
members divide the collector into five 4-
lector raises interior temperatures to Black metal window screen 4 x 70 ft. $70 foot-wide bays. The bottom sill is a 2-by-
between 60 and 75 degrees. In my neck Paint, caulk, lag screws, 6, and a 2-by-8 is used for the top sill. The
of the woods, that’s 25 to 35 degrees hardware cloth, etc. $25 collector frame components are attached
above outside temperatures. Overnight, Light plastic sheet (vent flappers) free to the building with lag screws driven into
the building typically cools to 8 to 15 Total $350 them from the inside.
degrees above the outside temperature. The collector is glazed with clear
On heavily overcast days, the collector *Your hardware store may need to special-order these items Suntuf corrugated polycarbonate panels.
does little heating, but on partly cloudy from the manufacturer, Palram Americas, (800) 999-9459, The manufacturer applies an ultraviolet-
days or with a thin overcast it provides www.suntuf.com. resistant coating to the panels’ sun-facing
useful heat. It usually takes about three side to extend their life. I used 10 panels,
hours to warm the workshop from 35 each 26 inches wide by 8 feet high. Pairs
to 65 degrees — a good excuse to sleep of panels are overlapped and joined over a
in! If you’re determined to start work 1-by-1-inch vertical wood strip to make
early, more insulation, more thermal mass the 4-foot-wide panels for each bay. Two
or an early morning blast from a backup heater SIZING THE SOLAR 1-by-1-inch horizontal members provide addi-
would be in order. tional support for the glazing.
Be sure to install adequate insulation and to
COLLECTOR The absorber, a black metal window screen,
control air infiltration. No solar collector — or Usually, the bigger the collector, the better. is installed on battens fastened vertically to the
any other kind of heating system — will heat a Most outbuildings suffer high heat losses be- uprights and across the top and bottom of the
drafty, uninsulated area effectively. The walls and cause of high infiltration rates and inadequate bays, about halfway between the glazing and
roof of my 700-square-foot workshop are insu- insulation, so the heat a large collector gener- siding. After measuring thermal performance
lated to R-19, as good as many houses. ates can be put to good use. More collector area with one, two and three layers of screen, I found
According to my measurements, the heat provides some allowance for partly cloudy and that two layers work best. The top and bottom
output per square foot of panel compares favor- thinly overcast days. With this collector design, vents are simply holes cut through the building’s
ably to that of most commercial panels — at less overheating usually isn’t a problem. You can easi- sheathing and siding. Simple light plastic flapper
than one-tenth the cost! (See “Heat Gain: Run- ly close off upper vents or add thermal mass, such valves prevent back flow through the upper vents
ning the Numbers,” Page 23, for more details.) as water containers. Increased thermal mass also at night.
Our only alternative would have been to heat reduces nighttime interior temperature swings. In summer, the vertical orientation of the
the workshop with propane. Although a propane The added time and material cost is small panels and the high sun angle minimize over-
heater would have cost a bit less than building to build a collector that uses the full south wall heating, but you should block the top vent open-
the solar collector, paying $2 per gallon for pro- versus only part of it. Exceptions to using the full ings to prevent the collector from delivering
pane over our five-month heating season would wall include locations with mild climates, well heat. I just staple a piece of cardboard over each
have cost $300 to $400 per year. The simple pay- insulated and well sealed buildings, or buildings top vent, but you could install hinged vent doors.
back period of the collector is a year or two on that are much longer along their east-west axis Shading or covering the panels also would work,
materials cost. I haven’t needed a backup heater, than their north-south axis. Even if the entire but is probably unnecessary. In the spring and
which is an additional savings. south wall is not available, using a portion still fall, you can close some vents and leave others
pays off. open to control the heat output.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 21

 Navigation Bar

Verticals (2 x 6) about 10 degrees staple the window screen absorber onto them.
when fitted against Fold over the edges of the screen to fit in the bays,
Top Sill
the siding. Next, cut which are slightly less than 48 inches wide.
(2 x 8)
the verticals, angling Make your 4-by-8-foot glazing panels by
Top Vents their tops to match joining pairs of the 26-inch-by-8-foot corrugated
the slope of the top panels. Overlap the panels by one corrugation, ap-
sill. Line them up plying a light bead of silicone caulk between the
and cut notches for overlapped sheets. Reinforce the joint by fasten-
the two 1-by-1-inch ing a 1-by-1-inch wood strip on the inside of the
Black horizontal glazing overlapped corrugations using screws with wash-
Horizontal
Window supports. ers made of EPDM, a synthetic rubber that stands
Glazing
Screen Next, prime and up to sunlight and high and low temperatures.
Supports
Absorber paint everything. Install the horizontal 1-by-1-inch glazing
You don’t have to re- support strips in the notches cut into the col-
paint the siding that lector frame. The surface of the strips should
will be behind the sit flush with the surface of the frame. Do any
collector, but paint- cleanup, caulking or other work inside the col-
ing it a dark color lector frame now. You won’t be able to reach in-
Bottom Vents will improve the effi- side after the glazing is attached.
ciency slightly. Keep Next, mount the glazing panels. Install
Bottom Sill in mind that a muted foam sealing strips, which are molded to fit the
(2 x 6) version of this color contours of the corrugated panels, on the top and
Polycarbonate Glazing Panels will show through bottom sills. Run caulk beads on the first set of
the collector screen, verticals and mount the first glazing panel sec-
so be sure it meets tion. (You’ll quickly find out how square your
your aesthetic sensibilities. frame is.) Fasten the panel sections to the frame
CONSTRUCTION TIPS After the paint has cured, mount the verti- using screws with EPDM washers. Install the
First, measure your building’s south wall to cals to the siding. I fastened them from the inside rest of the sections in the same way. Overlap each
determine how you’ll need to adjust the collec- using 5 inch lag screws, with washers, through new section over the previous one by one corru-
tor design. Pay particular attention to available the wall sheathing and siding. If your siding is gation, using a bead of caulk in the overlap.
height and to stud spacing. Next, lay out the not strong enough to support the weight, align For the flapper valves on the inside top
vents. Offset them from the wall studs enough the verticals with the wall studs and drive lag vents, I went high-tech and used two thicknesses
to leave room for the vertical frames to be placed screws from the outside through them and into of plastic garbage bag. Before adding these, at-
away from studs and lag-screwed from inside the the studs. Take care to keep everything level, tach half-inch mesh hardware cloth over each
building. Mark the vent locations on the inside plumb and straight — this will save you a lot of vent to keep the flappers from being sucked into
and outside of the building to ensure you have four-letter words later. the vent. Then, staple the flappers along the top
no conflicts with electrical wiring. After you’re Now, attach the top and bottom sills. If de- edge of the vent, just above the vent opening.
certain the layout is correct, take a deep breath sired, install sheet-metal flash-
and cut the vents. ing above the top sill to repel
This close-up through the polycarbonate
Cut the top sill long enough to lap over rain. Then, seal the perimeter of
shows the absorber screen, the foam sealer
the end verticals by at least 1 inch. To shed rain, the collector frame with silicone
molding, screws with EPDM washers,
bevel the back edge of the top sill so that it slopes caulk. Mount the battens and
battens and a bottom vent.

Solar Collector Pros & Cons

Pros:
• Simple (not much to go wrong or watch over)
• Easy to build and does not require changes to the building structure
• Long life and little maintenance (so far)
• Very low initial cost (less than one-tenth the cost of most commercial panels)
• Good economic return on the initial investment
• Reduces our greenhouse gas production by about 1,800 pounds per year
• Output can be adjusted by opening and closing vents — summer output can be re-
Gary reysa; above: Matthew T. Stallbaumer

duced to zero
• Does not affect use of building (I can still pile stuff against the wall, but now it’s not
junk — it’s thermal mass)
• It’s not ugly (or at least not too ugly!)

CONs:
• It hurts a bit to cut holes in the wall (but you’ll get over it)
• The building might require additional thermal mass and insulation to keep inside
temperatures from dropping too much at night

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 22

 Navigation Bar

COLLECTOR VARIATIONS with metal, rather than wood studs. As an extra mounted about halfway back in each stud cav-
A couple of variations could improve the measure of safety, wood areas immediately sur- ity. The collector side of the inside finished wall
system’s performance. Substituting dual-wall rounding exit vents also could be flashed with could be lined with polyisocyanurate foam board
polycarbonate glazing for the single corrugated sheet metal. insulation, which withstands high temperatures
sheet would reduce thermal losses through the In altering the collector design, make sure and provides high R-value at modest cost. The
glazing (although some loss in energy absorption you don’t violate these guidelines: R-value of the insulated collector wall would be
also will occur). This type of glazing, which con- • The collector’s depth should be at least 1⁄15 of comparable to that of a standard wall. The glaz-
sists of two sheets of polycarbonate separated by its height. ing could be mounted on 2-by-2-inch members
support webs, also simplifies installation, since it • The absorber must offer low resistance to air- extending along the top and bottom of the col-
requires less support and doesn’t have corrugated flow. lector, and over each of the vertical studs in the
edges that require sealing. Buildings in cold cli- • The vent area should be at least 50 percent of collector area.
mates will benefit the most from this change, the collector’s horizontal cross-sectional area. The difference in materials cost between
which would increase the cost by about $100. • The air path through the collector should be as such a collector and a conventional wall would
Another option is alternating collector pan- shown in the “How It Works” diagram, Page 20. be close to zero! With a large collector, diagonal
els and windows on the south wall. This approach bracing or a shear-resistant inside wall may be
would admit more light and some direct heat OTHER WAYS TO BUILD IT required to maintain the wall’s shear strength. Be
gain through the windows, without the glare, This collector could be built with less mate- sure to work out an agreement with your build-
high losses and overheating that accompany full rial and lower cost if it were integrated with the ing department on the details.
window walls. wall during initial construction. It also could be Other approaches surely are possible. If you
You can use the same concept to heat a built on the outer surface of the wall, omitting work out a good one, I’d love to hear about it.
house or cabin. With some refinement to inte- the exterior siding behind it. This might save up Meantime, here’s to your warmth and comfort!
grate the vents with the interior wall, the same to $2 per square foot. For a more finished ap-
basic design can provide daytime heat to living pearance, you could install a higher grade of
spaces. One caveat — the National Mechani- sheathing in the collector area. Gary Reysa worked for Boeing Aircraft. Since 2000, he
cal Code prohibits circulation of conditioned For a more integrated approach, the wall has lived in Montana, where cold winters, high heating
air warmer than 120 degrees in wooden stud stud cavities could be used for the collector itself. bills and ample sunlight sparked his interest in solar heat-
spaces. While this may not pose a problem Using standard 2-by-6 studs at 24-inch spacing, ing. Send your questions about this article or project to
for outbuildings, in buildings used for human inlet and exit vents could be incorporated in the gary@BuildItSolar.com. He has posted many other DIY
habitation, consider constructing the collector inside finished wall, with the absorber screen solar projects at his Web site, www.BuildItSolar.com.

Heat Gain: Running the Numbers

In a recent test I did at midday, under G is heat gain rate; A is vent area;
typical sunny winter conditions, the V is velocity of air through the vent; D
collector produced a 50- to 60-degree is air density at prevailing temperature
temperature rise between the lower vent and altitude (you’ll have to look this up);
and the upper vent, and an average air Tu is air temperature at the upper vent; Tl
velocity at the upper vent of 110 to 120 is air temperature at the lower vent; and
feet/minute. Peak output was 25,000 H is the specific heat of air (a measure
Btu/hour, and the total daily heat gain of the heat required to raise the tem-
was about 130,000 Btu (38 kWh). This perature of a pound of air one degree
is equivalent to burning about 2 gallons Fahrenheit; it varies with temperature
of propane (about $4 worth) at 70 per- and pressure but is about 0.24 Btu/lb-F˚
cent efficiency. under everyday conditions).
Heat gain estimates are based on I measured the temperatures with
measurements of the temperature rise several $2 Taylor thermometers from the
and the vent exit velocity. Combining hardware store. The vent exit velocity
these with the specific heat of air and was taken using a Kestrel wind meter.
the density of air gives the collector heat Although this instrumentation might not
output. I estimated the rate of heat gain meet Sandia National Laboratories’
using the following equation: standards, I believe it does provide a
solid estimate of the collector’s perfor-
G = A x V x D x (Tu - Tl) x H mance.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 23

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar heating and cooling

Buyer’s A re you freezing in the winter to keep

your fuel bill down? Or paying an arm
and a leg to stay warm? Either way, it’s
probably time to consider installing a solar hot-air

Guide to
system. There are several options, and these sys-
tems are a hot commodity right now — in recent
months several suppliers have reported increased

Solar
consumer interest.
Solar hot-air systems capture sunlight energy
and use it to heat incoming air. Heated air is then
transferred into your home, often with a small elec-
tric fan. The solar energy costs what it always has

Heating
cost — nothing. Solar hot-air systems can help al-
leviate homeowners’ worries about rising fuel costs
and provide years of inexpensive, maintenance-free
comfort. They can heat homes, offices, workshops,
garages and barns.

By Dan Chiras
SOLAR SIMPLICITY
All solar hot-air systems rely on hot-air panels
or collectors. Collectors are typically mounted on
south-facing walls, roofs or even on the ground, if
it’s unshaded during the heating season.
Some commercial systems are simple thermo-
siphon collectors that rely entirely on convection to
distribute hot air, but most use fans or blowers con-
trolled by relatively simple electronics. A tempera-
ture sensor mounted inside the collector monitors
internal temperature. When it reaches 110 degrees,
it sends a signal to a thermostat mounted inside the
home, which turns on the fan if room temperature
is below the desired level. When the temperature
inside the collector drops to 90 degrees, or the
room reaches its setting, the thermostat turns the
fan off.
Solar hot-air systems actively produce heat
only in the daytime, but some of that heat is ab-
CanSolair

sorbed by the building’s thermal mass: drywall, tile,

framing lumber, etc. At night, the heat stored in
the thermal mass radiates into the rooms. The more
thermal mass, the greater the nighttime benefit.

HOT AIR VS. HOT WATER

Solar hot-air systems are simpler and easier
to install than solar heating systems that circulate
water as the heat-transfer medium. They’re also
less expensive, and don’t use troublesome chemi-
cals or require complicated electronic controls. You
can even build a solar hot-air system yourself (see
“Build a Simple Solar Heater,” Page 20).
Solar hot-air systems also produce heat ear-
lier and later in the day than water-based systems.
As a result, they may produce more usable energy
Tap free heat from the sun with these over a heating season than water-based systems of
the same size, according to the U.S. Department
solar hot-air collectors. of Energy’s online publication, Consumer Guide to
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Moreover,
air systems do not freeze. Minor leaks in the col-
lector or distribution ducts, which cause significant

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 24

 Navigation Bar

found it consistently raised the temperature of 68-

degree indoor air that entered it by 40 degrees on
sunny but cold winter days. (For more information
about the SolarSheat and other commercially avail-
able panels, see “Seven Solar Heaters at a Glance,”
Page 26.)
Marken recommends one 4-by-8-foot collec-
tor per 500 to 1,000 square feet of heated space,
depending on the location and energy efficiency of
your home. A 2,000-square-foot home with unob-
structed southern exposure might require two to
four collectors. Separate collectors may be required
for each room. For larger rooms, two or more col-
lectors may be needed, with a more powerful fan
to ensure adequate air flow. If collectors are shaded
during part of the day, more will be needed.
Your Solar Home

MAKING CENTS OF
SOLAR HOT AIR
How much can a solar hot-air system save you?
Greater savings will be achievable in cold areas
that receive more sunlight. As a rule, active solar
heating systems are most cost-effective in cold
climates with good solar resources, but they make
Construction continues around two SolarSheat 1500G panels installed in the wall. sense in other locations as well.
One way is to calculate payback — or how
problems in water-based systems, also are less pass designs use single panes of glass; front-pass long it will take to reclaim the cost of the system,
troublesome in hot-air systems. (Water-based designs are double-glazed to reduce heat loss. That plus installation, through annual fuel savings. Di-
heating systems do have one major advantage: makes back-pass collectors somewhat less expen- vide the cost of the system plus installation by the
They can store heat for use at night in water sive to manufacture and about 50 pounds lighter anticipated annual fuel savings. If a $2,100 system
tanks inside the home.) than front-pass collectors and, therefore, a little will save $300 per year in heating bills, simple pay-
easier to install. back is seven years.
TWO KINDS OF HEATERS Most systems are thermostatically controlled To calculate payback accurately, consider ris-
Solar hot-air systems fall into two categories: and include backdraft dampers on the outlets to ing fuel costs, interest paid on money borrowed to
open-loop and closed-loop. The difference lies in prevent reverse convective airflow at night, which buy the system (or lost interest, if you withdraw
the source of air entering the system. would suck heat out of a building. money from savings to buy it), and maintenance
In open-loop systems, collectors draw in cold costs. Fortunately, these systems have just two mov-
outdoor air, heat it and transfer the heated air into HEAT OUTPUT ing parts, a fan and a backdraft damper, and both
buildings. Collectors used in open-loop systems, Closed-loop solar hot-air panels can substan- should give many years of trouble-free service.
known as transpired air collectors, incorporate a tially boost the temperature of air flowing through When calculating payback, don’t forget fi-
dark-colored, perforated metal facing, called the them. According to the U.S. Department of En- nancial incentives from utilities and state and local
absorber plate. There’s no glazing over the plate; ergy, air entering a glazed collector at 70 degrees governments.
the sides and back are insulated to reduce heat is typically warmed an additional 70 to 90 degrees.
loss. Sunlight striking the absorber plate of a Open-loop transpired air collectors may provide SHOPPER’S GUIDE
transpired collector heats it. Air is drawn through considerably less heat than glazed collectors. Chuck Before you buy a solar collector, make your
the plate by a blower and is piped to the interior Marken, president of AAA Solar and solar thermal home as energy-efficient as possible, because ef-
of the building. editor of Home Power magazine, says transpired air ficiency enables the system to meet a higher per-
Closed-loop systems, the most popular option collectors increase the temperature of the air flow- centage of your heat requirements. Beef up insu-
today, draw cool air from the house, heat it and re- ing through them only about 20 degrees, which lation in ceilings and add insulation to walls, if
turn the heated air to the interior. These collectors is probably of little value to residential structures. they’re uninsulated. Cover windows at night with
include glass or other clear glazing over an absorber However, manufacturers report considerably larger insulating shades, and seal cracks in the building
plate, typically made of dark-colored metal. Its temperature increases, achieved by restricting air- envelope with caulk and weatherstripping. Install
surface is roughened to increase air turbulence so flow through the collector. foam gaskets in electrical outlets and light switch-
that air absorbs heat from it more effectively. The Closed-loop residential solar hot-air systems es. Seal ducts in forced air systems.
collector’s back and sides are insulated. can produce impressive results. Steve Andrews, a Be sure to investigate local building codes
Air from the home enters the bottom of residential energy expert based in Denver, Colo., and zoning ordinances before purchasing a solar
the panel and moves up, either behind the ab- for example, installed a collector to heat the bot- hot-air system. You may need a building permit.
sorber plate (back-pass collectors) or in front of tom 500 square feet of his tri-level home, which Check out neighborhood or subdivision covenants
it (front-pass collectors). Air moves in and out of was usually 5 to 6 degrees colder than the rest of as well. They may prohibit solar systems, although
the collector through ductwork running through his house. He found the collector made a big dif- many homeowners have successfully challenged
the wall or roof — the shorter the better. Small ference during sunny winter days and the following their neighborhood associations.
registers are mounted inside on the air intake and evenings. “Overall, the comfort improvement was You can buy solar hot-air collectors on-
outlet openings. dramatic,” he says. line or through a growing list of solar suppli-
Of the two types of glazed closed-loop collec- As part of my research for this article, I tested ers, companies that also often install other solar
tors, back-pass collectors are more common. Back- the SolarSheat 1500G, a closed-loop collector, and systems such as hot water or electric systems.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 25

 Navigation Bar

When shopping, watch out for too-good-to- likely. Unfortunately, roof mounts are usually more solution. Its Solar Max is a glazed collector made
be-true claims. complicated and more costly than wall mounts. In from 240 empty aluminum cans, painted black and
“Marketing departments can make any- homes with attics, installation requires flexible in- arranged in 15 vertical columns. Air flows through
thing look good,” Hurrle says. “One panel won’t sulated ducts to transport air to and from the col- the solar-heated cans, pulled by an indoor fan in
heat a home, despite what some salespeople may lector. Outdoor runs of duct are protected from the an attractive console that plugs into a 120-volt wall
tell you.” elements by galvanized pipe. Much shorter duct outlet. The fan unit also has a washable filter that
I personally prefer closed-loop systems — col- runs suffice in homes with closed ceiling cavities helps keep indoor air clean. (To read about a DIY
lectors with glazed panels. I think they look nicer and for wall mounts. Like roof mounts, ground- solar heater that utilized aluminum cans, see A So-
than transpired collectors, and they produce lots mounted systems require considerable ductwork, lar-Heated Church in our Archive. — Mother)
more heat. Moreover, open-loop transpired col- and both require much heftier fans to ensure ad- Solar hot-air collectors are often attached to
lectors are designed primarily for commercial and equate air flow. existing walls or roofs, but DeSoto Solar sells col-
industrial buildings and are generally not a good To install a glazed collector, you’ll need to cut lectors designed to be integrated into walls, reduc-
choice for home heating. two 5- to 7-inch holes in the wall or roof and ceil- ing their profile. Such installations work especially
Although transpired collectors usually are not ing. Transpired air collectors require only one hole, well in new construction or when building an ad-
suitable for homes in colder climates, they are de- albeit a rather large one (up to 9 inches in diame- dition to a house, so the panel can be installed into
signed to work well in barns, garages, workshops ter). When cutting holes in a wall or roof, be certain the wall as the structure is framed.
and commercial buildings that need large amounts not to damage water pipes or electrical wires.
of fresh air. You’ll also need to hook up the thermostat, SOLAR COMFORT
temperature sensor and fan. Wiring diagrams can If a solar hot-air system makes sense for your
INSTALLATION be difficult to understand for the electrically illit- home or your business, you’ll be rewarded many
Installing solar hot-air panels is not a job for erate. To make life easier, two manufacturers have times over. Once you’ve paid off your investment,
a beginner. Solar energy expert Marken says a sea- provided rather ingenious alternatives to wiring. you’ll get free heat for the life of the system. And
soned crew of two can install a solar hot-air system Your Solar Home sells my favorite solar hot-air perhaps best of all, you’ll be doing something posi-
in a few hours, but it’s more realistic to set aside a collector, the SolarSheat 1500 series, which comes tive to create a cleaner, healthier future.
full day. “If this is your first time, plan on a week- with its own supply of electricity: a small solar elec-
end, even with help,” he says. Because collectors are tric module that powers the unit’s fan. To install,
fairly heavy and measure around 4 by 7 feet, you’ll simply mount the panel on the wall or roof and Contributing editor Dan Chiras lives in Evergreen, Colo., in
need a brawny assistant or two. then attach two wires from the panel to the ther- a state-of-the-art environmental home. He’s written numerous
The panel should face as close to due south as mostat inside the house. It’s affordable, a snap to books on green building and renewable energy — several
possible. The most common place to mount a so- wire and very attractive. are available here. Visit Dan and his company, Sustainable
lar hot-air collector is a roof, where shade is least Cansolair provides another simplified wiring Systems Design, at www.danchiras.com.

Seven Solar Heaters at a Glance Estimated Peak Airflow

Company Model Type Output (Btu/hr) (cfm/min) Cost Comments

AAA Solar Supply Inc.; 2021 Zearing NW, Sun Aire closed 5,000 to 362 to 488 $864 to Wiring hookup required; ships
Albuquerque, NM 87104; (2 sizes) 6,000 $1,273 assembled
(800) 245-0311; www.aaasolar.com

Cansolair Inc.; Box 100, Colliers R.H., NL, Canada RA 240 closed 9,500 90 $1,649 Wiring hookup required; uses 240
A0A 1Y0; (709) 229-4387; SolarMax aluminum cans in collector; washable air filter; ships
www.cansolair.com assembled

ClearDome Solar Thermal; 3368 Governor Dr., 153-F, Low Profile closed 2,048 100 int., $395 Interior model intended for use inside a large window;
San Diego, CA 92122; (888) 227-7547 ext. 3427; UB Solar or open ext., $449 plugs into standard outlet; units connect in series; ships
www.cleardomesolar.com assembled

DeSoto Solar; 1410 20th St. #20, on-wall closed variable variable $240 to On-wall model meant for agricultural structures, ware-
West Des Moines, IA 50265; (4 sizes) $1,280 houses, shops, etc.; in-wall installs much like manufactured
www.iedu.com/DeSoto windows. No wiring required (thermosiphon, uses no fan);
in-wall closed variable variable $200 to
both types available in economy or high-efficiency models;
(3 sizes) $840
ships assembled

Sunsiaray; 4414 N. Washburn Rd., Davison, MI Northern closed 3,000 winter; 4,000 237 $1,150 to The only SRCC-certified solar hot-air panel; also heats wa-
48423; (810) 653-3502; Comfort summer $1,400 ter; dual use qualifies it for federal credit; wiring hookup
www.sunsiaray.com required; assembly by professional installer

Your Solar Home, Inc.; 299 Applewood Crescent, Unit SolarSheat closed 5,118 90 $1,655 (G); No wiring required (uses integral PV panel); ships as-
4, Vaughan, ON Canada L4K 4E7; (866) 556-5504; 1500G, $979 (GS) sembled; 1500GS is an auxiliary panel
www.yoursolarhome.com GS

Conserval Engineering Inc.; 4242 Ridge Lea Rd. Unit SolarWall open 7,800 to 15,600 70 to 135 $1,959 to Wiring hookup required; several colors available; 100
28, Buffalo, NY 14226; (3 sizes) $2,788 percent recycled
(716) 835-4903; www.solarwall.com materials; ships unassembled

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 26

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar hot water

Save
with
Solar
Hot
Water
By Greg Pahl

John Ivanko
Solar doesn’t have to be unsightly: At Inn Serendipity, a bed-and-breakfast in Browntown, Wis., three 4-by-8-foot flat-plate collectors sit comfortably on the south-facing rooftop.
They provide up to 70 percent of the homes’ domestic hot water needs.

Slash your hot water heating costs.

H ot water heating is one of the most

efficient and cost-effective ways of
harnessing solar energy. Accord-
ing to the Department of Energy’s Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, hot
emit none of the pollutants and greenhouse
gases — carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur
oxides — produced when natural gas or oil is
burned. And solar hot water systems can be
used wherever the sun shines. (Of course, gen-
amount the solar hot water system can con-
tribute depends on your household’s hot wa-
ter consumption, and the amount of sunshine
the collectors receive daily and throughout
the year. In general, most solar systems are
water heating accounts for one-fifth to one- erally the sunnier your location, the more hot designed to meet one-half to three-quarters
quarter of an average U.S. household’s energy water you’ll reap.) of a family’s domestic hot water need. Dur-
usage. Installing a solar domestic hot water ing the summertime, the system may usually
system can reduce your hot water heating bill HOT HOUSEHOLD meet all of their hot water needs. On average,
by 60 percent to 95 percent, potentially saving WATER an efficient collector in good weather will heat
you hundreds of dollars a year. Invest in a solar between 1 and 2 gallons of water per square
hot water system for $3,000 to $6,000 and, in In most homes, domestic hot water (wa- foot per day. (A solar contractor can help you
some cases, you might recoup the costs within ter for washing dishes and clothes, for bathing correctly size the collectors, storage tank and
only four to six years. or cooking) usually is provided by an electric backup system.)
“If someone is really interested in renew- or gas-fired water heater, or boiler or furnace
able energy, and they want to get involved that also heats the home. Heating water with SMART SOLAR SHOPPING
somewhere, a solar hot water system is prob- electricity is expensive and will become even If you’re haunted by horror stories of
ably the best place to start,” says Rod Hyatt, more costly as the price of fossil fuels used to the ‘70s and ‘80s, when fly-by-night install-
owner of In Hot Water Heat & Power in generate it continues to climb. And, although ers, more interested in selling tax credits than
Eden, Utah. “It makes the biggest impact at heating water with gas is less expensive than reliable systems, left unwitting homeowners
the lowest investment.” Many states, munici- heating with electricity, burning gas still con- with poorly designed, difficult-to-maintain
palities and some local utilities now offer tax tributes to pollution and global warming. systems — it’s time to shed those fears. To-
incentives and rebates, significantly sweeten- In concert with an electric or gas-fired day, performance standards govern most ac-
ing the solar deal. backup unit, solar domestic hot water can tive solar components, making comparisons
Fueled by the sun (think free energy!), in- reduce the requirement for conventional wa- between products possible (see Sources, Page
stead of fossil fuels, solar hot water systems ter heating by two-thirds or more. The total 30), so when you shop, you can shop smart.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 27

 Navigation Bar

makes evacuated tube collectors ideal for high

temperature water applications. Batch collec-
tors are simple systems that use one or more
black-painted tanks enclosed in a well-insu-
lated, glass-topped box. In this design, the col-
lector and storage tank are combined.
Flat-plate collectors generally perform
most consistently for residential applications,
yielding temperatures in a range of 140 to 160
degrees. Thermal performance ratings can be
used to compare the efficiency and econom-
ics of various flat-plate solar collectors (see
Sources, Page 30).
To maximize their efficiency, collectors
need unobstructed southern solar exposure
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., so
site them accordingly. The collectors can be
mounted on a building’s roof or walls or set on
a frame on the ground.

TYPES OF SYSTEMS
NREL

Water heated by the collectors may be

Solar hot water systems can be used wherever the sun shines, although their efficiency depends on the amount of moved through the house with pumps (active
solar energy received
systems) or by natural convection (passive sys-
tems). Batch and passive open-loop systems
Most manufacturers warrant their systems for illustration below), with a “black chrome” or (which use natural convection to circulate flu-
at least 10 years; in many cases, the collectors a similar selective-surface coating, which ab- id) require little maintenance but are vulner-
and insulated piping may last as long as your sorbs the maximum amount of solar heat while able to freezing. More common active systems
house. Since it tends to degrade over time, the minimizing radiant cooling, are the most com- that use pumps and sensors to regulate fluid
circulating fluid should be inspected every few mon. Small tubes inside an insulated alumi- flow are generally more efficient and freeze-
years by a qualified technician. num box with a tempered glass face contain resistant, but require more maintenance.
either potable water or a heat-transfer fluid; In a direct or open-loop active system, a
SYSTEM COMPONENTS the collector absorbs and transfers heat energy pump (regulated by an electronic controller,
Solar hot water systems consist of collec- to the fluid in the tubes, which is then carried an appliance timer or photovoltaic panel) cir-
tors connected to one or more storage tanks by to the heat storage tank by insulated piping. culates heated domestic water throughout the
piping. For active systems, pumps, sensors and Evacuated-tube collectors use rows of entire system, from the collectors to the heat-
controllers may be added. parallel, transparent glass tubes, which are storage tanks. With fewer components and
Flat-plate, evacuated-tube and batch col- coated with a selective finish. A vacuum inside no heat exchanger to lose heat, direct active
lectors are all common collectors; each is suit- the tubes helps the collectors achieve tem- systems tend to be more efficient. They can be
ed to different needs. Flat-plate collectors (see peratures between 170 and 350 degrees, which powered by photovoltaic modules or a simple
AC pump and controller. However, because
these systems circulate water instead of anti-
Flat-Plate Collector freeze, they are vulnerable to freezing and are
not recommended in climates that experience
Glazing frame freezing temperatures.
Inlet connection Indirect or closed-loop active systems
are the most freeze-resistant. They circulate
Glazing
a heat-transfer fluid (most commonly a non-
toxic propylene glycol and water mixture) that
Outlet connection transfers heat from the collectors to potable
water held in storage tanks (the antifreeze also
keeps the collectors and exterior piping from
freezing). Like direct active systems, they can
be powered by photovoltaics, too. They have
U.S. Department of energy

more components and are more complex.

Enclosure In cold climates where freezing is a con-
cern, solar contractor Tom Lane, owner of En-
Flow tubes ergy Conservation Services of North Florida,
in Gainsville, Fla., recommends consumers
Absorber plates choose from one of two closed-loop, active
systems: unpressurized drainback systems or
Insulation
pressurized glycol systems.
“The most important criterion for both is
that they won’t freeze and burst.”
An unpressurized drainback system uses
Flat-plate collectors are most commonly used in residential solar hot water systems. a closed-loop of unpressurized water separate

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 28

 Navigation Bar

Active, Closed-Loop Solar Water Heater

Solar Swings
in History
The first commercial solar water heater was
patented in 1891; within five years, about 30
percent of the homes in Pasadena, California,
had solar domestic hot water systems installed.
Hot water
Flat-plate
to house Although the solar hot water heating indus-
collector
Cold water supply try had spread to Florida by the 1930s, copper
shortages during World War II (coupled with eco-
nomic incentives offered by electric companies
to switch to their hot water heaters) crippled the
U.S. Department of energy

Antifreeze fluid in burgeoning solar hot water industry.

collector loop only Solar storage/
backup water heater It was almost more than a half century later
when solar hit the mainstream market again,
revitalized by the OPEC oil embargo and sky-
Double-walled heat ex-
changer rocketing fossil fuel prices. Federal and state tax
Pump credits of the early 1980s for renewable energy
systems gave the solar industry a major, if short-
lived, boost. Almost overnight, a huge number
of companies sprang up all across the nation to
Active, closed-loop solar hot water systems use a heat-transfer fluid, like antifreeze, to absorb heat. Pipes carry the serve a seemingly insatiable demand for a wide
warmed fluid to the storage tank, where a double-walled heat exchanger allows the transfer of the heat from the fluid to
the stored domestic water.
array of solar installations. Then, in 1986, the
Reagan Administration pulled the plug on
solar incentives.
from domestic pressurized water. When solar Double-walled heat exchangers prevent
“It almost entirely killed the industry
heat can be collected, a differential control, contamination of household water with anti-
which measures the difference in temperature freeze or other heat-exchange fluids. Heat ex- and stopped virtually all [renewable energy]
between two sensors and turns equipment on changers can be mounted outside the storage technological development in this country,” says
and off, turns the AC circulating pump on, tank or located inside the tank. Because an- Christel Bieri, the vice president of marketing
and water circulates through the solar col- tifreeze tends to degrade over time, however, at Heliodyne, Inc., in Richmond, California.
lectors. When the pump stops, the collectors these systems need regular inspections to en-
Heliodyne was one of a handful of U.S. solar
and pipes drain automatically into a drainback sure that the antifreeze solution is still viable.
tank. Hot water from the drainback tank is Whatever system you choose, locate the manufacturers that survived the industry crash.
pumped through a heat exchanger located in storage tank (and if practical, the collectors) as Today, motivated by consumer demand
(or sometimes outside) the main potable water close as possible to the household distribution for environmentally friendly and economi-
storage tank. Almost all drainback systems use and backup system to minimize heat loss from cally sound technologies, the solar industry is
a differential control and sensors to automati- the pipes, and insulate the pipes well.
witnessing what many hope will be a full-fledged
cally drain the water from the collector when
the temperature drops to freezing. In very REAL LIFE APPLICATIONS energy revolution — a switch from a fossil-fuel
cold climates, a propylene glycol solution can Jay Mead and his wife, Edie Farwell, re- based economy to a one powered by the sun,
be added to the unpressurized solar loop for cently installed a closed-loop glycol solar hot wind and water.
added freeze protection. Drainback systems water system in their home in Hartland, Ver-
typically have the least maintenance and are mont. “We live in an environmentally based
the highest performing, closed-loop solar hot cohousing community that has a centralized Val Roberts and his wife, Rosalie, retired
water systems available. wood-fired boiler for all the units,” he says, “and recently to a remote home in Bancroft, Idaho,
Closed-loop glycol systems are the preferred we wanted to have some kind of non-fossil-fu- where winter temperatures of 40 degrees below
option for extremely cold climates, but can be in- eled augmentation for the boiler.” A solar hot zero are not unusual. But Roberts didn’t hesitate
stalled anywhere. Instead of using a drainback sys- water system seemed like an obvious choice. to install a solar hot water system. The glycol in
tem, closed-loop, pressurized glycol systems rely So far, their solar domestic hot water sys- the solar system offers freeze protection down
on a continuous supply of antifreeze that remains tem has performed flawlessly. “It’s really quite to 50 below zero.
in the pipes and collector, whether the circulating amazing,” Mead says. “On a cold winter day, Besides offsetting a substantial portion
pump is operating or not. Closed-loop glycol sys- when the temperature outside is around zero, of their domestic hot water needs, the system
tems often rely on a differential controller, sensors the temperature of the tank registers between provides some space heating. “There are days
and an AC pump. A small PV panel can be used 130 and 150 degrees. We’ve been very im- when we get water as hot as 200 degrees out
to operate a DC circulating pump, which runs pressed.” The system’s operation is so subtle that of the solar panels, and we can heat the water
while the sun shines and automatically shuts itself Mead says the only way he can tell that it’s run- tanks up to 180 degrees, which act as a heat
off when night falls or cloudy weather prevails. ning is the faint sound of the circulating pump. sink for the times when the sun isn’t shining,”

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 29

 Navigation Bar

Ten 4-by-10-foot flat-plate collectors heat a straw

bale greenhouse at Inn Serendipity in Browntown,
Wisconsin. The panels provide 240,000 BTUs
of heat each day, heating 700 gallons of water
contained in storage tanks. Coupled with R-43
straw bale walls, the solar hot water heating
system keeps the greenhouse toasty warm, even in
the depths of a Midwestern winter.

he says. The Roberts have a valve on their do-

mestic hot water line so they don’t get scalded.
“We’re very satisfied with the system,” he says.
“We would definitely recommend it to other
homeowners.”
Since 1979, more than 16,000 solar hot
water heaters have been installed in Oregon
— certainly not the sunniest spot in the coun-
try! — for domestic hot water, swimming pools
and spas (and many of those early systems are
still working). A typical solar hot water heater
there provides between 50 percent and 60 per-
cent of a home’s water heating needs. Oregon
currently offers a residential energy tax credit
(based on the system’s performance) of up to
$1,500 on certified systems. Linking tax cred-
its or other incentives to system performance
is an important new strategy to minimize tax
Sources for Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems
credit abuses, and has widespread support in American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
the solar industry. The ASES can help you find solar contractors and suppliers in your area. They
also publish Solar Today magazine, which often has articles on solar hot water
THE FUTURE OF SOLAR systems.
If solar hot water systems are so popular
with their owners, even with those who live The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)
in extreme climates, why aren’t they found in A comprehensive Web-based source of information on state, local, utility and
more homes across the United States? selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy, including tax credits,
The problem isn’t technical, Lane says; the sales and property tax exemptions, rebates and loans.
technology is time-tested and works well. Part
of the problem is the need to rebuild the indus- Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
try’s support infrastructure and to strengthen Hosts the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC), a nonprofit orga-
educational and promotional efforts. The other nization with the primary purpose of developing and implementing certification
part is political. programs and national rating standards for solar energy equipment.
“We could sure use more vocal support
from our politicians,” Lane says. “It would Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
be extremely helpful if they would encourage Solar contractors and suppliers can be located through the SEIA Web site.
people to adopt solar energy.”
Nevertheless, he is optimistic about the Tom Lane, Energy Conservation Services of North Florida, Inc.
future of solar hot water. “It’s the best product Offers a comprehensive, spiral-bound book, Solar Hot Water Systems: Lessons
the solar industry has to offer, and it’s going
Learned, 1977 to Today, available in a black and white edition for homeowners
to grow in the future,” he says. “It’s affordable,
($35), and a color edition for contractors ($55).
and from an environmental standpoint, it’s the
responsible thing to do.”

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 30

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar hot water

Go
agree, a solar water heater is far and away the
easiest initial investment in renewable energy.
Perhaps best of all, you’ll enjoy hot baths or
showers with the satisfaction of knowing the

Solar
energy comes directly from the sun.

A GOOD DEAL, GETTING

BETTER
Solar water heaters vary in their details,

for Free
but they all do the same basic things: gather
heat in a solar collector; transfer the heat, di-
rectly or indirectly, to the water supply; and
store the heated water until it’s used. They

Hot
use relatively simple, time-tested technology,
which is one reason they are a best bet in re-
newable energy.

Water
It’s important to understand that solar
water-heating systems have very low — some-
times zero — operating costs, and maintenance
amounts to only about $2 per month. Say you
might spend $7,000 to install a solar water
By Bob Ramlow heater, when you could install a conventional
gas or electric heater for considerably less. But
it’s so much less expensive to operate the solar
heater that, at some point, you’ll make up the
initial difference. When all costs for purchase,
installation, maintenance and operation are
taken into account, a solar water heater usually
equals an electric heater after just eight and a
half years, and equals a gas heater in just less
than 15 years. From then on, through the ex-
pected 40-year life of the solar system, you’ve
got free hot water (see “Gas vs. Solar: Com-
pare Costs,” Page 32).
Consider the positive environmental ben-
efits of a solar water heater, and the deal just
John Invanko

gets better. A typical residential solar water

heater will offset greenhouse gas emissions by
about 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2)
per year. That’s equal to the amount of CO2
released by an average vehicle every 1,685
miles (based on 19.6 pounds of CO2 per gal-
The author’s Wisconsin straw bale home incorporates both a solar water-heating system (upper roof) and a lon at 22 mpg).
photovoltaic solar-electric system. It’s cheaper to conserve energy than to

Solar water heaters are the easiest entry into

purchase it, so the first thing you’ll want to do
is reduce your hot water needs to the mini-
mum. Start by reducing waste; then minimize
renewable energy. consumption. Reducing your usage ensures
that your solar heating system will provide the

H
maximum possible portion of your hot water.
ow would you like to have free hot heating system that supplies just 65 percent of Even if you don’t go solar, using the minimum
water for the next 40 years? That their hot water. necessary hot water is good for your wallet and
should sound pretty good — about I mean “free” literally. Yes, you’ll spend good for the environment.
15 percent to 20 percent of a typical house- money up front to install the heating system, The next step is to choose a solar water
hold’s energy outlay goes to make sure the but your home equity will increase instantly, heater to supplement your fossil-fueled heater.
“H” tap means what it says. If energy prices often enough to offset the cost of installation. Here are the first things you need to consider
increase by 6 percent annually, the average You’ll also pay reduced utility bills — saving about a solar water heater:
family would save thousands of dollars over more money every time rates rise. Within a few Siting. Solar collectors must be in full
the coming decades by installing a solar water- years, you’ll recover the initial expense. Experts or nearly full sunlight all year, so have a solar

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 31

 Navigation Bar

SOLAR HOT WATER: SOLAR HOT WATER:

Gas vs. Solar: Compare WARM CLIMATES COOL AND MODERATE
CLIMATES
65-gal. gas solar water
water heater heater
Life expectancy 12 years 40 years
The choice of the right type of solar wa-
(buy in year 1; (buy in year 1; ter-heating system depends primarily on the In areas that experience freezing condi-
replace in years replace storage
13, 25, 37) tank & 30-gal.
climate where you live. The crucial fact is that if tions, two kinds of solar water-heating systems
backup heater in a water-filled pipe is exposed to freezing condi- are appropriate, closed-loop antifreeze systems
years 16, 31) tions, the water inside the pipe will freeze and and drainback systems.
Initial purchase price $590 $7,000 the pipe will burst. In any climate that experi- Closed-loop antifreeze systems are the
Installed
ences freezing temperatures, some precautions most popular and versatile type of system in-
Total equipment costs $4,275 $12,781 must be taken to prevent pipes from freezing. stalled worldwide. They consist of one or more
40 years @ 3.5% inflation
In climates that never experience freezing collectors, insulated piping, a circulating pump,
Fuel costs $46,428 $16,250
40 years @ 6% inflation
conditions, or for systems that operate only in an expansion tank, a hot-water storage tank, a
summer, such as those for summer homes and heat exchanger, solar fluid (usually a solution of
Maintenance $1,000 $2,033
40 years @ 3.5% inflation campgrounds, water in the solar collector and water and nontoxic propylene glycol antifreeze),
piping presents no such threat. The best type of a controller, and some valves and gauges. The
Total $52,293 $38,064
solar water heater for these applications is an piping loops from the collectors to the heat ex-
Solar saves you $14,229!
integral collector storage (ICS) system, often changer and back again. This closed loop is filled
Assumptions: The solar water-heating system initially uses the existing called a batch heater. ICS systems are simply with the antifreeze solution, which stays inside
water heater as backup and provides 65 percent of hot water; the average
water tanks exposed to the sun. Commercial the collectors and piping at all times. Whenever
family currently spends $300 annually to heat water; maintenance of the
solar system currently costs $24 annually; fuel costs will increase by 6 per- ICS collectors have one or multiple tanks in- the sun shines on the collectors, the circulating
cent annually; other costs will increase by 3.5 percent annually. side an insulated box with glass on one side. The pump comes on, and the solar fluid circulates
glass side is set facing the sun, and the tanks within the closed loop. The fluid gets hot inside
are painted black or have a special coating that the collectors and travels through the piping to
absorbs the sun’s energy. This system has no the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger trans-
pumps or controls and is plumbed directly into fers the heat from the fluid to the water inside
professional assess your site to find the best a home’s water system. It is the simplest, least the storage tank, which stores the heated water
location for the collector. The optimum collec- expensive solar water heater and is popular in for your use. As the fluid heats, it expands, so
tor mounting angle, measured from horizon- all areas surrounding the equator. ICS systems the expansion tank is included to relieve pres-
tal, equals the latitude of the collector loca- heat domestic water directly. Other systems sure in the system. When the sun is not shining,
tion. Ideal direction is true south, but in most heat the water indirectly, using a heat-transfer the circulating pump simply turns off, and the
cases, solar collectors for water heating can be fluid that is kept separate from the water supply, fluid stops circulating.
mounted within 30 degrees of true south and because most water supplies contain dissolved
will tolerate a small amount of shading. minerals that will clog the small passages in
Collectors are typically mounted on roofs, other kinds of solar collectors.
but also can be mounted on the ground near
homes. Wind can create strong lift under col-
lectors, so they must be securely fastened to
the building or to the ground. They’re not
heavy, even when filled with fluid, but make
sure the roof structure is in good shape.
Sizing. Solar water heaters are rarely
designed to provide 100 percent of your
hot water — there are just too many cloudy
days over the course of a year. Neverthe-
less, a typical solar water heater will provide
between 50 percent and 75 percent of your
ICS Collector
annual load. In hot climates or during the
sunniest times of the year, you can expect Cold Water Supply
to get nearly 100 percent of your hot wa-
ter from solar. During the cloudiest periods
you may only get 50 percent, depending on Pressure & Temp.
your climate. Relief Valve
In cool climates, a system is sized with 20 Hot Water Boiler Drain
square feet of collector and 20 gallons of storage Load
capacity for each person in the household. For Ball Valve
large families, this can be reduced by 10 per-
Benjamin Nusz

cent for each person over four members in the Tempering Valve
household. In warm climates, a system is sized
with 15 square feet of collector and 25 gallons
Backup
of storage for each person in the household,
with the same reductions for larger families. Water Heater
These sizing methods will give the best return
on investment. Systems smaller than these will
work well, but your savings will be less. Best for warm climates or seasonal use, integrated collector storage (ICS) systems are the simplest solar water heaters.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 32

 Navigation Bar

Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Water-heating Systems

System type Integral Collector Storage Closed-loop Antifreeze Drainback

Best for Hot climates or seasonal use All climates Moderate/hot climates

Advantages • Proven design • Proven design • Proven design

• Low maintenance • Low maintenance • Low maintenance
• High efficiency • High efficiency • High efficiency
• Simplicity • Usable in any climate, including • Freeze protection in all but coldest
extreme freezing conditions
• Pumps can be PV-powered • Fluid drains when idle, preventing
• Can place collectors in any degradation of antifreeze solution
position relative to storage tank
• Piping can be installed in
a variety of ways
Disadvantages • Weight • Antifreeze solution degrades, • Collectors must be mounted above drain-
• Bestwhere freezing never especially in hot climates or when back tank, limiting options
occurs; where freezing is system is idle, and must be • Installation requires care to ensure quick,
infrequent, use only with replaced every 10 to 15 years complete drainage
freeze-protection valves • Pumps usually not PV-powered
• Vulnerable to freezing in extreme cold

The circulating pump in these systems can mounted outside. Whenever the sun shines on component most prone to failure, makes PV-
be powered by either AC or DC current. If AC- the PV panel, electricity flows to the circulat- powered systems quite reliable.
powered, the pump gets its energy from your ing pump, and it starts running. When the sun Drainback systems are popular in moder-
home’s 120-volt electrical power system. In this stops shining, the pump turns off. DC-powered ate and hot climates. They’re similar to closed-
case, a controller is necessary to turn the pump systems are becoming the most popular kind of loop antifreeze systems, but the big difference
on and off at the appropriate times. The control- closed-loop antifreeze system on the market. The is that they include an additional tank, the
ler is connected to temperature sensors in the PV supplies free power to the pump; the pump drainback tank. When the system is off, the
collectors and on the storage tank. Whenever it’s runs whenever the sun is out, preventing stag- fluid is stored in the drainback tank and the
hotter in the collectors than it is in the storage nation and overheating; and it runs at variable pipes and collectors are empty. The fluid can be
tank, the controller turns on the pump. When it’s speeds depending on the amount of sunlight, so it pure water or a weak solution of antifreeze in
warmer in the storage tank than in the collectors, automatically matches the collector’s heat output. water. These fluids don’t resist freezing as well
the controller turns the pump off. These pumps have limited power, but it’s sufficient as those used in closed-loop antifreeze sys-
If the circulating pump is DC-powered, it’s to move the fluid through a piping system that’s tems, which makes drainback systems vulner-
wired directly to a small photovoltaic (PV) panel always full. The absence of a pump controller, the able to freezing in extreme or extended cold.
Drainback systems usually use a control-
ler and an AC pump. The pump is a special
high-head pump because it has to lift the fluid
PV to fill the piping and collectors every time the
Panel system turns on. This requires more power than
in antifreeze systems, where the pump just cir-
culates fluid through piping that’s always full.
Solar Thermal Otherwise, drainback systems operate simi-
Panel
larly to an antifreeze system: When the sun
warms the collectors, the high-head pump
Hot Water Load
comes on and circulates the fluid into and
throughout the system, and a heat exchanger
Tempering Valve
transfers the heat from the fluid into the stor-
Pump
Cold Water
age tank. There is no expansion tank and fewer
Thermometer
Supply valves and gauges than in an antifreeze system,
Pressure Gauge
Check Valve
but the piping must be carefully installed to
Pressure Relief
facilitate proper drainage.
Valve
Heat
ADDITIONAL
Temp. & Press.
Exchanger Relief Valve
Benjamin Nusz

Expansion
Tank CONSIDERATIONS
Boiler Drain
A few other factors will influence your
Backup Water Heater Solar Storage Tank choice of a solar water heater. If you find a system
Ideal for all climates, closed-loop antifreeze systems use heat exchangers to transfer heat from the that is substantially cheaper than others, there’s
antifreeze mixture to the water, which remains in the storage tank until used.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 33

 Navigation Bar

Solar Sources
Solar Solar Water Heating
Thermal
Panel
By Bob Ramlow

Locate Dealers/Installers
FindSolar

Hot Water Load North American Board of Certified

Energy Practitioners
Thermometer
Home Power magazine
Check Valve

Cold
Tempering Valve Learn More About Solar
Drainback
Water Tank Boiler Drain American Solar Energy Society
Supply Differential
Temp. Control
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Temp. & Press.
Energy, click “solar energy
Heat Relief Valve technologies”
Exchanger Flow Meter

Benjamin Nusz
Backup Sensor
Water Pump
Heater

Solar Storage Tank

Best suited to moderate/hot climates, drainback systems include a tank that holds the antifreeze solution when
the system is off.

probably a reason, such as lower quality compo-climates. They have been around the longest the system. In addition, they’re less susceptible
nents. There is no substitute for quality — don’t
and are efficient and competitively priced. They to the forces of wind, because there are spaces
take shortcuts with an investment like this. are shallow rectangular boxes with glazed tops between the tubes, unlike the large closed sur-
A solar water-heating system often can and insulated backs and sides. An absorber face of a flat-plate collector.
be expanded to include space heating as well. plate inside gathers solar heat and transfers it Solar water heaters can last 40 years or
The collector array and other components will to a network of copper tubing, through which more if the design is appropriate to the climate
need to be larger. There are numerous options the solar fluid flows. They are the only collec- and the system incorporates high-quality ma-
for storing and distributing heat in combina- tor that sheds snow and frost well. They also terials and workmanship. Investing in a solar
tion systems. Discuss your ideas with a solar operate precisely within the temperature range energy system could even be considered patri-
professional (see “Solar Sources”). needed to heat domestic water — below zero otic, because solar keeps our energy dollars at
Closed-loop and drainback systems to about 180 degrees — and rarely overheat. home and reduces our dependency on others.
should always have a separate storage tank for Evacuated-tube collectors from differ- You will spend a certain amount of money to
solar-heated water and a backup water heater. ent manufacturers vary significantly, but all heat water in any case, so why not choose to do
The same tank can’t do both jobs efficiently. use rows of glass tubes, each containing a heat it with solar energy? Your pocketbook, and the
Typically, the output of the storage tank runs absorber. A vacuum sealed inside the tubes environment, will appreciate it.
to the input of the backup heater. When solar insulates the absorbers. These collectors over-
output is sufficient, the backup heater doesn’theat more readily than flat-plate collectors,
come on. so care must be taken never to oversize the Bob Ramlow has more than 30 years of experience with
collector array or undersize the storage tank. solar energy systems. He currently owns a renewable
COLLECTIVELY They tend to cost more than flat-plate collec- energy consulting company, and he is a co-founder and

SPEAKING tors for equivalent heating capacity, but prices member of the board of directors for the Midwest Re-
for high-quality evacuated-tube collectors are newable Energy Association. This article was adapted
There are two popular kinds of solar col- falling. They also are more fragile than flat- from Solar Water Heating, a MOTHER EARTH NEWS
lectors, flat-plate and evacuated-tube. plate collectors and don’t shed snow or frost Book for Wiser Living from New Society Publishers.
Flat-plate collectors are by far the most well. On the other hand, they work well when
popular kind of collector and work well in all there is a consistent year-round, daily load on

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 34

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

Eight
Compelling
Reasons to
Buy a
Solar
Roof

Cheryl long
By Terri Suess and Cheryl Long

Thin-film photovoltaic laminates adorn Mother Earth News Editor Cheryl Long’s barn.

Eight reasons why you should install your own solar electric roof.
1. Personal and national security. The more we some areas. To learn what’s available in your state, years to plan, site and build — and most people do
tap solar and other renewable energy sources, the go to the Database of State Incentives for Renew- not want them in their back yards. Power distribu-
less dependent we are on utility giants and nonre- able Energy (DSIRE), www.dsireusa.org. tion systems feeding metropolitan areas are oper-
newable fossil fuels. Solar roofs can even be used to 4. Selling back peak power to the grid via ating near capacity during peak demand periods.
charge electric vehicles, which will reduce pollution net-metering. Net-metering rules and regulations Onsite power production via home solar-electric
and decrease our need for foreign oil. are in place in many states, allowing homeowners installations, part of a “distributed generation” sce-
2. Protection against price increases. Electrici- to run their electrical meters backward when they nario, offers a positive solution for elected officials
ty prices in many states are increasing. In California send electricity to the grid from a solar-electric seeking to prevent blackouts and brownouts, im-
a combination of deregulation, population growth, rooftop. When the homeowner uses electricity prove air quality and enhance the economy by pro-
increased consumer demand and construction of from the grid at night or on cloudy days, the meter ducing jobs.
fewer new power plants caused electricity costs to runs forward. The monthly bill is based on the net 7. A beautiful, distinctive, high-tech, home
skyrocket. Other states are watching similar trends difference. design element. Technological developments
and expect prices to increase in the coming years. 5. Global warming reductions. According to have resulted in more appealing and affordable
With nuclear power plants being decommissioned the Department of Energy (DOE), electric power systems, designed to complement a home’s
or phased out because of the high costs and high plants emitted 40 percent of all carbon dioxide (CO architecture. With Building-Integrated Pho-
risks related to nuclear waste disposal, and with 2 ) emissions in the United States in 1999, making tovoltaics (BIPV ), the solar-electric system is
the best hydroelectric sources tapped, new sources them the largest single-source contributor to global the roof.
of electricity are needed. Even though many new warming. Fifty-one percent of all the electricity 8. Supporting the future of solar power.
gas-fired power plants have been constructed, some produced in the United States in 1999 was gener- The PV market is expected to grow to $10 bil-
analysts see natural gas shortages emerging that ated by coal-fired plants, yet these plants produced lion by 2010. The annual growth rate of solar
will require expensive drilling and pipeline con- 80 percent of all the C0 2 emissions resulting from PV products has increased by 20 percent annu-
struction. This points to higher natural gas prices electricity power generation. DOE also reports ally and is expected to double every three years
rippling across to electricity prices. one-quarter of all types of air pollution emissions for the next 20 years. This growth should spur
3. Rebates . Some states are finally getting se- nationwide are caused by burning fossil fuels (coal, additional investment, contribute to economies
rious about supporting renewable energy options. natural gas and oil) to generate electricity. of scale in the industry and help make systems
Government rebates, tax credits and grants can cut 6. A response to “Not in my back yard” Con- even more affordable.
the cost of your solar roof by up to 60 percent in ventional power plants and transmission lines take

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 35

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

Simpler
Solar
Power
By Doug Livingston and Scott Hollis

Catherine Wanek
Grid-tied solar systems make choosing clean, renewable
electricity easier and more affordable than ever.

M any of us dream of tapping alterna-

tive energy sources so we can live
“off the grid.” But you don’t need to
unplug from the utility grid in order to use solar
panels to produce your own power. For most of
NET METERING
The most important factor in deciding to
install a grid-tied solar system is whether your
state or area has net metering. Net metering
means the utility will trade electricity with
If your area doesn’t have net metering,
write your state policymakers urging them to
change the regulations.
Many states (37 and counting) do offer
net metering. Not all locations have the same
us, a simpler grid-tied system is a better choice you, giving you credit for any excess power regulations, though; go to www.dsireusa.org to
than an off-the-grid setup. Instead of costly your renewable energy system produces for learn more about net metering policies in your
batteries, you can use the grid to “store” your the grid. When your grid-tied system is pro- area. This Web site also is a great source for in-
excess solar power. In most states, net metering ducing more than you use, the excess power formation about renewable energy rebates and
laws require your utility to credit you whenever automatically flows back to the grid, literally other incentives available in your area.
your system produces more power than you use. spinning your electricity meter backward and You should pay close attention to your lo-
This means that when the sun is shining, your adding credits to your account. Net metering cal net metering regulations because they will
electric meter may spin backwards! is so important that you probably don’t want affect the sizing of your system. Some states
What follows is a guide to grid-tied solar to consider a residential grid-tied system in a calculate net metering monthly, while others
systems — the simplest way to switch to renew- location that doesn’t offer it, unless you aren’t figure it annually. Most home solar systems
able energy for your home. concerned with saving money. produce a surplus of power in the summer and

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 36

 Navigation Bar

People Worry too much about …
Photovoltaic orientation
Changing the PV angle is uncommon — it’s usually restricted to off-the-grid
The Size of Your
systems in which every little bit of winter sun is more precious than summer
sun. For the lower 48 states, any inclination between 5 and 45 degrees
System Relates to
will work fairly well. In the absence of shading problems, pointing your PV
at any orientation between southeast and southwest also will work nearly
Energy Efficiency
as well as due south. Solar-tracking mounts, which automatically follow the The first step in sizing your solar system
daily movement of the sun, rarely are used on grid-tied residential systems. is to reduce any unnecessary power
usage in your home. By doing so, you
Backup power from batteries can purchase a smaller, less expensive
Batteries reduce the amount of useable electricity your system will produce, system that will save money on the up-
as well as make your system more expensive and complicated to install front cost and still make your home more
and maintain. “Store” your excess electricity by sending it back into the energy efficient. Your local utility can be
utility grid for a credit, and if you need power during an outage, buy a a good resource for energy efficiency
generator — they’re cost-effective and probably more environmentally tips, and it often gives rebates for replac-
friendly than batteries. ing major energy-wasting appliances
with more efficient ones such as Energy

People Don’t Worry Enough about … Star-rated appliances (www.energystar.

gov). To reduce your consumption by
half is just as good for the Earth as pro-
Shading
viding half of your energy needs with a
Crystalline modules usually consist of 36 or 72 cells wired together in
solar system — and it’s easier on your
a series. If just one cell becomes covered by a shadow, perhaps from a
pocketbook.
vent pipe or tree branch, it can block the flow of the entire module. Built-in
bypass diodes help minimize
loss, but a shadow covering
just 3 percent of a module
can equal up to a 50-percent
power loss. If you can’t avoid
How Much Electricity can you Create?
partial shading, consider To estimate paybacks or returns on investment, first you need to predict the amount of
amorphous PV because it is electricity your PV system will generate. For the simplest systems with fixed PV, minimal
not as affected by shading shading, reasonably good orientation, inclination and annual net metering, this is easy
as crystalline modules. to estimate. Multiply your local annual “noon sun hours per day” (keep reading) by your
PV wattage. Reduce that figure by 15 percent to 30 percent to compensate for less-
run a deficit in the winter, so an annual bill- than-perfect system efficiency. Now divide this total by 1,000 for the total kilowatt-hours
ing period usually is a better deal. produced by your system.
In many states, any net excess electricity A typical value for “noon sun hours per day” in the Midwest is 4.5. In the Sun Belt,
credits you accumulate during your billing this value is slightly higher (above 6 in some areas of the desert) and in the extreme
cycle can be sold to the utility — but usually Pacific Northwest to the Upper Midwest and through New England, the value is about 4
at a significantly lower price than the retail or slightly lower. To find the average amount of sunshine in your area, click here.
rate. So it probably wouldn’t be cost-effec-
In some locations (California, for example), the electric rates vary with the season.
tive to produce more electricity than you
use; the goal is to choose a system sized to For details and examples on how to calculate other PV production scenarios like this, go
produce only the power you think you will to www.MotherEarthNews.com/downloads/simplesolar.
use in a given net metering period.

GO WITHOUT
BATTERIES A much better tool exists for backup power Crystalline modules come in two types: mono
— a gas or diesel generator. If you expect long and poly. Monocrystalline PV has blue or gray-
One of the greatest advantages of a grid- power outages in your area, you would want a black cells that don’t completely cover the module
tied system is that you can avoid buying a large generator just to avoid having to maintain a face. A white backing usually shows at each cell’s
battery bank. Batteries in a grid-tied system large battery bank. And once you have a gen- rounded corner, producing a visible pattern that
only provide backup power during utility out- erator, why have batteries at all? some homeowners find unappealing. Polycrystal-
ages. This may seem like a good idea in theory, line cells are cut into rectangles that completely
but the batteries make the system unnecessarily PHOTOVOLTAIC OPTIONS cover the white background, providing a more
complex, less efficient and substantially more ex- Photovoltaic (PV) modules (the panels that uniform appearance. They usually are a sparkly
pensive. Batteries also contain hazardous heavy collect the sun’s energy) come in two main types: blue color. Both mono and polycrystalline mod-
metals and last only for a limited time (they will crystalline and amorphous (also called “thin-film”). ules are covered with tempered glass in an alumi-
need replacement about every five years). What’s Both cost about the same for quality modules ($8 num frame. Mono and polycrystalline PV perform
more, battery-based grid-tied systems take up to $12 per installed watt), but they differ in the way similarly — your choice likely will be decided on
more space and require more equipment. they look and work. availability, price and personal aesthetics.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 37

 Navigation Bar

Amorphous PV has not been on the THE REST OF THE SYSTEM If you live in an area where net metering
market as long as crystalline PV, and the first The only other major component of your is not available, a solar electric system for your
generation or two did not prove to be durable. grid-tied nonbattery system is the inverter. home probably won’t pay for itself during your
Even now, most amorphous modules only car- The inverter changes the direct current (DC) lifetime, unless the declining supply of coal
ry a five-year warranty, although United Solar created by the PV into the alternating current and oil causes unprecedented increases in the
Systems’ UniSolar amorphous PV carries at (AC) we use in North America. In a battery cost of electricity. Your money may be better
least a 20-year warranty and has maintained system, the inverter usually is sized for the spent on energy-efficient home improvements
good performance after decades of operation. maximum potential demand of your home (see “The Size of Your System Relates to En-
UniSolar’s standing-seam thin-film laminates during a power outage — and that typically ergy Efficiency,” Page 37).
can be bonded directly onto a metal roof, creat- makes it much larger and more expensive than Once you’ve estimated your system’s kilo-
ing a durable, uniformly dark surface that also nonbattery inverters that only have to be sized watt-hour production, you need to determine
is pleasing to the eye. Usually, the thin-film PV to handle the power produced by the PV sys- the cost of your utility electricity. This usu-
can be connected invisibly to its wiring under tem. The new generation of certified grid-tied, ally is a flat rate (the national average cost for
the roof ’s ridge cap. or “grid-interactive,” inverters seems reliable, electricity is almost 10 cents a kilowatt-hour)
Amorphous PV requires more space per but you probably should choose a high-voltage but some areas, such as California, have pen-
generated watt than crystalline PV, but it has DC inverter because they are less expensive to alty-pricing structures in which high-usage
two significant advantages: High temperatures wire. (Low-voltage inverters only are neces- households pay more for their electricity. A
and partial shading do not affect amorphous sary under a couple of specialized conditions, long-term financial analysis should include an
PV as much as crystalline. For crystalline where you have more than three solar arrays, estimated inflation factor for the cost of elec-
PV, electricity production is more affected by persistent shade or batteries.) tricity (see “Solar Energy as an Investment,”
shadows; when just one cell is shaded, it blocks Inverter power ratings refer to the maxi- Page 39). The more expensive electricity be-
the flow of all electricity in that series. Uni- mum continuous output. As a rule of thumb, comes in the future, the faster your system will
Solar amorphous PV transfers electricity using the most cost-effective nonbattery grid-tied pay for itself.
a weblike series of connections that bypasses inverters are in the 2- to 6-kilowatt range. The savings on your electric bill, unlike a
shaded areas. stock market investment, will not be taxed. By
All PV modules produce less electricity THE SOLAR PAYOFF investing in a solar system, you may get a high-
the hotter they become, but the output reduc- The time it will take for your system to er rate of return on your investment than with
tion for amorphous PV is about half as much pay for itself depends on the amount of sun- an average stock market investment. If you are
as it is for crystalline PV. If you use framed shine in your area; the cost of the system; local lucky enough to have Time Of Use metering
crystalline PV, mount the array 3 to 6 inches electric rates and future inflation; your state’s (rates are lower for nights, weekends and off-
off the roof so it stays cooler. metering laws; your system’s type and size; and season usage — available in parts of Califor-
The upfront cost for UniSolar’s amorphous rebates and tax credits. A good installer should nia, for example), your rate of return will be
PV is high because of the roofing to which it is be able to work out all these variables for you even better.
bonded. But if you are putting amorphous PV on paper. Or once you have a system price
on a new structure or are re-roofing an existing quote, you can download the spreadsheets at
structure, then UniSolar standing-seam mod- here to calculate your approximate payback Doug Livingston is a former physics instructor who has
ules probably are a good choice. As PV produc- period and return on investment (see “Grid- designed renewable energy systems for a decade. He
tion increases, the price of amorphous should tied Solar Money Management,” Page 39, for also is an instructor for the Solar Living Institute in Hop-
decrease to less than crystalline modules. examples). “Payback” is the number of years it land, Calif. Scott Hollis is an associate editor at Mother
takes for your electricity savings to equal the Earth News.
system’s cost and maintenance.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 38

 Navigation Bar

Grid-tied Solar Money Management

Calculate your payback period and return on investment.
Before you decide that a solar system is right The total installed cost of the Sullivans’ system was Calculating Return on
for you, it helps to calculate the payback period of $11,563. Without rebates, tax incentives and Investment (ROI)
a potential system. For two examples, let’s look at grants, the system would pay for itself in the 34th So, how does investing in a solar power system
Mark and Kristin Sullivan’s home in Capitola, Calif. year. But with a $3,992 rebate from the California compare with other investment options (such as the
(See the Sullivans’ home specs, below; learn more Energy Commission and an $861 state tax credit, stock market)? I find the easiest way to calculate in-
about the Sullivan home, Page 16.) the couple paid only $6,710 for the system, which vestment returns is on an accounting spreadsheet so
Because the Sullivans’ home is designed so ef- reduces the payback period to 22 years. A similar I can change economic factors such as system cost,
ficiently, the couple’s total energy use is so low that system with batteries would cost about $12,000 inflation, interest rates and the natural decline in the
the house uses less power than most American after rebates and incentives, and would have a pay- efficiency of PV panels, which we call the “degrada-
homes — on average, less than 7 kilowatt-hours back of 41 years. tion rate.” (Download my Excel spreadsheet here)
a day (kWh/day). In fact, the Sullivans’ power Let’s calculate the payback period for an aver- Let’s look again at the Sullivans’ house, using
consumption stays within California’s first tier of the age California home that consumes 20 kWh/day the system cost and payback figures from the previ-
penalty-pricing bracket, which means they only pay (almost three times as much electricity as the ous section; I have chosen to replace the inverter
11.4 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity — the Sullivans’ home), using the same Sullivan system as- every 25 years and replace the PV every 50 years.
lowest possible rate from their utility. In the Sullivans’ sumptions, including rebates and system cost. In this First, let’s assume a reasonable 5-percent electricity
region, the second penalty-pricing tier doesn’t apply case, the average home would rarely step out of the inflation rate (national oil prices have increased
until their monthly consumption of grid power reach- lowest-priced tier during winter (19.1 kWh/ 4.2 percent annually since the Arab oil embargo of
es 19.1 kWh/day in the winter and 10.4 kWh/ day), but would regularly step into the second and 1973) and an average annual system degradation
day in the summer. Because of this, their system third pricing tiers during summer (10.4 kWh/day). of 0.5 percent. The Sullivans’ 50-year investment
payback period will be longer than for a California In winter, the average home’s daily PV pro- will return a tax-free average profit of 7.5 percent
home with more typical electricity consumption. (Go duction is about 3.8 kWh, which corresponds to per year. But if we plug in an estimated annual
here for details on calculating seasonal production.) 688 kWh over 181 days of winter (short days). increase in electric rates of 8 percent, instead of 5
The following payback analysis assumes a 5- Assuming the cost of first-tier grid electricity still is percent, then the system will return an annual profit
percent annual increase in the price of electricity 11.4 cents, the total seasonal savings equals $78 of almost 25 percent. If electric rates rise as much
after the first year. The Sullivans produce about 4.7 for all winter PV production in the first year. as 20 percent a year, the value of a photovoltaic
kWh/day of photovoltaic power and use about 1.7 In summer, the average home’s daily PV produc- system skyrockets.
kWh/day of grid power sold to them at 11.4 cents tion is 5.5 kWh, which corresponds to 1,012 kWh In theory, you are buying 50-plus years worth of
a kilowatt-hour. This means the Sullivans’ solar sys- total over 184 days of summer (long days). Because electricity. The above calculations assume you didn’t
tem earns about $196 in the first year [0.114 cents the cost of electricity increases to 17.6 cents per borrow the money to pay for your solar system,
(grid price) x 4.7 kWh/day (PV production) x 365 kilowatt-hour for electricity usage from 13.5 to 20.8 but borrowed money comes with an interest rate.
days (year)]. kWh/day, the total summer PV production equals Generally, the financial picture for debt-financed PV
Now let’s calculate how long it will take the $178. This translates into a payback period of is unattractive because of high upfront system costs.
Sullivans to pay off their grid-tied solar system. about 18 years. Remember you have to subtract any loan interest
costs from your electric savings.
— Doug Livingston

Solar Energy as an Investment

Sullivan Home Specs 50-year Return on Investment (ROI)
• Array: 18 modules (12 volt/60 watt) The main unanswered question in any investment analysis of solar power is how much the
• Solar inclination: 37 degrees cost of grid electricity will increase in the future. Here are four scenarios that assume electricity
costs will increase at different rates, from 5 percent to 20 percent per year. No one knows
• Inverter: 2,500-watt SMA-America
how fast electric rates will climb in response to the declining supply of fossil fuels and increas-
SunnyBoy
ing environmental controls, but it’s worth noting that the average cost of residential electricity
• Total rated PV production: 1,080 watts increased 8.8 percent per year in California from 2000 to 2002.
• Annual output: 1,700 kWh
(4.7 kWh/day) Assumptions for Mark and Kristin Sullivan’s house in Capitola, Calif.:
• Initial expense of $6,710 (after incentives)
• Average daily power consumption:
• System output of 4.7 kWh/day with a decline in efficiency of 0.5 percent per year
6.4 kWh/day or about 2,300 kWh/yr.
• Initial electricity rate of 11.4 cents/kWh
• Grid power consumption: 1.7 kWh/day
If electricity cost increases at 5 percent annually, their ROI will be 7.5 percent.
• Gross installed cost: $11,563
If electricity cost increases at 8 percent annually, their ROI will be 25 percent.
• Rebates and tax deduction:
$3,992; $861 If electricity cost increases at 10 percent annually, their ROI will be 53 percent.
• Adjusted installed cost: $6,710 If electricity cost increases at 20 percent annually, their ROI will be 2,130 percent.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 39

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

Easy
Solar
Power
By Cheryl Long

Try new thin-film photovoltaic laminates and

start generating solar electricity.

I nstalling clean, reliable, inflation-proof solar

power is easier than ever, thanks to the inven-
tion of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) laminates
that can be bonded directly onto metal roofing
panels. Unlike crystalline PV material, there’s no
Invented by ECD Ovonics co-founder Stan
Ovshinsky, thin-film laminates offer several advan-
tages over crystalline PV panels. Thin-film sheets
perform better in high temperatures and in partly
shaded conditions, and they require 100 times less
the photos on the following pages show, it’s hard
to imagine a simpler way to install grid-tied, solar-
electric power on a new or replacement metal roof.
It took only five to 10 minutes to apply each PV
sheet to a roof panel.
need for obtrusive racks and heavy, expensive glass. silicon, which means thin-film PV is expected to Our new metal roof was 24-gauge Galvalume
Instead, unbreakable thin-film PV is produced us- become less expensive than crystalline as produc- steel from Englert, Inc. It should last at least 50
ing amorphous silicon, encapsulated in Teflon and tion capacity expands over the next few years. years, and the steel can be recycled, making it an
other polymers. We had a chance to get a firsthand look at this excellent sustainable choice for any building. Af-
Thanks to pioneering work by Steve Heck- exciting new PV option after Heckeroth offered to ter the roofing panels were installed, Heckeroth
eroth, a MOTHER EARTH NEWS contribut- install it on the new metal roof I was putting on danced briefly along the ridge to snap the connect-
ing editor and the director of building-integrated my small barn last summer. We invited the public, ing wires together, and then our electrician, Robert
photovoltaics for Energy Conversion Devices and Heckeroth led a workshop about solar power. Gore, wired the direct-current output from the
(ECD) Ovonics, this thin-film PV is now available Nearly 50 folks spent an unusually hot, 100 de- thin-film PV into a Fronius inverter. The inverter
in easily shippable, 16-inch-wide rolls. It’s a peel- gree May day watching and helping as Heckeroth converts the direct-current power generated by the
and-stick laminate. You just unroll the sheet, lay it showed volunteers how to bond the thin-film PV solar panels to standard 110-volt alternating cur-
face up on a flat metal roofing panel and press it laminates to the metal roof panels. Then local ar- rent. Then the power flows through the new meters
onto the panel while your assistant pulls the protec- chitect and builder Kenton Knowles and his Glob- installed by the utility company (at no charge!) and
tive sheet off the sticky backing. al Homes crew installed the panels on the barn. As into my home.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 40

 Navigation Bar

1
Peel off the backing of
the PV strip and stick it
onto the roof panel.

3
Snap one edge of the roof
panel into place, with help
from the rubber mallet.

2
Raise the I n addition to the PV, you’ll need an in- passed net-metering laws and most have enacted
solar roof! verter (ours cost about $2,500), cables and incentives to support further development of solar,
switches, plus the services of an electrician wind and other renewable energy options.
and roofers. Then you subtract all tax cred- In nearby Colorado, for example, some utili-
its, rebates and other incentives available in ties are paying rebates of up to $6 per watt to hom-
your state. The final cost will vary greatly eowners who install PV systems, thanks to a state
The sun was blazing, and the roofers were re- depending upon where you live. law requiring utilities to generate 10 percent of
ally sweaty, but as soon as Gore flipped the switch, Two major variables will determine the long- their power from renewable sources by 2015. So in
everyone smiled as the inverter kicked on and the term value of your PV system: 1) Your utility’s Colorado and dozens of other states that offer gen-
digital readout quickly climbed to “1,530 watts,” electric rates and how much they increase over the erous rebates and credits, solar power has become a
showing exactly how much electricity the new 25-year life of your system and 2) State and federal very attractive option.
system was delivering to the house. Anytime the incentive programs to promote renewable energy. It’s hard to predict exactly how fast a PV
house needs more power than the PV is producing, Here in Kansas, a small system such as our grid- system will pay for itself, since nobody really
the system draws from the utility grid. tied 1.8 kW setup would cost about $7,200 for the knows how high the cost of grid electricity will
PV, plus $2,500 for the inverter and switches, plus climb as oil and gas prices rise (along with grow-
WHAT’S IT GONNA COST? labor. We can reduce this amount by claiming a ing concerns about global warming) and how
The only hard thing about grid-tied solar federal income tax credit of about $2,000. Kansas much the prices for PV will shift as demand and
power is paying for it, but it makes more economic unfortunately has no state incentives to encourage production capacity increase. But in the dozens
sense every time the rising cost of oil pushes up solar power development, nor has it passed a net- of states that have decided it’s wise to offer gen-
energy prices. Now, ECD Ovonics’ thin-film PV metering law that would require our utility com- erous renewable energy incentives, investing in
costs about the same as crystalline PV with glass pany to pay us a retail rate for any electricity our solar power already makes great sense. To find
covers and frames, $4 to $5 per watt, but it requires system sends back to its grid. Kansas is lagging be- out what incentives are available in your state, go
less labor to install. hind the rest of the country — 40 states have now to www.dsireusa.org. For more about how to cal-

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 41

 Navigation Bar

4
Screw down the other
edge to secure it.
Learn More About
Easy Solar Power
Watch the Video
Online at www.MotherEarthNews.com, solar expert Steve
Heckeroth explains how building-integrated thin-film solar power
works. Heckeroth is a Mother Earth News contributing editor and
the director of building-integrated photovoltaics for ECD Ovonics.

Recommended Web sites

www.dsireusa.org
Spells out the state rebates, loans and other incentives available for
all renewable energy categories and for energy conservation.

www.homepower.com
Home Power magazine is an excellent resource for anyone who
wants to learn more about solar or other renewable energy op-
tions. The Web site includes a directory of renewable energy
dealers and installers.

www.nabcep.org
Find certified solar installers listed with the North American Board
of Certified Energy Practitioners.

www.pvwatts.org
Determines how much power a PV system will produce at your
location and lists local utility electric rates.

www.uni-solar.com
Through this site you can locate a
Cheryl long; Matthew T. Stallbaumer (5)

solar installer who can give you a price quote on a

building-integrated ECD Ovonics solar project.

Recommended Reading
Got Sun? Go Solar
By Rex A. Ewing and Doug Pratt

5
Ta dah! All done, with the This new book by two veteran solar experts provides a clear dis-
electrical connections neatly cussion of all the basic information homeowners need in order to
tucked under the ridge cap. choose a simple, grid-tied solar or wind system.

culate the payback period, see “You Can Afford

Solar Power,” Page 43. Basic Solar Power Stats
A straight cost/benefit analysis is not the only
factor to consider. If you choose to go solar, you will Average home electricity use:
be supporting an industry that is poised to make Typical home: 900 kWh per month; 10,800 kWh per year
a major contribution to the looming energy crisis Energy-efficient home: as little as 420 kWh per month; 5,000 kWh per year
and our global warming predicament. Buying a
solar-electric system is one of the best things you Estimated annual production per 1.0 kW of PV:
can do to help protect our environment and to give Amounts vary depending upon climate, latitude, local rates and PV system specifics; to
your family some protection from skyrocketing en- calculate production for your location, go to www.pvwatts.org.
ergy prices and the uncertainties caused by climate
change. Every homeowner who opts for clean, Annual kWh Value of the PV production
renewable solar power is taking us one more step AC production (current local rate per kWh)
toward a wiser, more sustainable human presence Phoenix, Ariz. 1,617 $137 (8.5 cents)
on Earth. Colorado Springs, Colo. 1,519 $128 (8.4 cents)
Miami, Fla. 1,339 $121 (9.0 cents)
Topeka, Kan. 1,310 $101 (7.7 cents)
Cheryl Long is the editor in chief of Mother Earth News. She Albany, N.Y. 1,159 $168 (14.5 cents)
lives south of Topeka, Kan., on an eight-acre homestead and Seattle, Wash. 970 $62 (6.4 cents)
loves hearing her PV inverter hum every time she walks into
her barn.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 42

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

You Can
Afford
Solar
Power
By Andy Black

Here’s how to calculate the payback period for a PV.

F or years, questions about returns on the

expensive investment in a solar-electric
system were dismissed with the analogy,
“What’s the payback on your swimming pool?”
That sentiment might speak to the converted, but
net-metering policies, financial incentives and good they use. Even better, in California, solar systems
sunlight. Unlike the other factors, sunlight is avail- are allowed to operate on a time-of-use rate sched-
able in almost all of the continental United States. ule, which enables users to sell electricity back to
High electric rates can take various forms. the utility at peak rates, which can be even more
California, Hawaii, New
for most people considering solar power, the finan- York and other states
cial case is a major deciding factor.
Fortunately, photovoltaic (PV) technology
have average rates well
above 15 cents per kilo-
Figure 1. Power Costs Compared
This chart compares costs of utility bills without a solar system to
has matured such that we now can offer serious watt-hour (kWh). Cal- costs of the solar system (loan, lower utility bill and maintenance). It
answers to the payback question, backed by solid ifornia’s tiered pricing assumes the PV system inverter is replaced at 15 years. The major
math and accounting. Answers vary significantly by system penalizes large drop at 20 years represents payoff of the loan.
local climate, utility rates and incentives, but in the
residential users with
best cases, the returns will be more than 10 percent, prices as high as 33 cents
the cash flow positive and the increase in property per kWh. Solar energy
value greater than the system cost. In other parts offsets highest-tier usage
of the country where electric rates are low and in- first, making the custom-
centives may be less, a grid-tied system may barely er look like a smaller net
cover its maintenance costs. user.
Andy black/ongrid solar

Under most net-

WHAT FACTORS IMPROVE metering laws, which
PAYBACK? vary by state or utility,
solar energy generated
The most important factors for making solar by users offsets the re-
an attractive investment include high electric rates, tail cost of the electricity

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 43

 Navigation Bar

valuable. These high rates are the increased in value faster than compa-
most important factor in improv- Figure 2. Solar and Property Value rable conventional homes in a nearby
ing the payback. This chart shows changes in value of a property with a solar system. community. On average, the homes in-
Direct incentives can in- It appreciates until about year 11, then is limited by the savings the creased in value $40,000 more than the
clude tax benefits such as credits system will provide in its remaining lifetime. conventional homes, at a higher rate of
or depreciation. A federal tax appreciation and with a shorter length of
credit went into effect Jan. 1, ownership.
2006, for 30 percent of the cost PV systems will appreciate, rather
of a solar system, up to $2,000 than depreciate, for several years. Appre-
for residential systems (there’s no ciation comes from the increasing an-
cap on commercial credits). For nual savings the system will yield as elec-

Andy black/ongrid solar

PV systems, that typically means tric rates and bill savings rise. It cannot
a $2,000 credit on your tax re- continue forever, however, as the increase
turn for the year the system was in resale value reaches a limit determined
installed. Then there are state in- by the savings potential during the sys-
centives, including rebates, which tem’s remaining life. For these analyses,
can discount up to 60 percent of the system is assumed to be worthless
a system’s cost. Some states also at the end of 25 years. (This estimate is
offer tax credits, which can fur- conservative, since panels typically are
ther reduce the upfront cost of a warranted to work at 80 percent of their
system. Consult a certified tax adviser to check the the savings from a solar system over time. Inflation as-new capability when 25 years old.) If the system
applicability of such incentives to your situation. doesn’t affect loan rates, particularly with fixed-rate is worthless after 25 years, its only value as it nears
A big factor in some calculations is inflation in loans. Hence, as electric rates rise, the savings grow, that time is the savings it can generate before the
electric rates. Solar power is an inflation-protected but the cost of the loan stays relatively constant (it end of the 25th year. The remaining-value limita-
investment, because it offsets electricity costs at rises a little over time as the interest portion of the tion takes over in about the 11th year. (See Figure 2,
the current prevailing retail rate. As rates rise, the payment falls, which cuts the tax deductibility). See above, for an example.) As the NREL resale study
owner saves even more. New forms of incentives, Figure 1, Page 43, for an example. Note that this is suggests, however, actual resale value could be much
including renewable energy credits, or “green tags,” an ideal case in a state with the best incentives. higher depending on the market mood for solar.
can be combined with net metering and other in- The accumulation of net annual savings is free
centives. With these, a PV system can garner sub- and clear with no initial outlay of cash, because MARKETS REWARD
stantial revenue per kWh generated. that was covered by the loan. The savings are small INVESTMENT
though significant in the first years, but really jump
DETERMINING PAYBACK when the loan payments stop. For more information on calculating PV sys-
There are several ways to measure the eco- Increased property resale value. Homes with tem payback, go to www.ongrid.net/payback. Be
nomic value of a solar system: compound annual solar-electric systems increase in value because the aware that some tools don’t account for tiered or
rate of return, cash flow or increase in property re- systems decrease utility operating costs. Accord- time-of-use electric rates in interaction with PV
sale value. In the best cases — California and New ing to a 1998 article by Rick Nevin and Gregory production, and therefore their results may over-
Jersey — common results are a rate of return well Watson in The Appraisal Journal, a home’s value or underestimate the value of a PV system in a
over 10 percent, positive cash flow and an increase increases $20,000 for every $1,000 reduction in an- particular situation.
in property value that more than covers the cost of nual operating costs from energy efficiency. Going solar, like any other major purchase,
the PV system. The rationale is that the money from the re- is a “buyer beware” situation. In addition to
Compound annual rate of return. This is duction in operating costs can go toward a larger avoiding oversimplified estimates, be cautious
another term for interest-rate yield, which is a mortgage with no net change in monthly cost of of aggressive sales pitches and overly optimistic
way of comparing one investment to another. For ownership. Nevin and Watson state that historic financial analyses.
example, a savings account might pay 1 percent mortgage costs have an after-tax effective interest Solar has finally come into its own in certain
interest, and the long-term stock market has paid rate of about 5 percent. If $1,000 of reduced op- markets, which are exploding because individuals
about 10.5 percent. Solar systems in California, erating costs is redirected toward debt service at are discovering the financial benefits of owning
New Jersey and a few other locations can often 5 percent, it can support an additional $20,000 of PV systems in those regions. To encourage wide-
produce a pretax compound rate of return of 10 debt. Instead of paying the utility, the homeowner spread adoption of solar energy, we need to em-
percent or more. pays the bank, but total monthly cost of home power everyone with this knowledge and expand
Cash flow. The cash flow will be positive, ei- ownership is identical. the components that make it possible — tiered
ther immediately or within the first few years, for This increase can effectively reduce the pay- rates, time-of-use net metering and renewable en-
many homeowners who finance their solar systems back period to zero years if the owner chooses to ergy credits. Market forces will take it from there.
using home equity loans. sell the property immediately, and it removes the
This calculation compares the estimated sav- purchase risk. It could even lead to a profit on im-
ings on the electric bill to the cost of the loan. mediate resale in some cases. Andy Black owns OnGrid Solar, which provides solar finan-
Monthly loan cost is the principal-plus-interest Currently, this increase in property value is cial analysis tools and consultation. He is a board member of
payment required to pay off the loan, less any tax theoretical. Many of the existing grid-tied solar- the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). He teaches and
savings. In the case of “deductible” loans, such as electric systems have been installed since 2001. consults regularly on the payback of solar electricity. Contact
home equity-based loans, the interest is usually Most of these homes have not been sold, so no him at (408) 428-0808 or www.ongrid.net.
tax-deductible, and thus the loan effectively costs broad studies of comparable resale values are avail-
less. Home equity loans often are excellent sources able. However, emerging evidence suggests that This article was reprinted from Solar Today, the excellent
of funds because interest rates on real estate-se- some solar homes are seeing significant jumps in magazine published by ASES. A year’s subscription is only
cured loans are relatively low and payment terms resale value. $29, a bargain for anyone interested in the latest news on
can be long. For example, a 2004 National Renewable En- solar and other renewable energy technologies.
Inflation plays an important part. Inflation ergy Laboratory (NREL) study demonstrated that
affects electric rates and thus effectively increases San Diego zero-energy homes with solar features
Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 44
 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

Eliminate
Your Electric
Bill, Go
Solar
and Be
Secure

Daniel Marino
By Terri Suess and Cheryl Long

You can install a solar photovoltaic roof, which will generate

your electricity from the free, unlimited supply of sunshine.

T his story is about a choice that can

make you, and the world, more se-
cure. With your very own solar-
electric roof, you’ll be protected from rising
electricity prices. You’ll also take a major step
als, so you don’t even realize the home’s roof is
actually a solar-electric power plant!
These new solar-electric systems are called
building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV ), be-
cause the photovoltaic panels become the roof
as possible before you choose a system, we
highly recommend the magazine Home Power;
(800) 707-6585. The Home Power Web site
also lists renewable energy dealers in a data-
base that can be searched by state.
away from our national dependence on pollut- itself. BIPV installations eliminate the need
ing, unsustainable fossil fuels and dangerous for expensive racks and trackers, as well as the CURRENT COSTS
nuclear reactors. additional labor costs associated with them. Heckeroth says a basic PV system in a net-
“Solar PV is too expensive,” you’re proba- Ready to sign up? To get started, all you metered grid-connected system (see “Types of
bly thinking. Or maybe, “Our neighbors might need is a few hundred square feet of south- PV System,” Page 47), costs about $8 to $12
think solar panels are ugly.” Well, advances in facing roof that receives full sun all day. You per installed watt, so a two kw system would
solar PV technology are rapidly resolving both can start small if you want and add more pan- come to $16,000 to $24,000. But if you are
of those concerns. els later. A solar roof system is actually simple lucky enough to live in a state that offers re-
A new kind of PV panel, called thin-film — the right number of panels to produce the bates that cost can be cut in half to just $8,000
amorphous silicon, is dramatically bringing number of watts you want, wired to an instru- to $12,000.
costs down. Government rebate programs are ment called an inverter. The inverter changes So there it is: Right now it can cost as
also cutting homeowners’ costs by as much as the solar direct current (DC) into the alter- little as $8,000 to install enough solar roof-
60 percent in some states. And in some cases nating current (AC) used by most household ing to meet the long-term electricity needs
your solar roof can generate excess power dur- appliances. of a small, efficient home. (By the way, “long-
ing peak daylight hours that you can sell back Unless you already know a lot about elec- term” means a 20- to 25-year warranty; there
to your utility company (or use to recharge an tricity, you will want to find a local solar dealer are no moving parts and these solar PV panels
electric car or bike). Regarding aesthetics, the or contractor to install your system. If possible, are very durable.) And the great thing is, the
thin-film PV panels are now being produced obtain bids like you would for any other home more of us who buy solar roofs, the faster the
as shingles and standing-seam roofing panels construction project. If you want to install the costs of production and prices will come down.
that closely resemble regular roofing materi- system yourself, or just want to learn as much All new technologies become less expensive as

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 45

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Advantages of
Thin-Film
Solar PV Panels
Most people know solar photovoltaic (PV)
panels as large, heavy, rectangular panels
mounted onto a roof or sometimes on a
special rack with a tracking system that
turns the panels to keep them facing the
sun. These older style panels are made of
crystalline or polycrystalline silicon mod-
ules. In contrast, a new kind of PV panel is
now available, called thin-film amorphous
silicon. Here’s how the new thin-film panels
compare to the crystalline modules:
•The older crystalline and polycrystal-
UNI-SOLAR line modules are fragile and need to be
Uni-Solar’s breakthrough solar electric roofing comes in rolls or shingles and can be applied mounted in an aluminum frame between a
directly over plywood. A thin layer of amorphous silicon generates the electricity. The silicon is layer of glass and a stiff-bottom material.
applied to a stainless steel foil and then coated with a flexible, weatherproof polymer. In contrast, the newer thin-film amorphous
PV panels use a thin stainless steel foil and
a weatherproof plastic “elastomer poly-
demand grows and production costs improve. state energy office. (If your state isn’t yet of- mer” coating. As a result, thin-film panels
Within the next two to three years, Heckeroth fering rebates, we strongly suggest you get on are unbreakable, much lighter and less
predicts the installed costs of thin-film BIPV the phone and make an appointment to have a expensive than the crystalline products,
roofs (see “Advantages of Thin-Film Solar PV chat with your state legislators.) since they don’t require glass covers and
Panels”) will drop to as little as $6 per installed Here are summaries of solar energy in- metal framing.
watt for reroofing projects, and costs could fall centives available in three leading states: New •The crystalline panels lose efficiency and
to $5 or less per watt in new homes designed York, New Jersey and California. produce less electricity when tempera-
specifically to maximize the advantages of this tures rise, while thin-film panels are not
exciting new technology. NEW YORK bothered by hot, sunny conditions.
In areas where electric rates are already “In New York state, we are facing an en- •Crystalline panels stop producing elec-
high, solar PV systems are a pretty good bet ergy crisis that is not going to go away sim- tricity when even one portion of a panel
at $8 per installed watt, even without a rebate ply because demand is exceeding supply,” says is shaded, while thin-film panels still
and without adjusting for future electricity Linda Anne Burris, director of NY Shines, produce energy when partially shaded.
rate hikes or declining costs per PV watt. an organization dedicated to educating ho- Thin-film panels are also more efficient
meowners about solar and renewable energy than crystalline in indirect or diffuse
GOVERNMENT systems. “There is a thirst for energy that is light, making expensive tracking systems
INCENTIVES difficult to meet, particularly in New York City unnecessary.
and Long Island, where the electricity infra- •The production process for the thin-film
Some states need solar electricity so badly structure is old and pushed to its capacity.” panels requires much less energy (and
they’re not waiting for the costs to come down Burris says New York currently offers costs less) than crystalline panels.
naturally. They are offering cash rebates and some of the best rebates in the country when •When used as roofing shingles, thin-film
other incentives that will slash the price tag for homeowners purchase residential solar, grid- panels actually are the roof, so you can
residential solar roofs by up to 60 percent. More connected solar-electric systems. “Most people save the otherwise additional cost of reg-
states may join in this year, as policy-mak- in the industry will tell you that it costs about ular roofing. New quick-connect features
ers work to meet increased electricity demand $10 per watt to install a solar-electric system and large panels are making thin-film
by promoting clean renewables and distrib- on your home without batteries,” she said. “In
roofing faster, and thus less expensive,
uted generation-installing many small power- New York State, when homeowners tap into
to install.
generating systems close to where the energy an array of rebate programs, they can cut that
is needed. These officials understand people price by almost one half.”
don’t want polluting coal plants or dangerous
nuclear plants near their homes, and people do NEW JERSEY ’S CLEAN ENERGY
not much like living next door to high-tension PROGRAM
wires or natural gas pipelines, either.
For information about rebates, loans In New Jersey, small solar-electric systems
and grants available in your state, consult the of fewer than 10 kilowatts qualify for a rebate
Database of State Incentives for Renewable of $5 per watt. The rebate covers up to 60
Energy (DSIRE), or call your local utility or percent of the system costs under a program

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 46

 Navigation Bar

About Net Metering Types of

100,000 solar root tops in the city of Los An-
geles by 2010. Under the LADWP program,
financial incentives include a maximum $3 per

PV Systems
Net-metering is a “win-win” for utilities and ho- watt for systems manufactured outside of Los
meowners. The utility adds more clean power Angeles, and a maximum of $5 per watt for
to its network from a power source located systems manufactured within the city.
close to demand centers, reducing not only
the need to build new plants to meet peak de- TO FIND A SOLAR ROOF There are several ways a solar photovoltaic
mands but also the load on distribution lines.
The process is a win for the homeowner,
DEALER (PV) roof system can be designed:

who doesn’t need a bank of batteries to store The fastest way to learn what rebates are Grid Connected, without battery
electricity to power the household at night or available in your area is to contact a local solar backup. In this system, the PV roof is con-
during overcast days. Instead the system uses roof dealer. The dealer will know what’s cur- nected directly into the commercial utility grid.
the utility grid as a storage battery. rently available and probably will know if any When the PV roof generates more electricity
When the solar-electric rooftop produces additional legislation is pending in your state. than the house needs, the electric meter spins
more electricity than the household needs (at The dealer can explain, in detail, various solar backward, and the power flows into the util-
midday, when the family is away at work and roofing options and give you a bid on whatever ity grid. At night or on cloudy days when
school), electricity is sent to the utility grid and system you choose. the PV roof can’t produce enough power for
the home’s meter runs backward. When the To find a dealer check your yellow pages, the home, the system draws electricity from
household needs more electricity than the sys- state energy office, electricity regulatory agency the grid. (See “About Net Metering,” left.)
tem produces (at night), it is drawn from the util- or local utility. Or check Home Power magazine’s Without batteries, these systems do not pro-
ity grid and the electrical meter runs forward. dealer Web page at www.homepower.org. vide power to homeowners when grid power
The net difference between electric- goes down.
ity exported to the grid and grid-electricity MAKING A DIFFERENCE
used forms the basis for the homeowner’s “Each of us can decide how to make our Grid Connected, with battery backup.
electric bill. In many states, net metering is own contribution to reduce our impact on the This is identical to the system above, except
annualized. The utility credits solar electricity Earth,” says Bill Lord, who lives with his wife, it includes a bank of batteries that can be
produced by the rooftop system during the Debbi, in a custom-built solar house in south- used when the utility grid power goes down.
summer against electricity needed from the ern Maine. Special switches must be included to assure
grid during the winter. “Ours happens to have been investing in the home is completely disconnected when
a solar house. We have found that there can be the grid power goes down and battery back-
a free lunch and dinner, but you need to pay up is used. While batteries can be installed
for breakfast,” he says, referring to the initial to supply power when the grid is down, they
funded by the state and administered by utility planning and investment needed to integrate are expensive and require more maintenance
companies. New Jersey also provides a sales tax solar technologies into one’s home. than a simple grid-connected system.
credit for solar-electric system installations. The Lords integrated passive solar de-
By fall 2001, there had been little publicity sign principles, solar thermal and solar electric Stand-Alone, Independent or Off-
about this program, with most applicants find- technologies into their custom-built home in Grid System. In this design, surplus power
ing out about it by word-of-mouth. One of the Maine more than five years ago. Since then from the PV roof is stored in a group of bat-
major utilities in the state reported in late Au- they have been reaping the benefits of free teries, and the system is not connected to the
gust only 16 applications had been processed. sunlight that falls on their roof every day, re- grid. Although the battery component of this
Some of the impediments to the program in- ducing their utility bills to zero. system increases the cost and requires more
cluded lack of publicity and early difficulties Working with Solar Design Associates of maintenance, a complete off-grid system is
homeowners had locating solar contractors. Harvard, Massachusetts, the Lords built their usually a competitive choice in remote loca-
Now a short list of utility-qualified contrac- home to include super insulation, energy-ef- tions where new and extremely expensive
tors is provided to interested homeowners. ficient appliances, and a passive-solar design power lines would need to be installed.
that welcomes the warm sun in the winter and
CALIFORNIA’S REBATE shades the interior of the house in the sum-
PROGRAMS mer. This reduced the energy load of the home
while offering comfort levels exceeding those
California has myriad state, local and util- found in a comparable conventional home.
ity-sponsored rebate programs, state property With a full south-facing solar rooftop
tax exemptions and other incentives to help comprised of a solar thermal system for radi-
homeowners install solar electric rooftops — ant heating and hot water, and a solar electric
and they are being used. Some solar programs system to produce electricity, the home’s so-
in California reported receiving 250 inquiries lar systems provide nearly all the energy the
a week. Lords need.
The “Emerging Renewable Buy-Down “It takes some planning, but it is possible
Program” and “Self-Generation Program” both to make these investments incrementally to
offer rebates of up to $4.50 per watt or 50 per- reduce the cost of living on Earth,” says Lord.
cent off the price of purchasing the system, “The beauty of solar electricity is it is modu-
whichever is less. lar, so you can install some to meet a portion
The Los Angeles Department of Water of your electricity needs and then expand the
and Power (LADWP) offers even more gen- system as your budget allows.”
erous rebates as part of an effort to install

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 47

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

A Simple
Solar
Solution
By Laurie Guevara-Stone

Living off the grid is a cost-effective option when you have to Solar Energy International

pay big bucks to connect to utilities.

C hris Banks and Paula Minucci were

faced with a decision. Just bringing
electric service to their beautiful
mesa homesite near Carbondale, Colo., was
going to cost thousands even though the site
ity — and then to be burdened with a lifetime
of electric bills — was a wise investment. In-
stead, they decided to put their money where
they could reap a return: in a photovoltaic
(PV ) system.
replaced,” Chris says, “so any way to conserve
helps out in the big picture.”

SIZING THE SYSTEM

Chris and Paula visited Sunsense, Inc., a
was less than a mile from the nearest utility Even before he was faced with the sticker local PV dealer and installation company in
line. They wanted to have all the modern-day shock of connecting to the utility grid, Chris the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, to dis-
comforts, but couldn’t convince themselves was interested in using solar energy. “[Resourc- cuss their energy requirements. Sunsense own-
that forking over $8,000 to connect to the util- es] are going away faster than [they are] being er Scott Ely showed them different equipment

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 48

 Navigation Bar

A single PV cell is made of highly purified

System Components
The Power of PV silicon that is doped to create a voltage differ-
ence on each side of the cell. Sunlight striking
• 8 75-watt Siemens photovoltaic (PV) modules
a PV cell knocks electrons loose, which frees
• 4 100-watt Siemens PV modules*
them to flow in a current. Metal contact points on the top and bottom of the cell draw the
• Ananda Powercenter 3
current off for whatever external use is intended.
• Trace 4024 Inverter
On a bright, sunny day, the sun shines about 1,000 watts of energy per square meter
• 8 Trojan L-16 Batteries
of the Earth’s surface; if we can just collect part of that energy economically, we can easily
power our homes and offices with sunlight instead of oil. (For more amazing science, visit
Howstuffworks). System costs
8 75-watt Siemens modules..............$2,400
options, and explained what they could expect switch — investing in 10 15-watt compact Mounting..........................................$400
from a PV system. Ely and his associates also fluorescent lights, instead of 10 60-watt in- APT Powercenter.............................$1,700
visited the Banks-Minucci building site to de- candescent lights — can make the difference Trace 4024 Inverter.........................$3,200
termine the best placement of the system and in buying three to four fewer 100-watt PV 8 Trojan L-16 Batteries.....................$1,500
help them calculate their electric loads. panels — a savings of thousands of dollars. Miscellaneous materials......................$650
Chris and Paula have many of the typical Using the calculations the couple pro- Shipping...........................................$100
electric needs of a U.S. family: lights, toaster, vided to him, Ely designed an eight-panel Tax...................................................$250
blender, hair dryer, juicer, stereo, television, re- “starter” system that could be expanded to 12 Labor................................................$850
frigerator and washing machine. Along with panels as the budget allowed. A backup pro-
lighting needs, refrigerators, washing ma- pane-powered generator, says Ely, was the ace
Total............................................$11,050
chines, electric heaters, air conditioners and in the hole that enabled the initial implemen-
electric ovens usually are the biggest electrical tation of a smaller, more inexpensive system. *Four 100-watt panels were added later,
loads in a house. Thanks to their lower con- (You can calculate your own household’s en- at a cost of $1,800.
sumption of energy, high efficiency refrigera- ergy loads by using the Electric Load Estima-
tors and horizontal-axis washers are easy to run tion chart below and the Wattage Chart on
on solar electricity. (Appliances that use elec- Page 50.) house, and together the three of them figured out
tricity to generate heat such as electric stoves the best location. Paula was adamant about keep-
and heaters are relatively inefficient and not SITING THE SYSTEM ing the house’s appearance streamlined, which
well-suited to solar electric.) Chris and Paula Because even a small amount of shade can meant leaving the panels off the roof. They also
bought a Sunfrost refrigerator and a Staber drastically reduce output, multicrystalline PV pan- wanted to preserve the home’s attractive entry-
washing machine, which both retain their war- els generally are installed in a “solar window” — an way and didn’t want panels visible from the house
ranties even connected to a PV system. Highly outside area that receives no shade from 9 a.m. to or the driveway. Eventually, they found a perfect
insulated Sunfrost refrigerators use about one- 3 p.m. To effectively access this solar window, PV sunny spot behind the house to place the array.
quarter of the energy of conventional refrigera- modules can be mounted on a roof or a pole, or on a Pole-mounted PV systems have the advan-
tors. Their Staber washer, besides saving about rack that is set on the ground. Another option is to tage of being able to be connected to a tracking
two-thirds of the water typically used, also cuts use newer building-integrated PV (BIPV) arrays, mechanism that follows the sun from east to west
energy usage in half, compared to vertical- which are integrated into the roof or applied to the (and, in the case of dual-axis trackers, from ho-
axis washers. Chris and Paula also chose en- existing building’s exterior. These thin-film panels rizon to sky). Tracking systems can increase the
ergy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, are less sensitive to shading. amount of power a multicrystalline PV system
which require one-quarter of the energy used Ely advised Chris and Paula as to how far annually produces by up to 25 percent. Although
by incandescent light bulbs. Just this simple the panels could practically be mounted from the trackers are well-suited for applications such

Electric Load Estimation

Load Qty x Volts x Amps = Watts x Use x Use ÷ 7 = Watt-hours
AC DC (hrs/day) (days/wk) days AC DC
x x = x x ÷ 7 =
x x = x x ÷ 7 =
x x = x x ÷ 7 =
x x = x x ÷ 7 =
x x = x x ÷ 7 =
x x = x x ÷ 7 =
AC: Total Connected Watts AC: Average Daily Load
DC: Total Connected Watts DC: Average Daily Load

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 49

 Navigation Bar

LIVING WITH THE

Wattage Chart for
as a batteryless water pumping system, which
can use solar energy the second the sun comes SYSTEM
up, for many applications it’s more economical
to add another panel or two than to invest in a
tracker. The Banks-Minucci system is the best Typical Appliances Unlike grid-connected systems, stand-
alone photovoltaic systems require more owner
of both worlds: a pole-mounted system that involvement, and maintenance is essential to
can be manually adjusted throughout the day Description Watts keep a system functioning properly. But in the
and year. To capture the most from the sun, Refrigerator* past seven years since the system was installed,
Chris adjusts the tilt of his panels to different (22 cu. ft. auto defrost). . . . . . . . 300 Chris and Paula have called Sunsense only a
sun angles throughout the year. To follow the few times with questions or problems.
Dishwasher (cool dry). . . . . . . . . 700
sun’s arc through the sky, Chris daily reposi- Both feel that living with solar hasn’t dra-
tions the panels. He doesn’t think of it as work Microwave* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 matically changed their lifestyle. “Conserv-
or an inconvenience, but takes a special enjoy- Coffee maker (warming). . . . . . . 600 ing energy is not a sacrifice, but more of an
ment in what he considers “farming” the sun. Toaster (2-slice). . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 awareness,” says Chris. Although he and Paula
Blender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 considered themselves “environmentally con-
SYSTEM COMPONENTS Television (25-inch). . . . . . . . . . . 170
scious,” they both admit they now are much
PV panels are only one part of a solar- more aware of the instant payoff of their energy
electric system. For the Banks-Minucci off- CD player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 conservation — and the almost instantaneous
grid application, eight deep-cycle batteries Stereo, AC-powered repercussions of being neglectful: If you leave
store electricity for nighttime and cloudy-day (avg. volume) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 the lights on, the PV system runs low, the gen-
use. A controller keeps the batteries from be- Fluorescent Light erator goes on and the propane bill goes up.
ing overcharged, and an inverter converts DC (60-watt equivalent) . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Chris and Paula do use their backup gen-
electricity produced by the solar panels into erator in the winter more than they would
Electric Clock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AC electricity typically used by home appli- prefer. Two years ago, when they realized they
ances. A 4,000-watt inverter, oversized for Clothes Washer* needed more power and had a few extra dol-
their initial system, provides expansion pos- (vertical-axis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650 lars to invest in their system, they decided to
sibilities if Chris and Paula want to add more Clothes Washer add four 100-watt panels, bringing their entire
energy production. (horizontal-axis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 system’s energy production capabilities to 1
Vacuum Cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . 900 kilowatt. Instead of hiring out the job, Chris
Computer (Modem/desktop). . . . . 55 made a couple of calls to Solar Energy Inter-
national, a renewable energy education center.
Inkjet Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
With SEI’s advice and Ely’s previous work, he
Hair dryer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,500 integrated the four new panels himself.
*Does not include startup power

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 50

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar electricity

Easy DIY
Solar
Lighting
By Charles Higginson
Learn renewable energy basics and
generate serious solar excitement!

Lights! Camera! Solar!

The lights on our demo unit
came on the first time we
flipped the switches.
Cheryl Long

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 51

 M
Navigation Bar

any people dream of solar-elec- it’s tempting to use a car battery, but this would the battery is discharged. Franks likes to specify
tric power for their homes, but work only for a short time. Car batteries provide a battery that could power the system for three
can’t afford whole-house systems. large current flows in brief bursts and don’t re- days without being recharged, to cover cloudy
Here’s an affordable, entry-level system with spond well to being discharged deeply. Here, the days. Second, he says these batteries should not
which you can have fun and get to know the ba- battery provides small current flows for long pe- frequently be discharged below 50 percent of ca-
sics of solar power. This setup, built with a small riods and may be discharged fairly completely, so pacity. Third, in practice you’ll get about 80 percent
photovoltaic (PV ) panel, one battery and low- you must use a deep-cycle battery. Several deep- of the rated Ah from a battery before its voltage
power direct current (DC) lighting fixtures, can cycle technologies exist; we chose a gel type, which drops below a useful level.
bring solar lighting into your home or remote is maintenance-free. Taking all this into account, Franks recom-
locations. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can On its way from the PV to the battery, the elec- mended a battery for our system rated at 50 Ah.
install it yourself. tricity is routed through a charge controller, which This is a little overcapacity but would allow expan-
This project can augment your existing 110- ensures that the battery gets all the power it needs sion in the future.
volt lighting circuits. It’s a great introduction to to stay fully charged. It also prevents
simple solar circuitry, it’s easy to build, and it pro- over- charging. Pick a PV Panel
duces useful light for several hours a day. Not only How big a battery How much PV will you need to keep the power
will it impress your friends and neighbors, but and panel do you flowing? We already know we need 60 Wh per day.
you’ll also enjoy the satisfaction of using clean, To account for various inefficiencies in the system,
renewable energy. multiply that by two, yielding 120 Wh. In a typical
In most home settings, it probably won’t U.S. location, you’ve got five hours a day of good
save you money, but in other circumstances sun with which to generate watts, so dividing 120
this system could save you a bundle. If you Wh by five hours yields 24 W. That’s the mini-
want lights in a cabin, garage, barn or garden shed mum generating capacity of a PV panel that will
that’s far from installed power lines, this project drive this system.
could be far less expensive than hiring profession- But there are several reasons to upsize from the
als to extend standard power to the building. A 15-watt minimum. Climate is one; in cloudier areas, you’ll
Our friends at Gaiam Real Goods, the pioneer- compact need more PV to get the same power. Seasons
ing retailer of renewable energy products, helped us fluorescent are another; a panel that’s adequate in optimum
design the Mother Earth News Low-Voltage produces conditions may let you down in mid-winter.
Solar Light System (to order it as a kit, see Page as much light Economics also enters the picture. Franks
53). The key is its use of energy-efficient loads and as a 60-watt says the cost per watt rises sharply with
low-voltage, DC components and circuitry. That conventional bulb PV panels below about 40 watts. We chose
combination keeps total power demand low and while using a quarter of the a 50-watt panel, in part because it was in
simplifies installation. Compact fluorescent light energy. stock and well priced, and in part to get ex-
bulbs (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) cess capacity to allow for low winter sunlight
are available in 12-volt DC forms, and they’re ide- need? To answer these questions, work backward and perhaps for system expansion.
al components for a small, off-grid supplemental from your desired end result: how much light you Having chosen a battery and panel, it’s time
lighting system. You can easily build a system that want for how many hours a day. We settled on three to consider the charge controller and safety dis-
will run, say, two or three CFLs for two hours each 15-watt CFLs, which could be distributed around connect. You need to ensure that your total loads
evening and an LED for five hours — all powered the house for general lighting, each one operating don’t exceed the charge controller’s capacity. In our
by a small battery charged by a small solar panel. for an hour a day (each CFL’s light output roughly case, a 10-amp charge controller would have ample
We spent about $760 on solar components and equals that of a 60-watt incandescent bulb). We capacity. However, if you anticipate expansion, you
about $80 on other parts. For ideas on reducing added an LED light bulb and assumed it would might as well get a bigger charge controller from
costs, see “Ways to Save on a Solar Light Setup,” operate for five hours a day, pulling the modest to- the start. We settled on a 20-amp model that would
Page 54. tal of about 3 watts. LEDs tend to provide very di- accommodate the addition of another similar PV
Once installed, the system has no operating rectional light. In the home, this means they’re not panel and/or extension of our lighting circuits.
cost and needs little maintenance. The light bulbs the best choice for general ambient lighting, but Safety disconnects are heavy-duty switches
are rated to operate for thousands of hours, so they they’re great for focused task lighting. (If you want used to isolate the battery from all other compo-
will survive for years when lit for a few hours a day. more light than this, the tech folks at Real Goods nents for maintenance or in emergencies. They’re
Both kinds of bulbs cost more than regular incan- can help you choose the right components.) not necessary for operation, but even in a small,
descent bulbs, but prices are dropping, and they low-voltage system like ours, they are highly rec-
will save you money over the long term. Plus, with Caution: Math Ahead ommended for safety.
this system you won’t pay a penny for electricity. Here’s a summary of the process of sizing your We also picked up a fuse block. It functions like
The PV panel in our kit is warranted to produce system. Once you’ve chosen lights and estimated the breaker panel in standard home wiring: The
at least 80 percent of its rated output for 25 years. daily usage, calculate watt-hours (Wh). In our case, main power source (battery) feeds to positive and
The battery has the shortest life of all the compo- it goes like this: negative main terminals, and the individual light-
nents; the type we used will typically last three to (3 CFL bulbs x 15 watts) x 1 hour/day ing circuits, protected by fuses, connect to charged
five years. (For specifications on components, see + secondary terminals.
Page 53.) (1 LED bulb x 3 watts) x 5 hours/day Solar panels require solidly anchored mounts.
= 60 Wh/day Since our panel is so small, we opted for a simple
easy solar power set of feet designed for mounting panels on recre-
The generating and storage system has three Having figured daily watt-hours, you can cal- ational vehicles. You could easily fabricate an ad-
major parts: a small PV panel, a battery and a culate the necessary battery capacity, measured in equate mounting system of your own.
charge controller. The PV panel generates elec- ampere-hours (Ah). This involves several factors.
tricity whenever sunlight strikes it. The battery First, Norman Franks, renewable energy techni- Miscellaneous Parts
stores the electricity, so the lights can be operated cian at Real Goods, says battery life is determined Standard, widely available AC components
at night. Since most cars use 12-volt DC circuitry, by depth of discharge and the number of times complete the system — wire, cable, switches and

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 52

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The Mother Earth News Low-voltage Solar

Light System
(Designed by Gaiam Real Goods renewable energy technician Norman Franks)

Our system is about as simple as solar electricity gets, because of the low-voltage lights
and grid-independent DC circuitry. Staying grid-independent means you don’t interact
with the alternating current (AC) standard in home wiring, so there’s no need for the
inverter and meter usually associated with grid-tied systems.

Matthew T. Stallbaumer
CAUTION: Lightning is a hazard if you mount your panel high on a frame
or roof. Because we intended to use this system as a portable demonstrator,
we didn’t include lightning protection, but it must be considered in a perma-
nent installation. Real Goods can provide adequate guidance and protec-
tive components.

CFLs: $19 each

12-volt, 15-watt.
Kyocera photo-vol-
taic panel: $345 LED bulb: $45
• Generates electric- 12-volt, 3-watt.
ity from sunlight.
• 50-watt, 36 cell, poly-
Bulbs and switches installed
crystalline silicon.
on board for demonstration
• 25”x26”; weighs just
purposes only; you can
11 pounds.
distribute lights anywhere in
• Warranted to remain within
your home.
80 percent of rated output
for 25 years.
Power in from
PV panel Power out to
switches/lights
Phocos charge
controller: $55 MK Power
• Monitors battery battery: $122
charge, directing power • Stores electricity from
from PV to battery PV panel.
when needed; prevents • 12-volt, 50 amp-hour.
overcharging. • Sealed lead-acid.
• 12-volt, 20-amp. • Gel electrolyte means
• Three LEDs show no spills or fumes; can
charge status. operate in any position.

Eaton Cutler/Hammer
safety disconnect: $45
• Main switch, disconnects
all components from bat-
tery for maintenance or
emergency. Blue Sea Systems fusebox/
Available as a kit from Gaiam Real Goods:  
• Two 30-amp fuses, load center: $39
$5 each. (800) 919-2400; www.realgoods.com 
• Distributes power to circuits.
• Up to six circuits. Item #53-0123 
• Uses ATC-type fuses: $2.95 Discounted price: $699 plus shipping & handling;  
for five (5-amp for our system). we spent about $80 for additional parts.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 53

 Navigation Bar

sockets. Interior wiring can be The safety disconnect Five-amp fuses protect words embossed along one con-
speaker wire, its gauge determined holds two 30-amp fuses. each circuit.
ductor only. We arbitrarily desig-
by the device’s amperage and nated that side as positive. Some
the length of run. Measure your wire has a ridge molded along one
planned installation before buy- conductor only, and some speaker
ing wire. It may be surprising how wire has clear insulation with con-
quickly the distance adds up. (Real ductors of different colors. Just
Goods can determine the appropri- make sure you connect positive to
ate gauge.) Use stranded rather than positive and negative to negative
solid wire — it’s more flexible. throughout.
Our DC bulbs have standard You don’t have to tin the wire
Edison bases and will screw into ends with solder, but it’s never a
any common light fixture. They bad idea with stranded wire, and
can’t handle dimmers, so get it would make some connections
simple switches. Remember to easier to secure. We suggest sol-
pick up switch boxes, switchplates dering spade lug terminals onto
and junction boxes to mount your the tips of the two battery cables,
socket fixtures. to allow more reliable connections
and easier disconnects.
Let’s Get it Together Notes on Assembly It was distinctly odd to run circuits with no
The ideal spot for a solar collector of any kind We built this system as a portable demon- provision for grounding, but that’s part of the
is a shade-free area, facing south, and tilted at an stration setup, creating some complications you simplicity of this setup. In general, grounding is
angle from horizontal that is equal to the location’s wouldn’t encounter in a permanent domestic in- optional for PV systems under 50 volts, but it’s a
latitude. A roof often provides an angle close to stallation. Even so, it took one person only about good idea on larger systems and essential anywhere
ideal. You also can build a simple frame to mount seven hours to put it together, including a trip to lightning protection is needed.
the panel on the ground or a south wall. the hardware store. Two things surprised us the first time we flipped
Also consider the location of the battery, The kit went together easily, using just three the switches. We expected at least one poor con-
which should be in conditioned space — batteries screwdrivers, a wire stripper, an adjustable wrench, nection, but lo and behold, the lights came right
don’t like extreme temperatures. For efficiency, and a hand drill with two bits. Mount your devices on. And we did not expect them to be as bright as
it’s best to keep the battery as close as possible to with sufficient room between them for convenient they are — even the LED puts out a nice, bluish
the PV, so you may have to balance several factors routing. Wiring could hardly be easier — cut wires gleam. No question about it, this is a genuinely
to design your system. It makes sense as well to to length, strip the tips, twist the strands togetheruseful solar lighting system.
keep the charge controller, safety disconnect and tightly and screw them into the proper terminals.
fuse block near the battery. A common approach The wiring diagram provided by Real Goods was
is to mount all components to a sheet of plywood, crystal-clear.
then attach it to the wall. Make sure the battery’s It’s critical to maintain polarity — all LEDs, Associate Editor Charles Higginson has not
exposed terminals are not accessible to a casual and CFLs made for DC, are unidirectional. We had this much fun since he rebuilt the manual
passerby; you may need to place it in a lidded used outdoor extension cord to connect the PV transmission of an old Volvo station wagon.
box. If you build a shelf for the battery, make it panel, and we were lucky that the conductors in
stout: Even a small deep-cycle battery like this the cord had color-coded insulation. The rest of
one weighs almost 40 pounds. the wire was inexpensive zip-cord type, which had

Ways to Save on a Solar Light Setup How Solar Power Works

We purchased our components new at retail for about $760, and some were oversized Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert light energy to electrical energy. In
for the immediate need. With a bit of time and energy, you could build a similar system for a nutshell — keeping in mind there’s a lot more to modern PV than
less money. (Real Goods is offering the kit for $699 — see Page 53.) this — here’s what happens: PV takes advantage of the different
The PV panel is the most expensive item in the system. There’s a market for used solar characteristics of silicon crystals with different impurities. Pure silicon
panels, which could provide distinct savings. A solar panel that hasn’t been damaged should is not electrically active, because its atoms are locked into a solid
operate for 25 years without significant degradation, so a panel just a few years old should crystal structure. There are no “spare” electrons running around, and
work for quite a while. Norman Franks of Real Goods says you generally can’t get a war- no spots “seeking” electrons. But certain impurities added to silicon
ranty on a used panel, but PV is so reliable that the savings are worth the risk. create crystal with a slight tendency to lose electrons, and other
Batteries also are expensive, and also can be found used, but their life expectancy is impurities create crystal with a slight tendency to attract electrons.
considerably less. A used battery would be a way to get started, but anything more than When the two kinds of silicon are placed close together and exposed
two years old is likely to fail within a couple of years. to sunlight, photons (particles of light) knock electrons loose on the
Two sources for used equipment are Home Power magazine (www.homepower “losing” side. These electrons travel across the junction to the “at-
.com; under “magazine” click “marketplace”) and Oasis Montana (www.oasismt.com/ tracting” side. That’s an electrical current.
usedsolar.html). The latter also posts worksheets to calculate electrical loads, power require- Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are made of similar materials
ments and more. and take advantage of the same physical principles, but in reverse.
You also could save about $20 by building your own panel mounts from scratch. And Powering LEDs with a PV panel is satisfyingly symmetrical: photons
you could replace the safety disconnect unit with fuses in a simple in-line fuse block, saving in, electrons out; electrons in, photons out.
perhaps $25. Don’t be tempted to omit this protective component altogether.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 54

 Navigation Bar

green building
Solarize your home Solar Water Distiller

Water
Wise
Solar
Stills
By Claire Anderson

eyewire
Passive solar distillation is an inexpensive, low-tech alternative
for pure drinking water without bottles, including types of
distillers, cost comparisons, going automatic or electric.

A mericans worried about the purity of

their well or tap water often end up
spending a small fortune on bottled
water just to be safe. But bottles aren’t the only
solution. For those who want to produce their
SOLAR SOLUTIONS
Distilling and reverse-osmosis filtering are
the two best methods for purifying water. Both
approaches remove more contaminants than ac-
tivated carbon filters do. The U.S. Environmen-
rifiers.” All other systems are water “treatment”
devices, in spite of the performance claims many
manufacturers make. But reverse-osmosis filtra-
tion wastes water: For every gallon of purified
drinking water produced, the process consumes
own pure drinking water, passive-solar distilla- tal Protection Agency says only reverse-osmosis 2 to 4 gallons of water. In contrast, solar distilla-
tion is an inexpensive, low-tech option. systems and distillers may be called water “pu- tion wastes no water and is powered by the sun.

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 55

 Navigation Bar

Instead of removing specific contaminants, as down the cover to a collection trough. Simple
H2Oh-No! filtration systems are designed to do, solar dis-
tillation purifies water by removing only one
single-basin distillers work best on flat, level sur-
faces, and can be constructed fairly easily.

What’s in Your thing: water.

Distillation takes advantage of the principle
The other common type of solar distiller is
the multibasin distiller. Also known as inclined

Water?
that chemicals vaporize at different tempera- solar distillers, multibasin distillers use numer-
tures. Most potential chemical contaminants in ous small basins to produce a greater amount of
drinking water have vaporization points higher distillate during the day. These distillers generally
than water. When untreated water is heated in a can be transported easily and may be more suit-
Although the U.S. Environmental Protection solar distiller, pure water vaporizes first, leaving able for temporary dwellings. Due to the amount
Agency requires water utilities to monitor contaminants behind. of latent heat stored in one large basin of water,
and keep the levels of 80 potential contami- A simple solar distiller removes salts, heavy single-basin distillers continue producing dis-
nants below legal limits, there are more than metals and bacteria, as well as arsenic and many tilled water at night, and thus are as efficient as
70,000 synthetic chemicals in production other contaminants. According to a paper by multibasin distillers.
today. Horace McCracken, a leader in solar distiller de- All basin distillers have four major compo-
Lead, nitrate, mercury, asbestos, arsenic sign, laboratory tests show distillers can remove nents: a basin, a support structure, a clear cover
and volatile organic compounds top the trichloroethylene (a dry-cleaning chemical) and (usually tempered glass) and a distiller trough.
EPA’s list of the most common public drink- nitrates. Both are common pollutants and sus- Most distillers also include insulation, sealants,
ing-water contaminants. Other pollutants pected carcinogens. A simple solar distiller paired piping and valves. Volunteers in Technical As-
also are making their way into our water: with a carbon finish filter which removes any sistance’s booklet Understanding Solar Distillers
carcinogens, pesticides like atrazine and residual chlorine byproducts, will give you the offers a wealth of recommendations for building
aldicarb, industrial chemicals such as cleanest drinking water for the least expense. your own distiller.
nonylphenol (from shampoos and other The total amount of surface area determines
detergents), pharmaceutical steroids and an- SIMPLE SOLAR the yield of the solar distiller. Dennis Lemon,
tibiotics, and chlorine byproducts, especially Solar distillers work by mimicking the natu- author of Pure Water Nature’s Way (see “Dis-
trihalomethanes (THMs), which are suspect- ral water cycle: The sun provides energy to warm tiller Sources,” Page 57), says on a sunny day,
ed reproductive toxicants that adversely af- the water, the water evaporates (forms clouds) for every 1,000 square inches of cover surface,
fect male and female reproductive systems. and condenses (makes rain) when it meets a the solar distiller will produce about 1 gallon
If you’re concerned about the quality of cooler surface. Unlike electric distillation, boiling of pure water. An efficient 4-by-8-foot distiller
your drinking water, do some sleuthing at is not required for solar distillation. Some people should yield 2 to 4 gallons
your local public water utility, and request believe water from a solar distiller is purer than With the sun’s energy, this simple single-
their latest report, often called a Consumer boiled water. Florida Solar Energy Center prin- basin, passive-solar distiller can produce up to
Confidence Report. Public water-supply or- cipal research scientist W.R. McCluney, Ph.D., 4 gallons of purified drinking water per day of
ganizations are required by federal law to says vigorous boiling “can force unwanted resi- pure water on a sunny day. A solar water distill-
provide consumers with information about due into the distillate (distilled water), defeating er will make potable water day after day, season
their drinking-water supplies. This report will purification.” after season.
tell you where your water comes from, and
whether your water exceeds the limits for TYPES OF DISTILLERS COST COMPARISONS
any of the 80 contaminants regulated by the The simplest solar distiller is a single basin A study by New Mexico State University
EPA. You can also request a printout of the distiller — a rectangular, black box fitted with shows solar-distilled water costs less than 7 cents
levels of all the contaminants. The National a piece of angled
Environmental Education and Training glass sealed to
Foundation’s Web site at www.waterquali- the top. The basin
tyreports.org/waterquality gives advice on is filled with un-
how to interpret the Consumer Confidence treated water; as
Reports and what to test for, and publishes the sunlight pen-
fact sheets on the 40 most common drinking- etrates the glass,
water contaminants. the water warms
If your water comes from a well, you’ll and evaporates,
need to get it tested yourself. The EPA’s Safe leaving most
Drinking Water Hotline [(800) 426-4791; contaminants
www.epa.gov/safewater] provides informa- behind. The
tion on how to obtain a list of certified labs. temperature dif-
To get a preliminary picture of your water’s ference between
quality, inexpensive test kits also are avail- the cover, which
able. For $20, you can test your water for does not absorb
E. coli, lead, two common pesticides, chlo- much heat, and
rine, nitrite, nitrate, pH and hardness [Silver the water surface
Lake Research; (888) 438-1942; www. causes the water
watersafetestkits.com]. vapor to con-
dense, forming
SolAqua

a thin film on
the underside of
the cover. When With the sun’s energy, this simple single-basin, passive-solar distiller can
enough water produce up to 4 gallons of purified drinking water per day.
condenses, it runs

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 56

 Navigation Bar

Distiller Sources
per gallon, based on the conservative estimate
of a 10-year distiller life span. Quality bottled
water can cost as much or more than gasoline.
Many American families spend more than $250
per year on bottled water, says Michael Cormier SOLAR DISTILLER Dealers SOLAR DISTILLER plans
of SolAqua, a solar distiller distributor. Electric Agua del Sol El Paso Solar Energy Association
distillers, which consume about 3 kilowatt hours P.O. Box 651 P.O. Box 26384
per gallon of water, will yield good water, albeit Safford, AZ 85546 El Paso, Texas 79926
energy intensive and more expensive, at about 30 (928) 348-7512 (915) 772-7657
cents per gallon. Products: ADS Flat Distiller; Solar distiller plans available for $15
About $400 will buy a small solar distiller TSS Leaner Distiller
that will produce 2 to 6 quarts of drinking wa- electric DISTILLER Dealers
ter per day, depending on weather conditions. A DMD Products Durastill Export Inc.
larger solar distiller, selling for about $800, will P.O. Box 799 (888) 434-7845
produce up to 2 gallons per day, or 770 gallons Longmont, CO 80501 www.durastill.com
per year. After just one year of production, that’s (866) 253-7087
only a little more than a dollar per gallon. The Products: Solar distiller subsystem Glacier Water Systems
cost will drop every subsequent year of operation. components (pumps, solenoid valves, filters) (877) 717-5700
With no mechanical parts to wear out, a solar distilled-water.com
distiller is long-lived. A little cleaning mainte- Gaiam Real Goods
nance is all that’s needed to provide potable wa- 360 Interlocken Blvd, Polar Bear Water Group Limited
ter for decades. Suite 300 (800) 363-7845
Broomfield, CO 80021 www.polarbearwater.com
GOING AUTOMATIC (800) 919-2400
Unless you’ve automated your system (dis- Products: Sunwater Solar Distiller Precision Water
cussed below), you’ll have to fill your distiller (877) 935-0505
with source water and collect the distilled water SolAqua www.precisionwater.com
on a daily basis. This can be an enjoyable routine P.O.Box 4976
or a confounding chore, depending on your life- El Paso,TX 79914 Waterwise
style and time constraints. (877) 483-2980 (800) 874-9028
Many people use subsystems to automate Products: Rainmaker 550 single-basin distiller; www.waterwise.com
filling the distiller and storing the distilled water. SolAqua DIY Solar Distiller Kit
A simple cyclical timer and solenoid-actuated West Bend Co.
valve can be set to automatically fill the distiller. (262) 334-6949
To reduce the amount of electricity needed to against freezing. Locate your water-distribution www.westbend.com/water/product.html
power the subsystem, use a valve with a normally system components and automatic-fill system
closed actuator. Without power supplied to the below the distiller to avert potential freeze di-
solenoid, the valve remains closed to water flow. sasters. When there’s no more sunlight to warm may be an apartment dweller or have a perenni-
Besides automatic filling, it’s handy to have the distiller, an automatic controller can turn off ally shaded yard. Those who still want pure, dis-
pure water delivered to your tap. A gravity-fed the circulating pump, allowing the water to drain tilled water can choose from a variety of electric
system, in concert with a rooftop-mounted back into an indoor storage tank. distillers on the market.
distiller and a storage tank, can serve this func- Electric distillers work similarly to solar
tion. If your roof is unable to support a distiller’s WATER STORAGE distillers, but rely on electricity rather than so-
weight, you can place your distiller on a ground- Distilled water is a strong solvent, so choose lar power. Small countertop distillers, which cost
mounted frame, and a small pressure pump can your storage containers carefully. Stainless steel $150 to $350, can produce about 1 gallon of
route water directly to your kitchen faucet. containers, and glass bottles and carboys are distilled water in four to six hours. Larger floor
best. Avoid storing distilled water in soft plastic models, which can cost $1,000 or more, produce
CARE AND MAINTENANCE containers. Many plastics give off toxins, such as about 9 gallons of pure water per day. These units
As water evaporates in the distiller it leaves methyl chloride, a carcinogen that can leach into can be connected directly to your water system to
minerals and other contaminants in the basins. water. Design your storage capacity to contain provide pure drinking water on demand, elimi-
To ensure optimal performance, flush the system four to five times the average output of the dis- nating the need for manual filling.
out periodically and keep the glass cover clean. tiller, so you’ll always have clean water on hand. Waterwise (see “Distiller Sources”) also
If you live in a climate where freezing is a makes a distiller that can be used over an open
concern, you will need to take some extra pre- GOING ELECTRIC fire, or on a woodstove, gas grill or stove top. At
cautions to protect your distiller and subsystems. Although solar distillers are best from an $379, it can provide up to 16 gallons of drinking
Insulate your inlet and outlet lines. Besides insu- energy and economic standpoint, some situa- water in a 24-hour period.
lation, Lemon says gravity is the best protection tions may not accommodate solar distillers: You

Copyright c 2007 by Ogden Publications, Inc. www.MotherEarthNews.com 57