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Does solar hot water work in cold climates?

03 Jan 08 | Solar Hot Water

I was at a lecture this past September when the speaker stated “Solar thermal just doesn’t work in this climate (the Northeast), it is not a consideration…” I wanted to stand up, raise my hand and say “Um, excuse me, but you are wrong.” There is a persistent misconception that solar thermal only works in temperate climates. The truth is that is works in cold climates as well. As evidence I submit the following:

It is January, the temperature outside is 17 degrees (that was the high temperature of the day) with a foot of snow on the ground.

AET AE-40 solar collector in northeast

The water temperature coming back from the solar collectors on my roof is 150 degrees.solar collector water return temperature

Furthermore, last night it was 0 degrees and I suffered no freeze damage to the collectors or piping, even though I use distilled water as my heat transfer fluid.

This is no accident, of course. A properly designed and installed solar hot water (solar thermal) system can work in almost any climate. The snow surrounding the collector reflects sunlight unto the collector itself, making it more efficient. I have a drain back system, so when the sun goes down and the temperature drops, all the water drains out of the collectors into a reservoir inside the house. The collectors and piping all are sloped so that the water drains out properly thus providing excellent freeze protection without the use of expensive anti freeze.

Naturally, I didn’t say anything to the photovoltaic guy who made the above statement. After all, we are playing on the same team.

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03 Jan 08 | Solar Hot Water
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Reader's Comments

  1. Dan | January 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm

    Why didn’t you raise your hand say something to this guy again?

  2. Paul Thurst | January 11th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Yeah, that is a good question, isn’t it. I guess I didn’t feel like side tracking the guy from his Photovoltaic presentation.

  3. jake | March 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    what brand solar panel do you use? could you post a picture of the piping going to the reservoir? i’m intrested in the set up. thanks.

  4. Paul | March 30th, 2008 at 7:20 am

    Jake,

    I will try and snap some pictures of the balance of system stuff and post it. Those are AET AE-40 collectors



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