Challenge
This homeowner wanted a solar hot water system installed.
Solution
This residential solar domestic hot water (DHW) system was installed as an array of three (3) Vitosol 200-F SV2 flat-plate collectors on the south-facing house roof, which has dimensions of 19.8' x 15.75' (L x W). The collectors are arranged flush to the roof surface in portrait, and are configured as one (1) circuit of three (3) parallel connected collectors providing input into one (1) Peerless Partner stainless steel eighty (80) gallon storage tank. This storage tank provides preheated hot water to the existing electric standing hot water tank. This existing hot water heater serves as the back-up source of heating for the house DHW. System energy production monitoring (in BTUs) is provided by a custom web-interfacing data logger at the storage tank and online Halco Monitoring Portal. As designed, this system should generate an average of 44,205 BTU/ average day, where system tilt is fixed and daily energy production is both weather and seasonally dependent. This energy production is equivalent to 82% of the Customer's average daily DHW usage, corresponding to a CO2 (greenhouse gas) emissions savings of 20.46 lb CO2 7,467 lb per year. Please see the below chart for detailed seasonal production estimates.