Photovoltaic energy systems are what most people think about when they hear the word solar energy system. Solar electric systems convert the energy embodied in sunlight into
electricity. Solar electric systems include solar
modules (solar panels) that convert the energy in sunlight to
direct
current (DC) electricity, power conversion equipment called
inverters that invert
DC electricity to
alternating current (AC) electricity as well as safety disconnects and
various metering equipment. Some solar electric systems include
batteries to provide power to household appliances
during power outages or to power off-grid homes. Some systems include backup
generators to supplement solar generation to keep the batteries up. There are
three main classifications of solar electric systems that can be installed in
your home or business: direct grid-tie,
grid-tie with battery backup (hybrid) and off-grid.
Solar domestic water heater (SDWH) systems heat the water in your home's water
heater using heat energy gathered by solar collectors. Solar water heating
systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar
water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and
passive, which don't. In most cases we recommend active systems
due to their efficiency.
There are two types of active circulation systems: direct and indirect. In
our climate where freezing is possible we prefer indirect circulation type
systems. Indirect circulation systems
circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a
heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home.
You can significantly reduce swimming pool heating costs by installing a
solar pool heater. They're cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool
heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. In fact, solar pool
heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in our climate. Extend your swimming season
using only energy from the sun.
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