WinterRoot

Vision Tech for Counter Tech

I went to the GLREA (Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association) solar heating seminar this past weekend. I picked up some interesting information at the event, though nothing too revolutionary. Still it was good to get some grounding in where the current mainstream of renewable energy in Michigan is coming at things. I wasn’t really too familiar with everything that’s possible using hot water solar panels, and covering how radiant floor heating and solar air work out definately expands my thinking. It’s pretty important, for instance, to realize that solar water heating is far more efficient that photovoltaic panels.

Since my interest currently is more gear towards DIY applications that can be done at a fraction of the cost of true professional installations, some of this information will take a bit for me to apply. I think one of the most valuable pieces is learning how important it is in water systems to have both a storage tank and a hot water heater tank, which allows for the temperature of the supplied water to be regulated for whatever application it’s being used for. Solar systems seem deceptively simplistic until you start needing to worry about year round site specific usage of excess heat (in the summer) or freezing (in the winter).

I’m prett glad I went. I don’t have the money at the moment to afford the GLREA solar photovoltaic installation apprenticeship ($1000) so I’ll probably just wait until the next introduction seminar and try to pick up the wind energy course if I don’t build a wind turbine before then. Below is an example of the type of system we discussed at length..