Solar Thermal Collector Systems How it Works: A solar thermal collector Size and Power: A thermal system will usually save 50 - 80% of the energy used to heat water system captures the sun’s heat energy with gas or electricity. Each collector can provide and transfers it to water. The heated 40 gallons of hot water per day. A family of four typically requires an 80 - 120 gallon system using water is circulated through the solar col- 2-3 solar collectors, which cover 48 - 72 square lector and a heat exchanger. The water feet of roof space. flows to a storage tank scaled to hold a Cost and Considerations: A thermal system for a residence costs about $6,500 - $7,200 full day’s use of hot water. Solar thermal with a payback period of less than 7 years, when systems always have a back-up heating available incentives are applied. For businesses with high-volume hot water use, like restaurants, system to ensure the delivery of sufficient car washes and commercial laundries, paybacks hot water on cloudy days and at night. can be expected in as little as a year-and-a-half. • Thermal systems operate at highest perform- ance when installed with an unobstructed, southern roof exposure. Nevertheless, with an additional collector, east- or west-facing roofs can also support solar thermal heating systems. • Integrating thermal systems into the early design phase of new construction will maximize system performance and reduce costs. Solar Collector Solar Hot Out Hot Out Solar Storage Tank Water Heater Furnace Heat Exchanger Cold In Coil ©2005 City of Chicago Chicago: The Solar City in a Garden • Thermal systems reduce the cost of building • Thermal systems are environmentally beneficial operations by significantly reducing demand for (See Table below): traditional electricity and natural gas resources. • The design life of a thermal system is 30 years and the collectors are warranted for 10-years, which is far better than any appliance in the home or building. Estimated emissions reductions benefits for a 1kW solar thermal system Replacing electric heating Replacing gas-fired heating carbon dioxide (CO2), 4,528 lbs./year 1,756 lbs./year a greenhouse gas (about 1,500 gallons of gas) (about 600 gallons of gas) sulfur dioxide (SO2), 20 lbs./year 11lbs./year acid rain producer This residence is using an array of solar thermal collectors to provide domestic hot water. This same type of system could also be used to off-set space heating demand. ©2005 City of Chicago Chicago: The Solar City in a Garden Solar Energy Incentives: Several programs • Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic offer support to encourage the purchase of Opportunity: www.commerce.state.il.us Solargenix Energy solar energy systems by businesses, non-profit • ComEd Renewable Energy Hotline Number: organizations and residents. Several incentive Chicago Voice (877) 451-3915 programs are available that can offset your solar 3622 S. Morgan St. energy system investment by 35-80%. More • ComEd Wind and Photovoltaic Generation Pricing Experiment: Chicago, IL 60609 information on these opportunities is available through the following points of contact. E-mail: [email protected] Voice: (773) 847-8333 • Chicago Solar Partnership: • ComEd: www.exeloncorp.com/corporate/ community/b_renew_en.shtml Fax: (773) 847-8555 www.chicagosolarpartnership.org • Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation: • Database of State Incentives for Renewable Contact: Joanna Rybus www.illinoiscleanenergy.org Energy: www.dsireusa.org • US Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roofs E-mail: program: www.millionsolarroofs.com [email protected] Chicago Fire Department's Engine Company 26 located at 10 North Leavitt Street, Chicago, Illinois. ©2005 City of Chicago.