Quote:
Originally Posted by mca
FWIW, I also priced out solar panels. What a joke! It would have cost my somewhere between $20k-$30k just to generate enough energy to heat my water. And that wasn't even a guarantee - the water would be tied to a backup system. You would think that by now, solar panels / technology would be much more affordable.
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Man, that is highway robbery, unless your house is the size of a small motel.
I installed a vacuum tube domestic solar water heating system last winter. $4000. would get you a 300 liter tank, a 30 tube array and the controller and pump to make it work. I used another $1K in pipes and valves to tie it in to my old system, .
I am just below the 45th parallel and have had only one period in the past 9 months (last week) when it was cloudy for a solid week so the system had to rely on the backup. At times, I am thinking about how to get rid of excess heat. (My system is a little larger.)
The real secret with rigid foam and spray insulation is they stop air movement. You can do the same with cellulose batts or blown in, but the efficiency of the insulation is largely dependent upon the air sealing job. (you can have the finest down-filled sleeping bag in the world, but if you leave the zipper open, you're gonna be cold!)
Hope you enjoy the new abode!
Les