Sustainable Man offers a variety of residential and commercial solar hot water systems designed to replace conventional water heaters. Solar hot water systems use solar thermal collectors (basically copper pipes in an insulated box with a glass lid) to heat the water, with a booster inside the tank.
The main types of hot water systems are as follows:
Solar
Thermosiphon system
Sustainable Man’s Thermosiphon solar hot water system (Solahart Classic Design) is a water reticulation system that has both the collector panels and the storage tank mounted on the roof. The liquid in the panels circulates into the tank via the thermosiphon effect (as water heats up, it becomes lighter and rises into the tank). In warm climates, the panels can heat water directly, however, in frost-prone areas, the water can freeze and damage the panels, so frost-tolerant panels that use a heat-exchange fluid with a freezing point lower than water are used. The panels heat the fluid, which then heats the water in the tank.
Pumped or split system
Sustainable Man’s Streamline solar hot water system system provides solar panels on the roof but the tank is located at ground level (or elsewhere in the building). Hot water is pumped from the panels to the tank. Sustainable Man offers streamline systems in a variety of tank sizes.
Heat pumps
Although Sustainable Man’s Synergy Heat Pump system doesn’t use solar energy directly, it is very energy efficient and classed with solar systems for rebates and other government incentives. Installation is generally similar to installing an electric hot- water system. Heat pumps draw energy from the surrounding air and convert it to heat in much the same way as an air conditioner or refrigerator.
Benefits of solar hot water systems include:
- Energy savings
- Cost savings
- Environmentally friendly
Sustainable Man’s qualified and licensed staff are experts in the installation and servicing of solar hot water systems. Before choosing a solar hot water system, Sustainable Man conducts a site analysis to make sure the client’s home has enough available sunshine and a north-facing roof to meet their needs efficiently and economically.