Solar Thermal Installation

Assess the cost of the installation. Plan to use your solar thermal system as a primary source of hot water during warmer seasons with sufficient solar power. Keep your traditional water heating system as a secondary source for colder seasons without ample solar power.

Choose between a primary solar thermal system for up to 70 percent of household hot water needs with a secondary traditional system or an entirely new solar thermal system with a biomass boiler during cold winter months.

Design and build a solar water heating or solar thermal system based on three major parts: an array of solar panels (to collect the sun's thermal energy), a large water tank (for storage) and a heat system (for delivery).

Include a "legionella" cycle to increase stored water temperatures. The "legionella" cycle raises the water temperature in the solar thermal system to 60 degrees Celsius every 24 hours for health and water safety. The boost in temperature destroys harmful bacteria.

Plan the exterior space for the solar panels and storage tank. Diagram the layout between the collectors, storage unit and plumbing or delivery system.

Select your solar energy collectors. The Cut Your Carbon organization describes two types: "a flat plate collector (which sandwiches slender metal tubes between highly insulated materials) and an evacuated tube collector (which insulates the water/coolant mix via a vacuum)."

Conduct a solar survey. Find an area that receives abundant sunlight and is free of obstacles. Do a solar evaluation by setting up a table in the place you plan to set up your collectors. Create a sun chart.

Install the collector on a large, sturdy portion of the roof that is slanted at a 30- to 45-degree angle, facing the direction the sun rises. Clear all shading. Alternatively, an open field or flat roof can be used.

Determine pump and pipe sizing needs to transfer energy from the solar collectors to the the water storage or heater unit. Calculate the flow that the collectors need, the vertical distance from the collector to the storage unit and the flow and pressure of the plumbing system.

Set up a drain-back system without antifreeze or a closed-flow system with antifreeze. This will determine how the water drains back from the collector to the storage system when the pump is not operating.

Connect the collector to the storage unit (with appropriate-size piping and pump unit) and from the storage unit to the main plumbing system. Use the required pipes, couplings, manifolds, elbows and valves based on expert calculations.

Include a biomass system, with a boiler or space heating unit. For a biomass boiler, choose between a manual or automatic feeder. Consider your long-term use and expense of wood logs, wood chips or wood pellets.

Check local clean air acts and environmental regulations for use of biomass systems. Ensure proper ventilation with an adequate flue system to control fumes. This renewable energy system requires continuous fuel.