PlumbingandMechanical Solar Thermal Report Fall 2011 : Page 5Surface-mounted collectors, such as these installed on Ron Hoffman’s Lexington, Ky., townhouse, look like skylights and are more aesthetically pleasing than tilt-up units. Trends 2010.” The IREC report also says increased installations come about with increased incentives. “The solar water-heating markets respond when federal incentives are increased but, unlike photovoltaic installations, market demand does not sustain high growth rates,” the report states. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin all provided rebates for more than 100 systems in 2010. In coal states such as Kentucky that still have low electricity rates, it can be even more difficult to convert consumers to renewable energy. “In Kentucky, we have 6 or 7 cents per kWh electric rates, so it’s somewhat challenging to introduce any new technology that may be seen as a threat to the coal industry here,” Hoffman says. “People are a little more resistant to trying something new.” Yet solar is making small inroads into Kentucky energy. While more prevalent in commercial and institutional projects such as schools, Kentucky homeowners In coal states such as Kentucky, it can be difficult to convert consumers to renewable energy. are beginning to look to solar thermal and other renewables to help lower their energy costs. Financing options available from installers and a state residential tax credit of $500 help alleviate homeowner concerns about the costs of installing a solar thermal system. In addition, the Kentucky Solar Partnership (www.kysolar.org) and the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (www.maced.org) offer flexible loans for the installation of solar water heaters in eastern Kentucky. Loans cover the full equipment and installation cost. “Slowly the technologies are improving,” Hoffman explains. “The new solar products are more efficient, which allows most installations to be done on a surface-mount base rather than the traditional tilt-up units. Homeowners associations in metropolitan areas have banned solar panels tilted skyward. With these new installs, you can show people they actually look like skylight installations. They’re very efficient in most instances without having that unsightly rack tilt-up mechanism.” Consumer education on how solar thermal systems work, as well as financing options and tax incentives/ rebates, is still a big part of the sales strategy. “A few customers are asking for solar thermal systems, but a lot of our business is still education,” says Matt Partymiller of Solar Energy Solutions, a solar installation firm based in Lexington (www.solar-energy-solutions.com). However, roughly 20 percent of Solar Energy Solutions’ business comes from residential jobs. “We have seen great reception from customers in the commmercial/institutional space,” he says. “Solar thermal is capable of meeting a larger percentage of hot water demand in certain applications when appropriately designed.” The firm recently completed one of the largest solar thermal installations in the United States — about 170 solar thermal units at Locust Trace Agriscience Farm, an agricultural school located in Lexington. A customer, too: Hoffman not only distributes solar thermal systems, he has one installed on his townhome. In 2008, Solar Usage Now became a distributor for the SUN Equinox heating and hot water system. The system is pre-assembled and shipped to the jobsite, reducing the cost of installation. Hoffman had the first residential installation of the Equinox system in the United States. Fall 2011 Solar Thermal Report 5 Publication List Using a screen reader? Click Here |
