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How much do I save with Solar Dynamics?
Do I have to change my habits to use a solar water heater?
Does government offer any financial incentives?
Are solar water heating systems reliable?
How long does it take to install a Solar heater and does someone have to be on site?
Does the water have to be turned off?
Is my system safe in a hurricane?
Does any work have to be done inside the building/home?
If I move, can I take the system with me?
I am building a home, what advice do you have?
What about financing?
What is a Solar Water Heater?
A solar water heater uses the sun's energy rather than electricity or gas to heat water, and so reduces your monthly utility bill. When installed properly,
solar water heaters are more economical over the life of the system than heating water with electricity, dedicated heat pumps, heat recovery units or propane.
There are several types of solar systems, among them:
pumped, integral collector storage (ICS), and thermo-siphon. Solar Dynamics Ltd uses a thermo-siphon system.
How much do I save with Solar Dynamics?
Your monthly savings will
depend on the amount of hot water you use, storage tank size and type and price of fuel used for backup water heating. For a family of four, the typical hot water usage is 70-gallons per day, thus using 3990-kilowatt-hours per
year to heat the water electrically, or $399 per year worth of electricity at 10¢ per kilowatt hour.
A solar water heater should save between 50% and 85% of the hot water portion of the monthly utility bill, or $200 to
$300 per year for a family of four.
A solar water heater can save even more if you turn off the backup and rely solely on the sun for your hot water. Since we live in the tropics, where the sun shines for the most part
of the day, there should be little cause for using the backup element circuit breaker, or switch. As electricity and other fuel prices go up, solar savings will also increase.
Do I have to change my habits to use a solar water heater?
No.
Solar water heaters are always installed with a backup heating system in the storage tank to ensure that hot water is always available. However, to maximize solar utilization and your savings, use the most hot water in the late
morning and early afternoon when the solar system is operating at its peak due to the available sunshine. Also, your solar system will be more effective if you spread your use of hot water more evenly over the week. For
example, if you use hot water for laundry, instead of washing seven loads of clothes in a single day, wash one load each day. This will reduce the amount of backup energy required for your solar system.
Does government offer any financial incentives?
Yes. Since 1996, the government of Barbados has allowed tax deductions on the purchase of a solar water heater. It is tax deductible to a maximum of $3, 500.
Are solar water heating systems reliable?
Properly designed and installed systems with glass-covered collectors should perform well for more than 20 years. Controllers, like other electronic devices, may
require servicing during the life of the system, and the pump and hot water tank may have to be replaced after 10 years. Since conventional water heaters have the same expected lifetime, water tank replacement costs are not
regarded as unique to solar energy systems.
Normal maintenance consists of checking pipe insulation, roof penetrations and collector mounting, pump operation and tank flushing. The latter is also recommended for
conventional water heating systems, as is periodic replacement of the water heater sacrificial anode rod.
How long does it take to install a Solar heater and does someone have to be on site?
It takes four to six hours depending on site conditions. New installations are done within 2 - 6 days of confirmation. Someone must be on site.
Does the water have to be turned off?
If there is a stop cock on the cold line to the storage tank, we won't need to turn of the main supply. However, if we have to put a stop valve in the existing line,
we would turn off the main supply for up to one hour.
Is my system safe in a hurricane?
The weight of the system and the fastenings to the roof would keep most water heaters in place during storm or hurricane conditions. However
the stability of the system also depends on the direction of wind, wind speed, and other factors. This includes the types of fixings of the roof to structure. Contact us for special information and current fixing details.
The Solar Water Heater should be covered in general insurance.
Does any work have to be done inside the building/home?
It is necessary to have a cold and hot line and mixers to use the system. If
the plumbing has not been done to accommodate this, your plumber can do this for you or we can do it under a separate contract.
If I move, can I take the system with me?
Yes, it can be shifted from one roof to another.
Do I need to buy materials separately?
No. We supply all the materials required for the installation.
I am building a home, what advice do you have?
Hot and cold water
supply lines should be run to the roof with a suitable space to accommodate the heater. The roof should face south, south west or west as this will allow the system to absorb maximum heat especially during November and February
when the sun is lower in the sky.
An electrical line should also be run to the roof with a 20 amp breaker to provide backup electricity in times of inclement weather, or exceptional demand. These electrical and plumbing
lines should be waterproofed by the building contractor where they come through the roof. An overflow line should also be provided and this can be in CPVC. This line will be connected to the pressure relief valve to
direct any excess water safely to the ground.
Architects - send us copies of your plans so we can identify the best location for the system.
Financing - generally available at commercial banks, credit unions or
distributors. For more information, contact us or your Solar Dynamics county representative, or E-mail us with your queries.
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