Category Archives: Solar Thermal Systems

Solar Hot Water Installation with Wi-Fi

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Bay Area Hot Water From The Sun

Capturing the suns energy for pre-heating a homes hot water has been with us since man started bathing.  In recent years the solar hot water industry has had a new lease of life with increasing energy costs and concern for climate change. The government has given home owners added incentives with tax credits.

The very latest advancement in solar hot water technology is the introduction of web based performance monitoring.  The Helio-Pak Pro from Heliodyne, a local solar manufacturer based in Richmond CA., has a built in wi-fi transmitter that the installer or home owner can access from there PC. , lap-top or smart phone.  This allows for performance monitoring  and trouble shooting from, well, anywhere. Continue reading →

Comfort you can feel. Comments from homeowners with radiant heating.

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Solar Thermal- hydronics mechanical room

Solar Thermal- hydronics mechanical room

A selection of clients give their comments on their radiant heating systems.

Dan and Liz, Piedmont California.

Boiler: Baxi Luna HT1.330

Heat:  Radiant slab on the ground floor with radiators on the second floor.

Zones: Four zones Taco ZVC zone control and ESP zone valves, Taco zone circulator.

Hot water:  In-direct storage tank with Helio-dyne solar heat exchanger (2 4×6 black paint solar collectors) with hydronic back-up.

Comments:  “It doesn’t feel like a heating system, the house just stays nice, its perfect.  We came back from a vacation, the house was cold, but by the time we finished our burritos, the whole house was toasty warm”- Liz

“We have 1800 square feet and we pay $200 per month in gas. Our neighbor has a smaller house and pays $300 per month”- Dan

“We love it” Liz

“Its very good”- Dan. Continue reading →

Green Plumbing- A Case Study

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On Friday, May 14th 2010, a City of Berkeley building inspector signed off on the final inspection on one of the most forward thinking buildings in the Bay Area.

I was very fortunate to be involved in the design and installation of the plumbing and mechanical systems in this new construction Berkeley home that incorporates almost all of the green plumbing technologies available at this time.

The home-owner on this project is deeply concerned about environmental change, when it came time to build her dream home, she was determined that it should have a minimal impact on the planet. Our homes generate a great deal of the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming and diminishing resources including fossil fuels and water are concerns for everyone.
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Green Energy- a case study. Solar Hot Water with Hydronic Air handler.

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Madeline loves her home in Berkeley with views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.   As part of a kitchen and family room remodel it was necessary to relocate and upgrade the furnace and water heater.  Madeline, who is concerned about climate change,  sought the advice of her General Contractor, Paul Cerami of Cerami Builders and the plumbing contractor, Paul Gerrard of Pipeline Plumbing and Heating, to see which of the many energy efficient systems would be right for her home and her budget.

Madeline told us, “I already utilize solar PV for my electrical needs and I absolutley love it”.  She was very interested in solar thermal for her hot water needs.  ” I want to be a responsible citizen and reduce my energy costs as much as possible”.  Tax credits were another incentive.

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