DISCOVER YOUR REASON |
Solar chimney |
Tom J.
Calgary, AB
Solar thermal │ Wall mount │ Domestic water heating │ Space heating
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When Tom was thinking of installing a solar heater back in 2010, he was worried his house was poorly suited for solar. The east-west facing roof wasn't ideal for maximizing his energy generation throughout the day and the inner-city property didn't have room for a ground mount. However, the house's old brick chimney ran up the south facing wall and was the perfect width for 20-evacuated tube collectors. Now the chimney supports three solar thermal collectors, stacked vertically, generating clean, green heat. Though the bottom panel is occasionally shaded by the adjacent house in winter, the solar thermal system nevertheless generates more than enough energy to supply all the hot water for the household.
Ten years on and the solar heater has been running without a hitch. A testament to Simple Solar's view that solar should fit into everyone's lifestyle and last a lifetime. |
Installation date: 6 June 2010 Our Freedom Won has given us a decade of free hot water and shows no signs of slowing down. Unlike all the other water heating options out there, our solar heated water creates no pollution, enabling us to enjoy long, leisurely showers without feeling guilty of harming the environment. |
See how Tom uses his FREEDOM WON system
The three collector FREEDOM WON system has generated approximately 7 kWh of heat energy per day for the past ten years; enough to heat 250 L of water to 40 °C. Once in the solar tank, the heat is stored until hot water is needed for domestic hot water purposes such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing. The system was sized to provide hot water for four people, however two members of the family have since moved out. The excess energy is now redirected to a basement space heater. A drain water heat recovery unit was also added in 2012. The chart below details the effectiveness of the system over the past decade.
The evacuated tube collectors insulate the system form the harsh Alberta winters, minimizing heat loss, and their tubular design prevents the buildup of snow on the collectors and protects them from hail. Our patented FREEDOM WON technology ensures reliable, automated operation with no regular maintenance, and is fully off-grid, requiring no external power source.
The evacuated tube collectors insulate the system form the harsh Alberta winters, minimizing heat loss, and their tubular design prevents the buildup of snow on the collectors and protects them from hail. Our patented FREEDOM WON technology ensures reliable, automated operation with no regular maintenance, and is fully off-grid, requiring no external power source.
