Hot Water: How the panels work

Flat plate collectors capture solar energy by employing the greenhouse effect. The glass covering allows up to 90% of the visible sunlight in to the collector. When sunlight strikes the reflective surface of the parabolic collector inside, the light is focused and reflected on to the absorptive surface of the copper pipe. The combination of focusing the sunlight and the solar absorbing surface of the copper pipe capture the maximum amount of energy. As the absorber pipe heats up it begins to radiate energy as infrared (IR) or heat radiation. Glass is essentially opaque to IR wavelengths so the heat is trapped inside the collector increasing the temperature even more.

As the coils heat up they circulate a glycol antifreeze, a substance used in fruit juices, through the system to bring the sun heated liquid into the hot water storage tank. These coils heat the water inside the tank and lessen the frequency of your hot water having to be heated by a gas fire.

Energy Costs: The impact of having solar panels

According to the government’s Energy Star’s approximations, water heating can account for more than forty percent of a utility bill. The panels installed on this house can offset up to 62% of water heating costs.

About the panels: 2924 W. Wilson

2 Panel Solargenix Compound Parabolic Concentrated Solar Collectors

This installation will annually...

• Offset 2,000 lbs of CO2 emissions
• Be equal to planting a half acre of forest

The Winston Series CPC collector is a Compound Parabolic Concentrating (CPC) collector that focuses sunlight onto a high efficiency absorber tube. The technology was developed at the University of Chicago by Professor Roland Winston and is based on his research in the field of non-imaging optics.

These solar collectors are manufactured in Chicago by Chicagoans for Chicagoans andinstalled by Windy City Renewable Energy LLC.

This property’s solar panels carries the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation’s seal

This property’s solar panels are made by a certified Energy Star Partner

This property’s solar panels were installed by Windy City Renewable Energy LLC

Property Appreciation:
The impact of solar panels on your property value

The National Association of Realtors® states that renewable energy systems, like the one installed on this property, appreciated the value of the residential property by 10% over the course of five years. In comparison to the recent market returns, renewable energy on residential properties are a sound and reliable investment. The installation of a solar hot water collector not only saves you on energy bills, but guarantees that the investment you made continues to appreciate. A financial compelling model with an environmentally responsible solution.