Cheap and Green Hot Water and Hot Air Heating

It began with the character who provided our entertainment for the day declaring: "I don't need the advanced course---just tell me how to do it for nothing and get hot water and heat for free." Quite a challenge! Wayne Groszko the Ecology Action Centre's Renewable Energy Coordinator met the challenge with an impressive degree of success.

The event was Shelburne's Renewable Energy Tour on March 22, 2014. A 7AM departure allowed arrival in good time for a 10:30AM start. The event was a great opportunity to see a community in action---spurred on by Women's Fishnet---and with ample help from the Ecology Action Centre.

 

From beginning to end the weather cooperated beautifully. I travelled with my husband Gerry Cudmore with two dogs.

 

Gerry and I have both had a long term interest in solar energy with two passive solar greenhouses in our history. The first was domestic, the second commercial. We are both committed to making good choices for the environment but he's the one with the practical skills and understanding needed to move forward. I'd have understood much less without him alongside! We remain fans of all things passive solar and yesterday brought new projects to the forefront. More importantly, I would like to bring a similar project to Shelburne's to a community in Kings County. This tour helped me explore that.

 

Blowing Hot Air---Cost---About $350 (DIY) or $3,500 (Certified for Rebate)

Certified Unit attached to Shelburne Home

This hot air heater is manufactured in Newfoundland and would qualify for a Efficiency NS Space Heating Rebate of $500.

 

Solar hot air space heaters work by drawing cool air out of your home, flowing it through a panel that heats it using free energy from the sun, and then blowing it back into your home at a higher temperature. Installations include a fan and a thermostat that turns the fan off when the sun can't do the good required. It's notable that even on dull days the sun can warm air through the use of a solar panel.

 

A solar hot air system can be made with recycled materials (aluminum cans, a computer fan, black stove paint, etc.,) for a few hundred dollars. Arrangements can be made to have a community workshop to build a solar space heater. Plans are also available on the internet.

There wasn't a DIY one on our tour but Wayne has seen several successful DIY installations!

 

Solar Hot Water Heating---Cost---About $2,000 (DIY) or $7,500 (Certified for Rebate) 

 

There are opportunities to build solar hot water heaters from recycled materials or from scratch.  For those with more cash a ready to install unit for several thousands dollars can be bought. This photo features recycled panels that a Shelburne homeowner refurbished and installed. It's connected to an indoor hot water tank. That tank preheats water when food grade anti-freeze cycles in a closed loop through the panels. The preheated water then enters a second water tank which would otherwise be served by very cold well water.

We visited this home at about 11:30 in the morning on a day that was barely above zero. We were able to remove a section of insulation from the piping indoors to assess the heat being transferred by the sun. Wow was that pipe ever hot! The homeowner did the conversion shown here for about $2,000 cash with lots of help over 4 days from several enthusiastic volunteers. 

A similar ready to install unit to this recycled one would likely cost about $7,500 and would qualify for a Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate. The program also offers the option of an interest free loan. Depending on the size and cost of the solar hot water heater your project could qualify for a rebate up to $1,250. Details on the rebates and loans can be found here.

The Heritage Centre in Shelburne operates a commercial laundry that serves the local hospital and hotels.

They must use hot water for these contracts. When they contracted with Wayne to come up with a plan a major issue was encountered: The centre didn't have a south facing wall or roof.

The installation was completed through the construction of a gazebo over a picnic area used by staff and volunteers.

The white pipe from the hot water solar panels works on the same principles as the domestic installation above. The white pipe between the panels and the roof line is well insulated and carries the heated antifreeze into an exchange system that preheats well water. Again, lots of plans are  available on the internet. For skilled DIY types there's even one here that combines a solar space and water heater.

Realistically, I think most homeowners would see these "easy" projects as difficult and daunting. By bringing Kings County community members together it may be possible to overcome this barrier and get more homeowners started on these cost-saving DIY projects that also reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

 

COMFIT Windmill---About $50,000 per year Net Revenue for Shelburne County

 

At the last stop on the tour we saw a small wind turbine that is part of the province's Community Feed-In Tariff (COMFIT) program. The controls are in the metal shed and available to Emily Tipton (shown here via her I-phone. Shelburne has a Sustainability Department and Emily is its Engineer and Development Coordinator

 

The turbine is a 50-kilowatt one. It's fully owned by Shelburne County and located in Sandy Point. It generates between $4 and 5 thousand per month in revenue for the county. Shelburne County was approved for a much bigger wind turbine but couldn't afford its share of the larger capital investment required.

 

Partial funding for the project came via federal gas tax funding aimed at sustainable green infrastructure. To my knowledge Kings County has yet to access the benefits of this fund.

 

Thank You Shelburne, Women's Fishnet, Wayne & Ecology Action Centre

 

I was so grateful to accept this invitation from the Ecology Action Centre. It exceeded my expectations and was an absolutely wonderful day of sharing useful information and inspiration. 

 

There's lots I am unqualified to describe! For anyone wishing to hear more about any of these installations I know Wayne has the smarts to answer just about anything. He can also tell you more about the Ecology Action Centre's Sustainability Projects here contact details.

Phone Wayne Toll-free at 1.866.315.9201; Email Wayne at: solargain@ecologyaction.ca