Could solar power, hot water and heating be combined in one system in a way that's cheaper then fossil fuels

Question

for the same tasks in new or used homes no matter if there going to be or are powered by coal and oil or coal and natural gas etc...? Even if it used fossil fuels aslong as it was in only a night time and auxiliery role? Could this be done in a way that allows people to keep there existing power hot water and heating setup as that backup? Could it be bought on payment plans that garentee lower bills with no money down until there paid off so that companies that build them consumers that buy them and the environment that's saved a little bit with every purchase win?

Answer 1

Unfortunately solar photovoltaic systems are very expensive ways to generate electricity. The cost is generally 5 to 10 times the cost of purchasing electricity from your local uitlity.

Solar hot water is a little less expensive. In most parts of the country the cost to heat water using solar power is approximately 20 to 30 % more expensive than heating with natural gas.

Unfortunately it is not cheaper, and in fact it is more expensive to use solar power than fossil fuels as your energy source.

Answer 2

Yes solar can and is used as a means of doing all the above things. You can add a little or go all the way and go complete solar. But the first thing every one who is contemplating going solar needs to do is become more energy efficient. This means weather stripping, insulation, turn off appliances that are not used, close windows and doors in the winter time open them in the summer time. This along with other items help reduce energy. The next thing would be to install solar thermal hot air for heat it may not provide all your heating needs but it helps. After that solar hot water heater and then solar photovoltaic. This is all determined by where you live and cost of energy but should be a good starting point for anyone thinking about solar. And yes there are a few companies that do finance solar and a few banks get in the picture now. Look around and find some dealers at least one should point you in this direction.

Answer 3

Shortly, No, No, Yes, Yes, Yes.
Long version. No it can't be done in a single system and be cheaper than fossil fuels. But you can closely combine several systems and be BETTER than fossil fuels. Solar hot water combined with passive solar heating combined with solar energy with some other form of energy (geothermal, wind, microturbine in the creek) with a heat transfer to regain lost heat from chimneys and stove vents would be great. It would also be expensive, more so in a renovation especialy in a town where you have the neighbors trees blocking your sunspace. And not every housetask can be replaced very well by solar. Cooking for example. You could install a solar cooker attached to your house if you only cooked a small fraction of your food though... Unless you live in Michigan, where we don't get a lot of sun in the winter (darn lake effect clouds).
Fossil fuels in aux role? Well... it can't be helped I suppose by keep on pushing for increased renewables and by ready to consider would you be willing to sacrifice any "modern convenience" to eliminate fossil fuels?
Keep exsisting systems for a back up? Sure, no problem. I've read its almost standard practice for solar hot water systems to keep the old heater 'just in case'.
Payment plans with no money down? Certainly manufacturers willing and your credit don't fall. But (and I almost hate myself for saying this) I would ask you consider is it worth the financial and social burden of increased debt (and high interest rates of no money down) instead of working your tail too pay in full while improving the world in smaller ways? As much as I want to save the world I'm not putting my head under the loan collectors axe either.

I don't know if your asking for personal reasons or not but if you've a mind to do something big in your life like solar anything I do say YOU GO!! and make sure it also makes you a happier human.

CS

Answer 4

As others who have given comprehensive answers, yes you can combine Solar Panels with inverters, and a huge battery bank, and a wind turbine over your house, and the electric mains you now have. All it takes is lots and lots of money. And the payback is generally over a decade or two or three before you break even.

And with brand new technology, you better keep the old for a backup for a while!! I'd hate to imagine my brand new Earthsaver Deluxe with Chrome Trimmings $$$$$$$$$$$ electro-solar house heat going dead from a poorly engineered connection at the start of a Montana 3-day blizzard!!

As to how it can be bought...you can borrow the money and pay it back with interest, the government MIGHT offer low-cost loans but don't count on it (politicians like to be paid handsomely!).

I doubt that such a complex installation could be bought, with interest, cheaper than current technology using fossil fuels somewhere in the loop. That is a dual system..tho not costing twice as much since the old fuel technology would be at today's prices + inflation +_new energy taxes. Adapting your existing systems might even cost more, if they do not have the interfaces to blend with a newer technology

Control would be a hassle, making sure no failures occur such as you taking solar energy and an air conditioner running at the same time!

I doubt that the probable 10's of thousands of dollars could be gotten with nothing down; unless the government backs you up with tax dollars.

I am on a limited income, so have little clout at my bank. I have looked into some of these systems, and I frankly could not keep my house going on solar or solar mixed with conventional interior climate control at a price I could possibly afford...not be able to pay it anywhere near off in my lifetime.

I have a friend who has a little 2-room house atop a mountain, and he has lots of solar stuff, which costs him nearly all his income, but still has to truck fuel up the mountain regularly...and he has a very cozy and well-insulated 2-room home. And of course, trucking his needed standby fuel for his heating and pumping water and lights and phone uses a lot of fuel and costs him plenty.

I am convinced Solar, except maybe in the south, for those who want the things like TV and Air Conditioning and floor sweepers, etc...is a rich man's game...or of a hermit who lives very stingily. Right now.

Maybe if folks had listened and acted 50 years ago and built solar cell factories in space, we would have what we need now. But politics and public apathy scuttled those ideas long ago.

I looked into closed-cycle heat pumps with a well and a energy storage pond...until I got the pricing on such!!
Was a nice thought, but payback would have 30 years to the break-even point, and I could not have afforded the interest on the loan!

It is a nice thought, but not here now for the average man, and not looking good for next year either. In my opinion.

Do you suppose if every one of our elected officials had to put ALL his money and properties into a blind trust and live with his family on ONLY the income of his average constituent for a year, buy a car, rent a home, pay the heat and light bills, buy food in a local store, etc, before he served his actual term, that there would be some good changes made towards helping such as you and I with conservation projects??

Answer 5

Yes, no and maybe. (very definitive answer isn't it?)

Cost of setting up the system would be high. It wold take years to "pay off" vs using power from the electric grid. Potentially, due to finance charges or "cost of lost opportunity" the "green" energy system might NEVER pay off.

Appx $30,000 for a solar panel system with batteries and voltage inverter to make it unnecessary to use the power from the electric grid. That $30,000 at 5% interest compounded monthly would have gained appx $140 a month in interest. That means the system has to save you AT LEAST $140 to cover the lost opportunity cost of putting the money in a CD. Then you need it to save another $200 a month to cover the expected maintenence/replacement costs...

And thats just the solar panel system....

Answer 6

AHEM! You ask for a comprehensive plan to combine several systems into one, so to speak. Welll, I did see one such system where a parabolic concrete form was used to highly concentrate sun light on a cold water pipe and it gave boiling water in seconds. This supplied all the hot water and if extended into the house warmed the rooms. Solar Cells are getting better and I know of someone who paid $20,000 for a roof system that took care of all the
appliances. Weather would be the only thing to get in the way.
Spartawo...

Answer 7

Yes but depends where you live.

To have cost effective solar panels and hot water systems you need lots of sun and space. Arizona, New Mexico and others are great for this, while Maine should use wind power instead.

Places like big cities should think about other thermal sources to reclaim heat generated by all the concrete.

There is no one great power source so many smaller ones should be used.

Answer 8

as you know by now there are some good options. the main point i think is that in these days solar how water systems with gas or electric boosters are becoming more affordable. the water vessel doesn't need to be on your roof these days either as you know. they are becoming more practical and affordable.
research as you already seem to be, and don't fall for a sales pitch without evaluating all aspects. you can do great things if you can afford to. there are intermediate solutions for those among us who are low to medium income earners also. these days it is not just energy cost to consider but water wastage especially in Australia and elsewhere. there are new inventions which can save in this regard also...for new and existing homes. i will not say which but for the keen eye they are there...from mainstream suppliers to this industry.

Answer 9

You could do all that, except for the cheaper part. It will cost more. Sorry to throw cold water on your idea, but it is a simple fact the people use fossil fuel power because it is cheap.

Answer 10

I know that some people supplement their hot water heaters with solar power. My parents house has solar panels that heat their pool, some people have them for other supplementary purposes too. I think that all new houses should be built with a minimum of two solar panels to reduce power usage. And yes they could be combined to reduce usage of fossil fuels and it should be mandated by law. You hear Bush speak about reducing our fossil fuel usage but hasn't passed any laws or pushed for any laws to pass that will do so under his presidency. As a matter of fact his buddies in the oil industry have become richer under him and have produced more oil under him under previous years at a higher price per barrel because of his piss poor foriegn policy.