Renewable Energy. How it fits into your life.

Solar Hot Water

For the last century we have relied on stored solar energy in the form of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal). Today we have the technology to supply all of our energy needs directly from the sun’s energy. In fact enough solar energy falls on our planet in one hour to completely satisfy our energy needs for the entire year.
How?
Solar hot water systems are more than 90% efficient at capturing the sun’s rays and preheating our domestic hot water needs, add to space heating, contribute toward process heating (commercial applications), and more –even on Vancouver Island with its winter cloud.

Solar BC and the Federal EcoEnergy programs are generously subsidising solar hot water installations. Homeowners can receive more than $2000 back on a system, costing them as little as $5,000 (or less) for an installed system. This is smart. Imagine showering with water heated directly by the sun! Improve your energy security. Lower your operating costs. Stop giving so much money to the utility companies!

Passive Solar Heating

Why waste money on heating (and cooling) your home or business when the sun can do this job for free? Windows are the key ingredient. Windows let the solar radiant heat in when we need it, but are shaded when we don’t. Windows, however, also allow most of our interior heat out in the colder months in the same way: radiant heat loss. Typically well over half of our heat leaves by the windows!

It is possible to buy windows that prevent radiant heat gain and loss. Triple low-e windows do this. They are very hard on sun-dependent plants, and do not give the home or building any free solar heat when we need it.

Solution: Inflector see-through radiant window and sky-light covers. These absorb the solar rays in the colder months and gently warm the room, while reflecting over 70% of the interior radiant heat. In the summer the material is reversed, reflecting over 70% of the sun’s heat back outdoors without affecting the interior room temperature or the integrity of the window, all while reducing the sun’s glare, providing complete day-time privacy, and offering a clear view of the scenery. Unlike window coatings the Inflector can be opened and closed at will.

In addition more than 80% of the damaging ultra-violet rays are reflected or absorbed. Most windows allow between 50% - 90% of UV damage. Not with the Inflector window/sky-light cover! There is no other product on the market that matches its performance. Guaranteed.

Conclusion: using the Inflector see-through window covering allows passive heat gain from the sun in the winter while trapping that heat in the building; in the summer it keeps the occupants much cooler by reflecting the sun’s energy. Energy costs are greatly reduced. Energy security is improved.

This infrared picture shows how the interior’s
heat is escaping to the outside (the lighter the colour
the greater the heat loss; the dark blue in the foreground
is an outdoor plant). Note from the glow how much heat is
coming from the person walking toward the window!

This picture reveals a Christmas ornament glowing its heat to the outdoors through the window. Note, too, how much heat is escaping to the outdoors from underneath the doorway.

Pictures were taken in Nanaimo in January, 2010, courtesy of Den Mar Electric. The windows were composed of a double-pane low-e squared, argon-filled material. A single paned window would have allowed about 3 times the amount of radiant heat loss. If the Inflector window-covering was used the person and ornament would have become invisible, as the heat from his body and ornament would have been reflected back into the room.

Want to build or renovate your home to greatly reduce your energy bills? Check out our suggestions and ideas.