Solar thermal “is a 5,000-year-old technology that’s new again,” says Paul Burrowes, COO of Free Hot Water, a locally based manufacturer that designed the systems being installed on five roofs of the two-story buildings in the Tradewinds complex. The systems will heat water to between 130 and 180 degrees and are expected to eventually relegate the buildings’ central boilers and water heaters to backups.

TBI Energy is managing this project, and the design/build mechanical contractor Comfort Energy will do all of the installation, which should take about two months, says Cheryl Butterton, TBI’s project manager. (The project will actually take four and a half months to complete because of California’s metering requirements.) Butterton says this is the largest solar thermal project to receive Pacific Gas & Electric rebates. Using theCalifornia Solar Initiative Program as its guide, Free Hot Water estimates that Tradewinds will earn approximately $186,240 in rebates. (Because Tradewinds is a not-for-profit homeowners association, it isn’t eligible for energy tax credits.)

“I feel proud to bring renewable energy and efficiency to The Tradewinds,” said Craig Gorewitz, who manages the complex’s day-to-day activities. He tells Builder that the HOA’s out-of-pocket expenditure would be around $390,000, and that the system and its installation would cost a total of about $600,000. Free Hot Water estimates that the HOA should recoup its investment within 2.7 years, ”but we’d be happy if it was five years,” says Gorewitz.

News about this project was first posted on Renewable Energy World’s website. The companies working on this project did not disclose the cost of the systems being installed.

In an interview with Builder this week, Burrowes explained how his company’s solar thermal system works.

Water comes from the city into buildings at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Multifamily structures typically include one central boiler for every 50 to 100 units, and that boiler provides water that’s heated to around 120 degrees. However, the boiler must be on all the time so residents can get hot water when they want it.

Three natural gas central boilers heat water for The Tradewinds’ residents—78% of whom own their homes, and the rest rent—who use about 10,000 gallons per day.

Burrowes says that the solar thermal system will heat water by means of a heat-transfer fluid, propylene glycol, which circulates through what he calls a solar loop, from 183 commercial-grade solar hot-water collectors to a pump station and then through heat-exchange coils that lead to three 2,500-gallon underground storage tanks. The fluid heats the water in those tanks up to 180 degrees, which is then sent, as needed, through other coils to the building’s boiler system.

Free Hot Water estimates that this solar thermal system will produce over 5 million BTUs daily and save more than 250,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Burrowes says his company has taken a “LEGO-like approach” to designing its systems to make their installation as simple as possible. Philip Neumann, a vice president with Comfort Energy, confirms that “Free Hot Water is doing a lot of the work that we’d normally do,” such as handling the water flow and exchanges.

Neumann says that TBI chose Comfort Energy as its contractor on this project because of its background in hydronics and solar thermal, “which we integrate into a lot of projects we do.” The biggest challenge the Tradewinds installation presented, he said, was the community’s “mature landscaping. We have to work around trees to get equipment in, and trench real carefully.” Free Hot Water also had to design the roof plan around tree shade.

Free Hot Water’s goal is to have distributors in every state in the country. Its website includes a calculator that allows visitors from any state to figure out how much a solar thermal system would cost for their homes or buildings, and what the rebates, tax credits, and cost savings would be.

But its most fertile target right now is California, where buildings must now comply with new regulations aimed at significantly reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

In San Jose alone, Neumann believes that “there are so many other complexes” that use lots of water and could benefit from a solar heating conversion, including health clubs, assisted living facilities, and laundromats. Neumann adds that solar thermal systems are “much more efficient” when energy storage is on-site, bringing these systems’ sunlight-to-end user efficient beyond 70%, compared to the 17% to 18% efficiency of photovoltaic cells.

But pitching energy efficiency is never the easiest sell in the world: Burrowes says he negotiated with the residents of The Tradewinds for nine months before they agreed to allow the solar thermal installation.

John Caulfield is senior editor at Builder magazine.

This article was originally posted on Builder Online.

And as the stimulus moved into the second year of its two-year life, another bill — Home Star — appeared likely to pass. That would have injected $6 billion into the energy-retrofit market. But after passing the House last May, Home Star died a quiet death in the Senate.

Public interest in energy issues goes up and down. At the moment it remains up. The stimulus actually did what it was intended to do: create jobs by promoting products that save homeowners energy and money. Many Americans already have energy-efficient windows in their homes. A 2009 survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in results released last month, shows that the percentage of homes with energy-saving double- or triple-pane windows rose from 36% in 1993 to 58% in 2009. How many of those windows were installed in new homes and how many were replacements the survey didn’t say.

But clearly companies that sell windows at the retail level are not wanting for energy of their own. Many vigorously promoted ARRA tax credits and reaped the happy result. They could do that because they’re marketing machines that know how to reach a buying public with products and offers.

So what’s starting to become evident is a shift to sell homeowners other products or services that can complete the job that windows started. One manufacturer I recently spoke with estimates that the market share of foam-backed vinyl siding, for instance, has doubled in the last five or six years. Its chief attraction? Enhanced R-value. And more home improvement companies are entering the solar arena. Many now offer blown-in insulation. Smart move. Studies show that more than 60% of U.S. homes are insufficiently (or not at all) insulated.

And then there’s air sealing, done as a complement to insulation. The Department of Energy contends that air sealing is the best dollar-for-dollar energy-efficiency investment a homeowner can make. Yet at the moment most people don’t even know what it means. “Go down the street and ask 100 people what air sealing is,” said the president of a large window company I spoke with last week. “You’ll be lucky if one in a 100 has any idea.”

By the way, his company now offers that service. Because if you explain what air sealing is, how much it costs, and what it can do to make the house energy efficient, some people want it. Services like air sealing and products such as insulation and solar systems are likely to continue gaining popularity for various reasons. Energy prices trend ever upward.

The economy may technically have wended its way past recession, but a hangover exists that makes consumers careful about how they spend. People are moving less, a result of the still-slow job market. And when they decide to stay in the place where they are, they want that place to be comfortable and affordable.

A number of factors doomed Home Star, but consumer indifference to the issues the bill addressed wasn’t one of them.

This article was originally posted on Remodeling Online.

For more new products from IBS, see our Builders’ Show Preview.

Leviton Mfg. Designed for use with a wide variety of dimmable CFL light bulbs, the Decora CFL Slide Dimmer optimizes the performance of dimmable CFL bulbs. Unlike standard dimmers that are not always compatible with dimmable CFLs, the CFL Slide Dimmer detects whether the bulb is an incandescent or a dimmable CFL, determines high- and low-end dimming capabilities, and adjusts the dimming range accordingly. The CFL Slide simmer helps eliminate problems dimming CFLs with standard dimmers, such as flickering or a small range of dimming. www.leviton.com. –Lauren Hunter

CertainTeed. EnerGen solar roofing features Uni-Solar thin-film laminates that install with no roof penetrations and lie flush with traditional shingles for a streamlined appearance. The shingles provide .5 kW per 100 square feet. Designed for installation by building and roofing pros, the system comes with in pre-engineered kits with all components. www.certainteed.com. –Katy Tomasulo

Dow. The company previewed its Powerhouse solar shingles, building-integrated photovoltaics that install flat against the roof deck in the same manner as an asphalt shingle. The shingles require no on-roof wiring and can be installed by builders and roofers; the electrical circuitry is integrated into each shingle, the company says, and the shingles link to each other via plug-style connectors and then require only minimum roof penetration to connect to the home. Though specific specs are not yet available, Powerhouse, which will be available in 2011, is estimated to provide about 40 percent to 80 percent of a typical home’s energy needs. www.dow.com. –K.T.

Sherwin-Williams. The company has enhanced its Harmony product with a formula that helps reduce odors in the air, similar to baking soda, even after a surface is painted, the maker says. The zero-VOC product now also sports better hide and more durability, the firm adds, and antimicrobial properties help it resist mildew. The latex paint is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified and Greenguard Certified for Children and Schools. www.sherwinwilliams.com. –Victoria Markovitz

Delta. The Linden pull-out faucet offers consumers a choice of water-saving flow or traditional flow. When turned on, the unit operates at 1.5 gallons per minute for needs such as hand washing; a push button on the spout can be depressed for a faster flow for tasks that require a faster flow, such as pot filling. Linden features a transitional style, with clean lines and a flared wand. The company’s Diamond Seal technology reduces leak points and simplifies installation. www.deltafaucet.com. –K.T.

GE. Currently in testing, the company’s smart-grid-enabled appliances will communicate between the utility and the homeowner to ensure appliances are operating at the optimum time of day, lessening the load on the power grid and saving the homeowner money. For example, the refrigerator will hold the high-energy defrost cycle until off-peak hours; the water heater will operate in its most efficient mode during high-demand periods; and appliances will shift to power-saving modes until rates are lower. Accompanying this launch will be the introduction of a Home Energy Manager (shown), which will monitor energy use throughout the home. The 7-inch touchscreen display provides a graphical interface to view real-time and long-term energy consumption, as well as water consumption, solar energy generation (if applicable), weather forecasts, and more. www.ge.com. –K.T.

Broan-NuTone. The company’s recessed fan/lights now include a sensor that turns the fan on when it senses a quick rise in humidity then turns it off automatically. The Energy Star-rated unit looks like a traditional recessed light, but contains a concealed 70-cfm ventilation fan that operates at 1.5 sones. The auto shut-off feature is adjustable from five to 60 minutes or can be operated manually. The fan is UL listed for use over the tub or shower. www.broan.com. –K.T.

Georgia-Pacific. DryPly plywood subfloor has a water-repellant coating that absorbs up to 40% less water during the normal construction cycle than uncoated plywood, the maker says. Backed by a lifetime limited warranty, the product is also SFI certified. www.gp.com. –V.M.

Huber Engineered Woods. The company has refined the tape gun for its ZIP System of structural roof and wall sheathing, which feature a built-in air and moisture barrier to eliminate the need for felt and housewrap. The tape gun, which is used to seal panel seams, loads twice as fast as the original gun and is designed to be more durable on the jobsite. www.zipsystem.com. –K.T.

Amana. The Tandem laundry pair is designed to offer increased capacity, high efficiency, and a stylish look at a more affordable price point, says the firm. The Energy Star-rated washer uses 73 percent less water and 71 percent less energy than conventional top loaders, according to the company, and it is CEE Tier 3-qualified. Both units feature sound dampeners for quiet operation and “Touch and Go” controls for simple programming. www.insideadvantage.com. –K.T.

EarthTronics. By harvesting energy from the tips of the turbine blades, rather than through a mechanical center gear, the Honeywell Wind Turbine from WindTronics starts producing energy at 2 mph and remains operational through 42 mph, the maker says, unlike traditional turbines that start generating energy at 7.5 mph and shut down at 29 mph. The unit can produce 2,000 kWh a year in Class 3 winds and 2,752 kWh a year in Class 4 winds while operating at a height of 33 feet. www.windtronics.com. –V.M.

For 35 more products from the show, see our Builders’ Show Preview.

Aquatic. Designed to appeal to a broader range of users with hydrotherapy and accessible bathing needs, the Ava Bath includes a range of unique features. Rather than a swing-open door typical of most accessible bathtubs, Ava’s automated door runs the full length of the tub, and raises and lowers completely for unprecedented ease of access. The roomy design functions like a traditional soaking tub, allowing for more complete immersion than a traditional bath with a bench, and a patent-pending quick-drain feature empties the 70-gallon tub in 30 seconds or less. Four Ava bath models include soaker, whirlpool, air bath and air/whirlpool designs in a 60-inch-wide tub, suitable for remodeling. www.aquaticbath.com. –Lauren Hunter

Clopay. The garage door manufacturer will now offer fiberglass and steel entry doors. Numerous decorative window styles with matching sidelites, transoms, and leaded garage door windows are available. The entry doors are factory finished and pre-hung for easy installation. The fiberglass products include a polyurethane foam core for added insulation and strength, along with tempered, triple-glazed insulated glass. Steel offerings are insulated with polyurethane.  Select doors qualify for the energy tax credit. www.clopay.com. –Victoria Markovitz

According to Briggs & Stratton, the 10-kW standby generator with Symphony power control system can power the same appliances as larger competing units.

Earlier this year, GE introduced a line of Briggs & Stratton-built standby power generators. Briggs & Stratton marketing officials, who visited ebuild’s Washington, D.C., office today, said the line is unique because each system includes a generator and a transfer switch (usually sold separately); a power management system in the specially designed Symphony transfer switch allows the modestly priced 10-kilowatt system ($2,898) to provide whole-house power during power outages for 73% of American homes. (Officials said the 10-kW is sufficient for 2,400-square-foot houses.)

Nevertheless, Deadra Richelle, assistant marketing manager for Briggs & Stratton, also said that the cost of installation could double the initial system price. Installation of standby generators–GE and all other brands–averages $2,000 to $3,000, but the cost could be significantly higher and varies depending on the installer. “There is no way to normalize the installation costs,” Richelle said, noting that independent electricians and plumbers who install for The Home Depot set their own fees. The GE line is sold through The Home Depot and Briggs & Stratton dealers.

With the launch of the new product line, which also includes 12-kW, 15-kW, and 20-kW models, GE also unveiled a Web site designed to make product selection easier for consumers.—Jean Dimeo

Even the most robust alternative energy systems are bound to face some downtimes over their lifetime, whether from cloudy days, fluctuating ground temperatures, or other interruptions. “Nearly all renewable energy sources, when expected to provide the same comfort and convenience modern Americans now enjoy, must be supplemented with efficient and environmentally respectful forms of conventional energy,” the paper asserts.

With thorough descriptions and helpful schematics, the document runs through some of the most common renewable energy setups—including solar hot water, photovoltaics, and air-source heat pumps—and explains how to integrate a propane backup system.

John Siegenthaler, engineer and heating specialist and the paper’s author, told Hanley Wood editors that 90% of the hardware used in these systems is hardware installers are already used to using.

The white paper is available for download on PERC’s Web site. –Katy Tomasulo