The Mill Creek NetZero Home (MCNZH) will collect solar energy in three different ways: using passive solar design, using photovoltaic (PV) modules, and using solar hot water (SHW) collectors. The SHW collectors are the ones that heat water - they are the black ones at the top of the above picture.

According to a recent article in Home Power magazine (Oct/Nov 2008, p.40), SHW collector efficiency is 50%-70%. That's pretty good when you consider that the best PV module is about 17% efficient.

I've been contemplating the design of the MCNZH's SHW system for months now. The pieces started to fall into place once the federal government released a crucial tool: The  WATSUN 2008 SHW System Simulator.  read more... »