SOLAR WATER HEATING STARTED IN THE HIMILAYAS
Ben B.Boothe
SOLAR WATER HEATING STARTED IN THE HIMALAYAS
A group of Americans hiking high in the Himalaya Mountains of Nepal, stopped at a collection of 5 mountain huts, perched on the side of a cliff. The people there, dressed in their colorful mountain wools, smiled and welcomed them to sit and drink tea. They used a tea pot heated by a primitive metal frame, with shiny metal as a mirror, reflecting the heat. Sometimes they fold out two shiny metal “wings” bent so as to concentrate the heat on 3 sides of the teapot.
Many of the temples use them, and in the process teach energy conservation by example.
The tea was boiling hot. No electricity, or natural gas at 18,000 feet. But these people did understand solar power. Later they cooked a deep pan of stew, using a similar “solar stove”.
The Tibetans, and Nepalese have been using solar power and "renewable" energy for hundreds of years. They were "green" before it was cool to be green. It is partly because of their environment, and partly because their religion suggests that "The earth is good and sacred, something to be respected."
Later on, in Kathmandu, Ujaya Sakyia, a local business leader said: “Every hotel in Kathmandu heats its water with solar water panels on the roof.' I climbed up to my roof early one morning to catch a glimpse of the Himalaya’s before the city smog set in and sure enough there were enclosed panels with copper pipes coiled to receive the sun’s rays, preheating and making “hot water” as it flowed into the hotel water tanks. The highest fixed expense a hotel has, is heating hot water.
In the USA 17% to 27% of an average commercial building’s energy bill is used to heat water.
Buildings that offer showers, baths, food preparation, swimming pools, or which need steam or thermal heat, will spend 25 to 27% of their utility bills to heat water.
Using PV panels to make electricity to heat water will work, but it is not nearly as efficient as the method used in Kathmandu, that directly convert the liquid in a pipe, or vacuum tube, from 64 degrees to several hundred degrees hot. This is 6.5 to 7 times more energy efficient that PV panels. In some cases the vacuum tubes can heat water up to 600 degrees, and work even when
there is snow outside. They will heat on a cloudy day, but only 130 to 140 degrees.
“We have changed our philosophy of energy production” said Ben Boothe,, Chairman of Wind Inc. (http://www.wind-inc.com) a leading wind turbine and solar water heating distributor). “We first thought that wind turbines were the primary solution to energy needs.
"Now we believe that energy solutions should come from several sources, with local on site production balanced with good conservation. We believe by combining Wind Turbines on location, solar water heating, PV panels, and about 14 conservation items, many of which are not expensive, that it is possible to bring a sizable building to a 'net 0' energy bill."
Boothe’s company, Wind Inc., (http://wind-inc.com) has offered a challenge: "The first University to create a 'net zero' campus, a free wind turbine", along with it’s “Energy Technology Superior”, Award. “We know it is possible, and are eager to stimulate and motivate college campuses to do their part! But business leaders need to be doing the same thing” said Boothe.
Wind Inc., working with Solaire, has a combined system for prisons, hotels, restaurants, and universities. Their model looks like this:
- Assume Energy Cost Annual energy in dollars.... expense:($480,000)
- Amount attributed to heating water($ 96,000) per year
- Install one 250 kWh wind turbine($1,200,000)
- Federal Rebate +$400,000
- Net cost to buyer: ($800,000)
- Annual production by turbine: $200,000 energy production
- Install 150 array solar system, tanks, pumps($630,000)
- Federal Rebate +$189,000
- Net Cost of solar water heating system ($441,000)
- Energy production or savings by water heating system per year +$110,000
- Total cost of turbine and solar water heating system ($1,830,000)
- Total federal rebates: +$589,000
- Net cost of system after rebates= $1,241,000
- $310,000 per year or net return (IIR) of 25% per annum
- 20 year business savings of energy expense, with inflation and gradual energy increase factor =$8,743,000 positive cash flow back to the business
- 40 year business savings compounded with inflation and gradual energy increase factor= $21,050,000 positive cash flow back to the business
The financial model works and the design graphs confirm that this is an effective energy saver.
Businesses can also take into consideration depreciation deductions, as well as local and state grants and incentives that may be available. For example, for a commercial hospital, commercial shopping mall, food production center, or other facility that needs energy and hot water, the equipment and the cost of installation can be depreciated or deducted from taxes. The large 8,000 gallon water tank below, can almost be paid for, by government incentives, deductions and rebates over a 5 year period of time.
The conclusion is straight forward. You don’t have to have a building in Kathmandu, Nepal, for solar water heating, or to harvest energy from the wind. It is feasible in the USA, and as energy costs increase, it will become even more profitable.
As the business environment has become more competitive and profit margins narrower, progressive executives are realizing that renewable energy can make a tangible contribution to the profitability of their company.
Plus there are huge public relations benefits. 97% of the American people say they want clean air and clean water.
In the above financial model, a net investment of $1,241,000 multiplied 16.96 times the original investment, and that doesn’t consider depreciation and local incentives, nor does it include the public relations value, educational value and good will to the community. Nor does it take into consideration the foundation advantage. It is good for our environment and the health of our children and grandchildren.
OTHER APPLICATIONS:
The technology is so good that the heat can also be utilized to heat large work rooms, commercial office areas, classrooms, barns, saunas, through thermal heat. And it is all free, harvested from the sun. If your business needs steam, or hot water for cleaning, or processing food, this is a viable answer.
This also applies to wind turbines, which have "dump load" resistors that can be used to heat a barn, open area, or building. It is free heat that is bled off when there are wind surges, and it is a free bonus. So both solar water heating and wind turbines generate little "extras" that creative minds can utilize.
For other articles on this subject or for more information call: 1-800 583-6655 or log on: www.wind-inc.com or www.environment-solutions.com
