Example CCE System Installations

The above left picture shows an evacuated tube array. Evacuated tube collectors offer the following features:

Higher efficiency under colder, cloudier conditions. The higher altitude, and cloudier the conditions, the more it makes sense to consider evacuated tube collectors

Easier transport than flat panels.

Easier rooftop installation in most cases, as they can be transported up in pieces.

The picture on the right shows a ground mounted flat panel array using 4 x 10' Sun Earth panels. Flat panels offer the following features:

Mature technology, proven durability

Less expensive than evacuated tubes

More robust construction; less vulnerable to vandalism on installations where access to array is uncontrolled

More appropriate for installations in sunny, warmer locations

The left hand photo shows a large residential Domestic Hot Water panel system. This small array has an aperture of 80 sft, and heats 140 gallons of hot water per day. The backup boiler rarely comes on to heat the DHW. The center picture show a modulating/condensing boiler, which is used for backup on a large solar residential heating system. The right hand photo shows a medium sized array on a well-insulated workshop, which provides all heat for the building (no boiler backup to date).

The left hand photo shows floor pex laid out before the gypcrete pour. The right hand photo shows a complete solar radiant system with boiler backup and control system. The control system allows separate comfort control for every room in the house. Programming includes vacation modes, night setback for each room individually, etc. Handoff between solar and boiler is automatic, and requires no homeowner intervention.

The left hand photo shows a building integrated array (under construction). The right hand photo shows a buried tank for outdoor solar storage in the early stages of installation.

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