Comparison of conventional and solar-water-heating products and industries report

Technical Report · Fri Jul 11 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6334779· OSTI ID:6334779

Noreen, D; LeChevalier, R; Choi, M; Morehouse, J

President Carter established a goal that would require installation of at least one million solar water heaters by 1985 and 20 million water-heating systems by the year 2000. The goals established require that the solar industry be sufficiently mature to provide cost-effective, reliable designs in the immediate future. The objective of this study was to provide the Department of Energy with quantified data that can be used to assess and redirect, if necessary, the program plans to assure compliance with the President's goals. Results deal with the product, the industry, the market, and the consumer. All issues are examined in the framework of the conventional-hot-water industry. Based on the results of this solar hot water assessment study, there is documented proof that the solar industry is blessed with over 20 good solar hot water systems. A total of eight generic types are currently being produced, but a majority of the systems being sold are included in only five generic types. The good systems are well-packaged for quality, performance and installation ease. These leading systems are sized and designed to fit the requirements of the consumer in every respect. This delivery end also suffers from a lack of understanding of the best methods for selling the product. At the supplier end, there are problems also, including: some design deficiencies, improper materials selection and, occasionally, the improper selection of components and subsystems. These, in total, are not serious problems in the better systems and will be resolved as this industry matures.

• Research Organization: Science Applications, Inc., Golden, CO (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-80CS30217
• OSTI ID: 6334779
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/30217-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
APPLIANCES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DEMAND FACTORS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
HEAT PUMPS
HEAT RECOVERY
HEATERS
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MARKET
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE
RECOVERY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR FRACTION
SOLAR INDUSTRY
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
STANDARDS
TAX CREDITS
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
WATER HEATERS