We saw a problem in our communities. We’ve been working to help solve it ever since.
Rising Propane Costs in the Midwest
*2019: $1.28/gal. 2020: $1.23/gal. 2021: $2.19/gal. 2022: $2.61/gal.
$2.60/gal. x 500 gal. propane tank= $1,300
Heat in our homes is a big part of what makes a house a home, it’s also a big part of our spending. With global energy insecurity and the politics that come with it, energy prices are liable to rise even further.
That effect will be felt nationwide, with rural communities in the already cold Midwest being hit hardest.
With the continued upward trend of energy costs, renewable energy sources are being seen as more feasible. States continue to push incentives for renewable energy system installations and more and more opportunities will be available in the future.
Let’s talk about heat. Everyone loves having a comfortable home, but do you really know how much heat you use?
Space heating is the highest residential energy expenditure in the US. In the chilly Midwest, winter has a mind of its own and can be brutal on homeowners.
Solar thermal is a sustainable alternative that will save you money, and keep your hands warm enough to count it.
How Energy Is Used in Homes (2009)*
Solar thermal provides a viable and economically feasible energy source, other renewable technologies can further offset your energy expenses. We don’t think of solar thermal as a silver bullet, but more like a part of your golden buckshot.
Compared to the overhead costs of other renewable technologies, solar thermal is the most cost-effective renewable technology available. Simple installation, simple maintenance, simple & clean heat.
Solar thermal & Solar PV
To be clear, we believe solar thermal and solar PV (electric) are both very useful technologies, we just want to inform you as best as we can about solar technology so you can make the best choice for your home or business.
Solar thermal as a technology is incredibly simple. Like a window on a house, our panels mount vertically on a building’s South-facing wall, collecting heat throughout the day and dispelling it when needed. Heat is much easier to collect than electricity is to convert. Solar thermal panels convert about 90% of solar radiation into heat, while solar PV panels are always improving, current PV panels only convert at about a 15%-20% efficiency. This means larger systems are required to offset your energy usage.
With a larger PV system needed, installation prices can run between $14,000-$19,000, while the average solar thermal system will cost between $3,400-$5,000 and will require much less space.
Both systems have pros and cons, and both have scenarios where they reign supreme, and this is something we keep in mind as we tell customers about our panels. Depending on the building’s needs and energy usage, you might choose one or the other. You might want to offset your electric bill, or reduce your propane usage, the beauty of solar is that with all the bills you face daily, you’ll never receive a past-due notice from the sun.
Ethical Solar
We don’t consider ourselves to be in the solar thermal business, we consider ourselves to be in the business of helping make houses into homes.
Solar thermal as a technology is simple & incredibly efficient, but does not always make sense for installation on a home or business.
We pride ourselves on being transparent, if a home or business isn’t right for solar thermal, our team will let you know. We don’t push sales where they won’t help, but we will help potential customers understand what they can do to improve their building’s energy efficiency.
Many steps can be taken, from simple improvements like plastic over windows to more expensive improvements like new energy star appliances and energy audits.
We recommend looking into improving your building’s insulation and/or energy efficiency before installing a solar system of any kind. Our solar thermal systems WILL offset your energy used for heating, but if that same heat is going out through drafts and leaks that’s another problem itself.
We look at buildings like batteries, with the weatherization of the building being the battery’s life & solar thermal being the charger.
We’re always here to help, reach out to us today to see if solar thermal is right for you.
