This system is on an apartment building in Halifax. It was installed in 2011 by Shines Renewable Energy.

This Thermomax system is located at the Halifax Farmers Market.  It was installed by Shines Renewable Energy in 2011

This 90 tube system was installed in 1998 in Victoria, BC. It was flush mounted with the concrete tile roof. It heats about 3000 sq. ft. of radiant floor in this straw base construction house. The Domestic Hot Water uses an SST 120 Triple Coil Stainless Steel tank, with the solar going to the bottom coil, an electric boiler to the middle coil for backup, and the radiant floor drawing heat from the top coil.

30 Mazdon Evacuated Tube Solar thermal system for domestic hot water, Yuba City CA.
Installed by Westhaven Solar. www.westhavensolar.com 866-575-4112

This solar hot water system is used in a boarding house for UVIC students. At least 3 showers and a laundry load are used every day, and the 80 gallon didn’t dip below 120 F all summer. This house was feature in an open house hosted by solar BC where the general public could come by and see examples of energy efficiency. The owner was showing off her low utility bills. The system was installed by G.E.T. Solar.

This 20 tube solar system was installed on a house in Victoria specifically for Domestic Hot Water. It was installed by G.E.T. Solar.

St. Michaels University School recently added a solar system to one of their boarding houses. Below are the pictures. The last one shows the A-frame. It is very simple to set up and one of the most popular ways of mounting a solar hot water system.

Ann and Gord Baird of Eco Sense walk the talk of sustainable living in their multi-generational home. Features include passive solar design, solar PV with grid tie, net zero electricity, energy and water conservation, solar thermal hot water, composting (no flush) toilets, rain water harvesting, grey water re-use, a living roof, earthen floors, and natural finishes into their exceptionally beautiful, modern and affordable version of earthen architecture. The couple’s passion and knowledge is expressed in their work consulting, building, advancing policy , research, and in the hundreds of tours they have given through their home. The Eco-Sense home is registered for the Living Building Challenge. They teach that if it isn’t affordable it isn’t sustainable and live their motto Less life stuff…more life style!

Their website is eco-sense.ca and they also have a blog.

Gord educating seminar participants on the Thermomax solar collectors

Back of Solar Tubes

Two solar collectors at eco-sense

Close up of solar collector at eco-sense

Not all homes were designed with solar systems in mind. Here is an example of a determined home owner solving this problem!

This 690 tube system supplies the hot water needed for a hospital in Lindau, Germany. It was installed in 1997. The system is made up of twenty-three 30-tube collectors.