http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog Home improvement with an eye toward sustainability Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:15:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_839" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="solar domestic hot water system"][/caption] My Solar Hot Water System has been on line for one year now.  I thought I'd post some results on the energy savings thus far: Before the solar hot water system was installed, we used on average 32 kWh/day.  This is a three ... http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/solar-hot-water-energy-savings/ This is part II of how to make your own solar thermal collector to help offset heating costs this winter.  You will need a good south facing wall to mount this collector on.  In order to be most effective, the wall should be unshaded between 9 am to 3 pm ... http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/diy-solar-panels-part-ii/ I have been working on this for most of the summer.  The problem with solar energy systems is that they are expensive.  There is no doubt that a photovoltaic (solar electric) panel will save energy and pay for itself in time, however, the initial outlay of money to purchase and ... http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/diy-solar-panels-part-i/ Today was a very good solar day. Not a cloud in the sky, 75 degrees out side and a full solar tank of cold water because it has been cloudy the last week or so. This afternoon, around 2 pm I tiptoed down to the basement to see ... http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/a-good-solar-day/ I found this website called Pennsylvania Solar Course while doing research for my business. It is by the Pennsylvania Million Solar Roofs Initiative and has a great deal of information for DIYers looking to install solar hot water and electric systems. It is something that I wish I could write ... http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/pennsylvania-solar-course/