Solar project description for Summerwood Associates' condominium residences (G), Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Abstract

The Summerwood G (Grant H-8312) site is a rowhouse residence in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The home has approximately 1320 square feet of conditioned space. Solar energy is used for space heating and preheating domestic hot water (DHW). The solar energy system has a pyramidal optics collector system consisting of a 448 square feet solar skylight and a 47-inch wide by 340-inch long absorber plate mounted in the attic. Fixed reflectors constitute three sides of the pyramid. A clock-controlled moving reflector flap on the other (bottom) side varies the collector aperture from a minimum of 162 square feet in June to a maximum of 352 square feet in December. The collector faces 28 degrees east of south with the absolute set at an angle of 60 degrees to the horizontal. Water is the transfer medium that delivers solar energy from the collector array to storage and from storage to the space heating and DHW loads. Drain-down provides collector freeze protection. Solar energy is stored in the crawl space in a 600-gallon poured concrete insulated tank. Solar heated water is supplied to a liquid-to-air heat exchanger within the space heating duct and to a heat pump for water-to-air operation. A closed heat transfer loop between the solar storage tank and a 120-gallon DHW tank provide solar energy to the DHW supply.