Renewable Energy Success Story

Solar Heat, Hot Water, and Electricity

The Home of Dr. Conrad Heins

Dr. Conrad Heins built the home above in northwest Michigan. Notice the windows facing south that help heat the home. His fossil fuel propane bills are less than $100 per year. This compares to an average of $577 per year for homes in our climate.³

Dr. Heins also uses solar energy to heat most of his hot water for dishes and showers, and he uses photovoltaic panels to produce some of his electricity from the sun.

Solar electric (photovoltaic) panels are more expensive than solar hot water or air heating panels. For many applications, including remote buildings, boats, and highway and train signals, they can be very cost effective.

Dr. Hein’s passive solar home:

* Is well insulated and has a lot of south facing glass to capture solar heat during the heating season

* Uses photovoltaics to produce some of his electricity from the sun

* Uses solar collectors to provide hot water – a cost effective system

3 U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 1997 Consumption and Expenditures Tables, Space-Heating Expenditures Tables  (8-Feb-2003)