Solar Direct is dedicated to increasing our customer's awareness of
sustainable and renewable technology by providing an educational, yet highly engaging internet venue,
where they can discover how green alternatives can impact not only their lives, but the world future
generations will inherit! Click here first to
begin your sustainable living learning adventure! Learn the step-by-step details of how and why sustainable
and renewable technology works, and the science behind the functioning of each alternative energy process. Solar Direct offers unsurpassed, highly-personalized
product selection assistance, with experienced professionals providing toll free support -
creating a truly inspired purchasing experience for our customers. Click here next to start
the selection process, then use online tools to decide your proper type of technology and its matching product.
Product Selection Assistants are standing by to help you with toll free support. Solar Direct hosts the Energy
SuperMarket website, the Internet's top-ranked shopping destination for renewable energy technology. Enjoy
a secure shopping for all your alternative energy needs. Solar Direct offers thousands of green, sustainable
and renewable products, combined with toll free Product Selection Assistants dedicated to providing a quality
purchasing experience for all consumers. Click here
last to finish your alternative energy adventure! The Energy SuperMarket website provides the
most advanced, real world authoritative, user-friendly shopping destination for renewable energy
technology today.

Florida Park Service
Lake Louisa State Park
Clermont, Florida USA

Solar Direct Case Study

Solar Direct Case Studies

Project Background

 

Part of the Green Swamp Conservation Area, Lake Louisa State Park covers more than 4,000 acres and hosts one of 13 lakes in a chain connected by the Palatlakaha River. Overlooking Lake Dixie on a ridge, its 20 newly built cabins offer modern lodging facilities – including state-of-the-art solar water heating systems.

The Lake Louisa State Park Project is but one of many solar initiatives funded by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Governor Jeb Bush. DEP’s well-known conservation programs include Front Porch Sunshine, Sunshine Schools and Sunbuilt.

These programs promote solar adoption by those who can best benefit from its superb economics (e.g. low-income families) as well as solar’s inclusion in future Florida infrastructure (namely, home-building and schools).

Following this line of public education, in June 2003, the Energy Office within DEP provided funding to the Florida Park Service to use solar technology. The Park Service selected the park sites based on solar access and high visitor traffic. Lake Louisa State Park’s 20 cabins were fitted with SWH units and opened for rental in July 2005.

Serving its mission to both protect the environment and educate the public on the role of solar power in energy conservation, the Florida DEP invested in Lake Louisa State Park (as well as other parks) to "bring solar before the mainstream". park visitors who rent the cabins can learn through first-hand experience that solar water heating is not only working technology but is completely transparent for their domestic water applications.

From the Park Service side, SWH allows lower park operating expenses associated with solar energy use supplanting fossil-fuel based electricity. This combined with ProgressivTube’s 30-year product life expectancy and near zero maintenance costs, made ProgressivTube the truly “Natural” choice.



Solar Direct Case Studies

System Configuration


ProgressivTube® (PT—50) ICS Unit 40 Gal. Electric backup storage tank

System Performance 574,000 Btu/deg [168 KWH/Day]
Total Domestic Hot Water Heating Loads Daily Average: 2000 Gal/Day
Water Heating Requirements Input Level: 75 deg F
Max Temp Req: 140 deg F
Solar Provision (%) Daily Load 100% Daily Average Load
70% of Daily Maximum Load
Savings and Return on Investment
Energy (DHW) costs without Solar $12,000
DHW costs with Solar $1,800
SWH System Costs $52,000
Annual Energy Savings $10,200
Payback Period 5.1 Years

Download PDF

  Solar Direct    
  Bringing Renewable Technology Down to Earth!   Copyright Notice
© 1986-2016 Solar Direct
All Rights Reserved