Selling solar

A black-coated aluminum absorber panel, insulated underneath and covered by two panes of double-strength window glass, makes up the collector which faces south at a 45o angle.

The solar system is designed to provide 75% of the energy needed for heating, cooling and domestic hot water in the 3,000 sq. ft. house, while a conventional gas-fired system sewes as a backup during prolonged spells of cloudy weather.

The CSU house incorporates details and ideas that might be adopted by energy-conscious homeowners everywhere. For example, glass areas in the southern exposure are protected by overhangs that provide shade in summer when the sun is high but permit the low sun to enter the house

Story at a Glance

Most of the building materials used in solar-powered homes will be conventional products sold through local lumber and building material dealers.

in winter. The snug-fitting, factoryweatherstripped Andersen windows reduce heat loss caused by air infiltration.

Vertical fins on the exterior of the house act as baffles or screens to deflect heat-robbing winds.

Many engineers expect that in less than five years homeowners and builders in regions with suitable cli mates (which constitutes about 75 percent of the U.S.) will be able to buy and install, at reasonable cost, solar equipment that will provide most of their heating, cooling and hot water needs.

A suitably designed solar collector system adds about l0% to the initial cost of a home. With today's high fuel prices, a solar energy system costing $5000 for a well-designed 1,000- to 1,200-sq. ft. energy-conserving home that provides 75% of its heating and cooling requirements would pay for itself in 5-10 years, depending on the local cost of fuel and rate of inflation. And as solar equipment becomes standardized, economics of scale should reduce significantly the initial cost of buying and installins solar collectors.

AM0NG THE MANY (1) Gerrie and Pete Sylvester, Bonnie and Chuck Shafer, immediate past pres. (2) Chuck Link. WBMA exec. v.p., with Jerry and Chuck Lauber. (3) Dick Tuchbreiter, Chet Nortz, Phil Mork. (4) Richard Fuerbach, Matt Mattson. (5) Ken McCoun, Joe Beard. (6) Bob McPherson, Beverly Bergstrom, Jim Mayhew. (71 John A. Walker. (8) Aaron Ayres, Duane Wolfe, Dick Haynes. (9) Brian Raleigh, Gordon Hopland. (10) Phil Bjorn, Gene Young. (11) Paul Benishek, Jerry Mattson. (12) Harold Sickels, Al Craig. (13) Wallace Barnett, Dick Shores, Bill Bailey. (14) Denny 0'Sullivan, Chan Sorenson, Ron Wilson. (15) John Myers, Del Boylan. (16) Bill 0liva, "Bid" Bidwell. (17) John 0lson, Jerry Day. (18) Clinton E. Gossard, Phil Harris, Gae Norton. (19) Cecil Cleveland, Bill Anderson. (20) Roger Bennett. Gerald Twite.