Michelle,
This is part of continuous debates that can get overly chewed on when talking about costs and appropriateness based on specific installation. Everybody will have their own opinion and specific concrete solution.
It is useful for me to look first at the macro-perspective of moving away from carbon and combustion based heating systems. This obviously favors the solar hot water system.
It is difficult for most people to really understand the long term savings that can be realized only with a larger up front investment of solar systems. Not to mention savings realized from less pollution and climate problems, etc. Its just not a habit of us Americans. We are so trained to take advantage of the cheapest short term solution.
There is not a wide range of “perfect” solutions out there so we are left with doing the best with what we have.
We should always remember the largest savings we can possible realize is by using less. This in turn downsizes our system requirements.
Good Luck,
Ben Graham
On 4/23/08 5:10 PM, "Michelle Smith Mullarkey" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi,
I have a friend who is debating between installing a solar hot water system, or a pellet stove, and I would like to ask VGBN member's opinions.
Could you please include vendor contact information with your suggestions, and references of home owners with either systems, or both?
Lastly, please feel free to respond to "[log in to unmask]" <mailto:[log in to unmask]> directly, and/or to "[log in to unmask]" <mailto:[log in to unmask]> - not "[log in to unmask]" <mailto:[log in to unmask]> .
Many thanks!
Michelle
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