By Greentech Lead Team: SolTherm, an Asheville-based
clean energy services firm, has installed a solar energy system at Henderson
County Detention Center, a 543-occupant detention facility. The system enables
the facility to cut hot water costs by 45 percent.
The solar hot water system consists of 32 collector
panels, transfers sun’s energy to heat the facility’s water supply. The water
is stored in an insulated tank and is used as needed throughout the day for
laundry, showering, and kitchen preparation, allowing for available hot water
even when the sun is not shining.
The system will reduce existing water heating needs and
is expected to save more than $81,000 through the partnership.
North Carolina State Energy Office granted Henderson
County a $71,419 to install this system as part of the American Reinvestment
and Recovery Act. With the combination of the grant money and SolTherm’s
NoCapEx program, the facility completed installation with no upfront cost.
“We are able to save on operational costs without
limiting the amount of water we need on an annual basis. We’re happy to be able
to work with SolTherm. The NoCapEx option made it easy for us to receive the
system without a large initial investment,” said Marcus
Jones, engineer of Henderson County.
SolTherm is responsible for all
operations and maintenance of the system, and monitors all processes via a
remote web-based system.
Recently, Silver Bluff Village, a skilled nursing facility located in Canton, NC, cut their hot
water costs 10 percent by installing a solar energy system from SolTherm.