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MORE NEW EXCITING PROJECTS ADDED (updated July-2008)
Wow! It is so gratifying to complete a solar thermal installation. All of the efforts, the parts gathering,
the custom controls and plumbing, etc., seem to really pay off when you feel the hot pipes, knowing
that the heat is not being generated by fossil fuels.
Umami Cafe - Croton-on-Hudson, NY (open 7 days, excellent food!!!) - Commercial entities with
significant energy usage strong candidates for solar thermal systems. This customer had documented
dishwasher hot water usage of over 240 gallons per day and wanted a system to provide the majority
of this energy, via solar thermal panels, versus natural gas. APEX Thermal Services designed and
installed a system to meet these needs. The custom rack/mounting system was also designed and
fabricated by APEX Thermal Services, mainly to keep the panels out of any accumulated snow.
Central Valley, NY - Charlene P. - Solar Thermal Drain-back System, Ground Mounted Array - Six AET 4' x
10' Panels, Domestic Water Preheat, Pool Heat, Basement Space Heat
Talk about BTU production - the system above was observed bringing in 195 degree F glycol fluid back
to the drainback tank, in full sun, in the middle of July!
Earthaven Project - Tivoli, NY - I have the honor and privilege to be working with some really smart
and nice people on the Earthaven Project Home, in Tivoli, NY. This project is the vision of George and
Lisa Fishler, of Poughkeepsie, NY. Click this link to learn more about the unique energy efficient home
they are constructing and to hear the great things they have to say about the efforts of APEX
Thermal Services.
Peter T. Project - Saugerties, NY - Roof-Mounted Drainback System - Four 4' x 10' AET Panels, designed
to provide domestic water heating and to preheat return air for the home's main air handler unit. This
solar energy system is also integrated with the home's security system, so the owner can make home
heating a priority (over water heating) if and when they are away.
Kling Magnetics, Inc. - E. Chatham, NY - Multi-fuel Boiler Controller Project. The mad scientist (and my
elevator controls experience) really comes out of me on these types of projects!!! This control panel
allows for switching between four fuel sources (fuel oil, biodiesel (made on site), glycerol (a byproduct
of making biodiesel) and straight vegetable oil). Three heating zones are presently connected to a
series of hot water fan-coil units in a warehouse setting. Up to seven zones (or heating processes) can
be served with this configuration.
Monroe Green Project - Stormville, NY - Again, I get to meet and work with such interesting people
with great vision! Deborah Monroe has taken the longer and tougher "green" road to construct her
home. It is currently expected to earn a LEED Silver rating (Learn more about the LEED rating system
at the U.S. Green Building Council website). APEX Thermal Services provided final electrical wiring. This
home is pre-plumbed for a solar thermal system, which will be installed at a later date.
Wow! It is so gratifying to complete a solar thermal installation. All of the efforts, the parts gathering,
the custom controls and plumbing, etc., seem to really pay off when you feel the hot pipes, knowing
that the heat is not being generated by fossil fuels.
Umami Cafe - Croton-on-Hudson, NY (open 7 days, excellent food!!!) - Commercial entities with
significant energy usage strong candidates for solar thermal systems. This customer had documented
dishwasher hot water usage of over 240 gallons per day and wanted a system to provide the majority
of this energy, via solar thermal panels, versus natural gas. APEX Thermal Services designed and
installed a system to meet these needs. The custom rack/mounting system was also designed and
fabricated by APEX Thermal Services, mainly to keep the panels out of any accumulated snow.
Central Valley, NY - Charlene P. - Solar Thermal Drain-back System, Ground Mounted Array - Six AET 4' x
10' Panels, Domestic Water Preheat, Pool Heat, Basement Space Heat
Talk about BTU production - the system above was observed bringing in 195 degree F glycol fluid back
to the drainback tank, in full sun, in the middle of July!
Earthaven Project - Tivoli, NY - I have the honor and privilege to be working with some really smart
and nice people on the Earthaven Project Home, in Tivoli, NY. This project is the vision of George and
Lisa Fishler, of Poughkeepsie, NY. Click this link to learn more about the unique energy efficient home
they are constructing and to hear the great things they have to say about the efforts of APEX
Thermal Services.
Peter T. Project - Saugerties, NY - Roof-Mounted Drainback System - Four 4' x 10' AET Panels, designed
to provide domestic water heating and to preheat return air for the home's main air handler unit. This
solar energy system is also integrated with the home's security system, so the owner can make home
heating a priority (over water heating) if and when they are away.
Kling Magnetics, Inc. - E. Chatham, NY - Multi-fuel Boiler Controller Project. The mad scientist (and my
elevator controls experience) really comes out of me on these types of projects!!! This control panel
allows for switching between four fuel sources (fuel oil, biodiesel (made on site), glycerol (a byproduct
of making biodiesel) and straight vegetable oil). Three heating zones are presently connected to a
series of hot water fan-coil units in a warehouse setting. Up to seven zones (or heating processes) can
be served with this configuration.
Monroe Green Project - Stormville, NY - Again, I get to meet and work with such interesting people
with great vision! Deborah Monroe has taken the longer and tougher "green" road to construct her
home. It is currently expected to earn a LEED Silver rating (Learn more about the LEED rating system
at the U.S. Green Building Council website). APEX Thermal Services provided final electrical wiring. This
home is pre-plumbed for a solar thermal system, which will be installed at a later date.
| Ground-Mount Structure during construction. Notice that for protection, all underground piping was contained within individual 4" corrugated piping. Solar piping was insulated with Armaflex closed cell insulation. Pipes to the pool were flexible PVC. Note that the pool contractor buried their flexible PVC lines without such protection. We take steps to build longevity into our systems. |
| The main air handler had a water-to-air heat exchanger installed (and had the air filter relocated). If thermal storage is hot enough, a circulator runs water through this coil while the air handler fan is in operation |
| Flush-mounted panels over the garage provide an esthetically pleasing view. Two parallel tanks provide 180 gallons of thermal storage for this system. |
| The Earthaven Project, front view. APEX Thermal Services Provided all Electrical Wiring and Consultation on HVAC Systems. APEX Thermal Services will install a Solar Thermal System to provide Domestic Water Heating and to assist a Geothermal System in the coldest weather, to reduce the need for electrical heating. |
| The Earthaven Project, rear view. This home is not yet complete and will eventually be LEED Certified (for more information on LEED Certified Buildings, see the U.S. Green Building Council). This home is in a wonderful secluded setting, with a private road, a pond, and is currently for sale. It is being built with fine craftsmanship and many recycled building materials. Inquire if interested |
| A Taco six-zone relay control board was removed from its original housing and installed as the heart of this controller. Safety circuits were wired so neon indicators would quickly point out any system malfunctions and to simplify day-to-day operation. |
| "Old School" Panel design includes large diameter neon pilot lights, rotary fuel selector switches and pressure/vaccum indicator gauges to monitor fuel filter and burner status. Three Honeywell programmable thermostats (top) serve three heating zones in the warehouse. |
| The exterior of the Monroe Green House Project getting some roofing and siding from the experts. George, Dong and Scott of Earthaven, doing their usual good job!. |
| About 80 percent of the lighting fixtures are Energy Star Rated with the many of the non-rated fixtures using compact fluorescents. The ceiling fan exhausts hot air up through the copula with its remote controlled windows (also installed by APEX Thermal Services). |
| Taken during the pool installation, this picture shows the ground mounted solar panel array with the pool filter and the pool in the foreground. Installation of the underground solar piping to the pool and the house was coordinated with the pool contractor. |
Custom designed Rack Mounting System also
fabricated and installed by APEX Thermal Services.
fabricated and installed by APEX Thermal Services.
Three of six 4' x 7' AET (AE-28) panels installed.
Coolie-cap roof penetration. Note small tube
for sensor wire (not yet installed).
for sensor wire (not yet installed).
All rooftop piping was 3/4" type "L" copper, insulated
with 3/4" wall Armaflex and covered with foil tape for
UV protection and additional insulation properties.
with 3/4" wall Armaflex and covered with foil tape for
UV protection and additional insulation properties.
A specific desire of the owners was to put the panels
"out front" to emphasise the effort this establishment
is making to improve our environment.
"out front" to emphasise the effort this establishment
is making to improve our environment.
A well designed project, making proper use of
available safety equipment and a good attitude
combined to make for a great photo opportunity!
available safety equipment and a good attitude
combined to make for a great photo opportunity!