APEX Thermal Services presents: GREEN CONSTRUCTION TIPS

Strive to have a minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

Orient the home to take advantage of southerly exposure, using abundant windows on the
South side.

Design South side of home so that a dark colored stone/tile floor over concrete (thermal mass)
can absorb and store heat from winter sun. Installing such a floor with integrated radiant
tubing will also allow for transferring a portion of collected energy (with a circulator) to the
cooler north side of your home.

Design and utilize overhangs/aunings that will block the hottest summer sun from windows, to
prevent overheating the space.

Integrate roofing designs that aim toward the South, lending themselves to solar panel
installations (steeper pitches are better for collecting heat in the winter). You might consider
some roofing products which also serve as solar collectors .

Minimize windows on the cold North side of the home.

Integrate day-lighting to take advantage of free sunlight during daylight hours.

Install Pex tubing in all concrete slabs you pour, including garages and basements.

Insulate slabs and foundations from the earth for use as thermal storage banks (this should be
done whether Pex tubing is installed or not).

Increase thickness of concrete slabs and/or use additional gravel or sand underneath to
increase thermal mass and thermal storage capacity.

Install a well insulated thermal vault under or near your home, to save excess solar-thermal
summer heat, for heating your home in cooler months.

Use and purchase highly efficient appliances and fixtures.

Install radiant heat throughout the house. Radiant floors (especially radiant slabs) require
water temperatures in the exact range that solar thermal systems provide).

If you don't have radiant slabs, under certain conditions, solar can likely still assist your radiant
heating system and water heating system in heating your home.

Install highly efficient windows and doors.

Install extra insulation to keep future energy costs down.

Consider spray-foam insulation, which can halve your annual heating fuel requirements.

Consider a greenhouse for generating heat for space heating and for thermal storage
purposes.

Purchase and use earth-friendly materials whenever possible.

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Solar How-to Tips have been provided below by APEX Thermal Services,
providing quality solar hot water, pool heating and radiant heating installations!

Rainbow Hills image, www.APEXThermal.com, www.apexthermalsolar.com, www.gotsolarny.com

APEX Thermal Services presents: "The Anatomy of a Coolie Cap"
Most Installations will require your pipes to penetrate the roof. A copper "coolie cap"
is the traditional and common method in the industry. Enjoy!

Constructing a new Home, Building or Addition? Find Green Construction Tips Below

Constructing a copper coolie cap

solar thermal roof flashing

The plate of the coolie cap is constructed of
copper sheeting of decent thickness. It is much
heavier than foil type products. I usually make
mine about 8 to 10 inches square.

Clean and flux both surfaces before soldering.
The sheet distorts some when soldering, so it
may be want it. Still, I find this rather easy
and fun to build. When completed a 3/4"
copper pipe should fit through this easily. A
small 1/4" tube can also be added for a
clean signal wire path through the roof.

Copper pipe, best for solar installs

Clean parts, clean installation

Tricky and careful installation under roof shingles

First, loosen several shingles around the area
with a flat bar. The coolie cap assembly is slid
under the roof shingle and over the pipe.
Sometimes, one roofing nail may need to be
removed from the first shingle or the one
above, to allow for sliding the assembly up
into place.

Note that the location of the hole in the roof
was determined by the combined length
pipe and fittings attached to the panel
header. Always keep assembly in mind.
Making the hole to close to the panel can
make assembling the parts difficult.

The modified 3/4" to 1 1/4" adapter is slid over
the 3/4 pipe and the 1" stub of the coolie The
modified 3/4" to 1 1/4" adapter is slid over the
1 1/4" fitting overlapping the 1" pipe stub, like
an umbrella. This fitting is only soldered to like
an umbrella. This fitting is only soldered to the
3/4" pipe and is not soldered to the 3/4" pipe
and is not soldered to the coolie cap
assembly.

Now, most of the copper is concealed, the
3/4" copper pipe is in place, and the 3/4" to 1
1/4" pipe slides through the fitting (A 1 1/4"
cap with a 7/8" hole can also be used).

Solder it all together

Neat Installation

Carefully solder everything together (after
cleaning and fluxing all surfaces). Note the
aluminum flashing used to protect the roof
shingles. Hot solder will melt its way into
shingles, being somewhat unsightly and
difficult to remove.

A completed coolie cap assembly and piping
to panel supply pipe. Under the coolie cap,
and nearby shingles, polyurethane caulk was
1/4" pipe sticking up about 1.5" can have the
signal wire pass through it and be caulked,
again, with polyurethane caulk.

Nice work!

Complete with Armaflex 3/4" wall insulation
and a complete wrap with electrical tape.

We hope you enjoyed our
first tutorial!!!

e-mail comments to: info@apexthermal.com

APEX Thermal Services
Providing Design and Installation of
Solar Hot Water, Pool Heating,
and Space Heating Systems