Solar Hot Water System Installed in Student Townhouse
As renewable energy remains near the top of the national agenda, Merrimack College has installed solar panels to heat the water used by students living in one of the College’s townhouses.
In an effort to shrink Merrimack’s carbon footprint, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Jack Adams installed the solar hot water system on campus similar to one he has in his own home which he installed in 2007.
“This project is a major step towards implementing and creating awareness of renewable energy at Merrimack,” said Dr. Adams. “The actual design and installation was carried out entirely by college personnel, and with experience gained, possibilities open up for further installations across campus. With this and other efforts including biodiesel and recycling, Merrimack continues to take demonstrable steps towards being a "green" campus.”
In addition to potential energy and cost savings for the College, students experienced a unique educational opportunity, watching an eco-friendly project evolve from start to finish.
How does Merrimack’s solar hot water system work?
The project had several steps involved: installation of the solar hot water system, design of the controller system, design of the software system, and deployment. To simplify, a controller determines when the antifreeze contained in the solar panels is 20 degrees warmer than the water in the tank. When it is, a pump circulates the antifreeze through a coil that is inside the water tank, and heat is “exchanged” from the coil to the water thus heating up the water. The antifreeze is needed to avoid winter freeze ups.
Other renewable projects on campus include the use of blended fuel (diesel/vegetable oil) in all of Physical Plant’s diesel vehicles; tray-free dining to reduce the use of water and detergents, and Campus Sustainability Initiative was established, where students, faculty, and staff explore ways of making Merrimack “greener.”
Photo Caption: Standing in front of the Haverhill Townhouse at Merrimack, Dr. Jack Adams (right) stands with Physical Plant's Randy Sideman, who completed the plumbing for the solar hot water system.
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