Q: Is it really cost effective to invest in energy efficiency projects?
A: Energy companies have made fortunes selling energy.  Investments in Energy Management, Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy pay huge dividends for the life of the measures, which may exceed your lifetime.  There are very few investments that are more secure.

Q: Does solar heating really work?
A: Heliotropic Technologies’ headquarters in Boothbay Harbor, Maine is toasty warm, the showers are hot and it’s a great place to be at.  (That’s a YES!)

Contrary to popular belief, solar water heating is not a new technology. Solar water heating systems have been used commercially for over a century now, with the first commercial water heater (the Climax Solar-Water Heater) going on sale in 1891 in the United States. Due to its effectiveness and low cost, the solar water heating gained popularity until, by 1941, more than half the population of Florida was getting its hot water through solar water heaters!  In the northeast, we need to use a water-antifreeze solution and a heat exchanger to utilized solar heated hot water year-round, which isn’t required in Florida, but you certainly can depend on the sun for heating.

Q: How long will the solar systems operate?
A: During the Carter Administration (the late 1970s), the manned light houses of the coast were retrofitted with PV systems, which are all presently working.  These life-saving beacons have run over 30 years, and their PVs will probably will be able to run reliably for at least another 20 years.  PVs typically have a 20 -25 year warranty.  As far as solar domestic hot water systems lives goes: I inspected a 30-collector solar hot water system that has been operating at an elderly housing facility that was installed in 1980, and all of the collectors were still working.  (The collectors have reached their end of life and need to be replaced, but this original system is still producing tons of hot water.)

Q: Do we have to worry about the sun running out of energy or turning into a super nova and then into a black hole?

A: I probably wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.  But if you’re still burning foreign oil, there are lots of more-likely scary scenarios.

Q: Will hiring Heliotropic Technologies make me rich and better looking?
A: Most likely.

Q: Will insulating the building envelope and reducing air infiltration improve my love life?
A: If done properly your results should be immediately noticeable.  Call us today.

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