[RE-wrenches] Electric boiler usage?

[Ken Schaal]

Hi Jesse-- 
I see from the bio's page that you're in MN. More on the ' super-insulated 
shell ' end of the spectrum than ' Passive solar' , but then the natural 
light that comes with passive design could be very important to avoiding the 
winter blahs-------- at least this approach gets the horse before the cart . 
ie; minimize the need for energy.

As for how best to get the needed energy into the house, even in MN, you can 
borrow some from Mother Nature, with a water to water heat pump. Water 
source or ground loop, the cost effectiveness is probably there. As for 
being near net zero, I'd sure have a wood stove or boiler available. Depends 
on the details of the home--city/rural, orientation/ solar availability, 
lifestyle/budget, grid reliability/ability to do without it, etc.

A heat pump boiler will be 3-5 times more efficient than an electric boiler.
Just my $.02  --------

Take Care

Ken



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jesse Dahl" <dahlsolar at gmail.com>
To: "Wrenches" <RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 9:05 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Electric boiler usage?


> Wrenches,
>
> I am working with a family that wants to install a grid tied system that 
> will offset, as close as possible, 100% of it's electrical usage.  We have 
> calculated for almost all the loads except the electric boiler.
>
> Problem, they don't know which boiler they will be using. The home will be 
> 1800sq ft, it will have the in floor heat between the floor joists and the 
> joists will then be insulated with foil-faced insulation.
>
> Has anyone calculated a boiler like this out for annual electrical usage?
>
>
> Thanks as always,
>
>
> Jesse
>
> Sent from my iPad!!!
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