Kihei Surfside

February 20, 2016

Water Heating System Improvement Summary

The manager called us in 2009 when their propane bill was high even though they had 2 solar water heating systems on the roof. We monitored it and found that one system was bypassed and the other one was plumbed incorrectly and was not working efficiently. We made adjustments and dropped their propane bill by over $3,000 a month.

The systems needed to be replaced, so we studied the options and recommended electric heat pumps to heat the water and solar electric (PV) panels to power them and the building. ECA designed the heat pump systems which were installed and reduced both the propane bill and the electric bill and greatly reduced maintenance expenses.

A monitoring system informs the manager and ECA when water heating equipment is not working properly. We now write quarterly energy reports and assist with energy efficiency studies.

This picture shows the solar water heating system in 2009. It had four 600 gallon tanks and 26 panels per system. Several panels had blown off the roof on the right side.

Here is the building after changing to heat pumps and PV solar electric panels.

This picture shows a heat pump on the left, a 200 gallon water storage tank, a backup propane water heater, and PV panels.