BobGagnon.com

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Thanks Troy, for the plug. I have gone more than two years without burning any fossil fuels for heat or hot water. I get 100% of my domestic hot water and about 20% of my space heating from the sun. In a super insulated house the heating percentage would be much higher. The systems costs are still high, because we are still trying to figure things out. As more of these systems get installed the cost of materials and labor will come way down. I can already buy evac tubes for a lot less than I paid 4 years ago. Payback depends on the price of oil. We had huge fuel price increases in the late 70'S, then we had decades of relatively cheap oil. In the past year the price of a barell of oil has gone up 80%! In one year! If the price of fuel keeps going up like that solar installs will be cheap, and the payback will be short. Solar energy is like picking money out of thin air. If we design and build these systems properly, using quality materials, pumps, and expansion tanks there will be very little maintainence and these systems will last for decades- like a forced hot water system, maybe 50 to 100 years. What do you think energy will cost 50 years from now? Troy maybe I was wrong, maybe we will get you on that bandwagon after all? Larry thanks for the compliment on the web site, and your right I should green it up a little. We might have decades of cheap fuel prices, who knows the future? But I think we have to work to make these systems more efficient and reliable in case the price of oil continues to skyrocket. You hear a lot about the systems that fail but often it is tubes overheating because the power goes out or they are using those cheap Watts expansion tanks that leak often or the system is installed by someone who isn't qualified. Most steam boilers are installed wrong, and the systems are inefficient, not because steam is no good, but because the installer didn't know enough about steam. There are simple plumbing solutions to all these problems and we can make solar much more efficient and trouble free.

Thanks, Bob Gagnon

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troy_8

BobGagnon.com

Kudos! Now here is a guy trying to make a difference. Check out his website. Bob how much have you been able to reduce your energy usage by? Can you make it pay for itself for a customer? How long?

Larry Weingarten

Nice!

The message is clear: Quality work, safe, efficient and long lived. But where is the "Mr. Green" moniker? ;~)

Yours, Larry

troy_8

Green!

I guess I gave the wrong impression. I really believe in being as efficient and honest about it. I try not to over hype the green marketing though. I have installed nothing but condensing boilers for the last 7 years. Long before most even heard of them.I started designing radiant systems in the early 80s. I'm on board. But I'm not a zealot. I won't tell you are evil cause you install scorched air. I have been watching solar and attending schools for years. Looked at and analyzed wind. And as energy costs increase my hope is they will have a realistic ROI. I tend to not just follow cause of marketing hype. And I detest being told if I disagree I'm just part of the problem without proof. Sorry but my experience makes me step back and look at the facts. I commend you for doing all you can to reduce and prove it can be done. Make it affordable and everyone will beg us for it. Mandate it and it too will be screwed up to the point of inefficiency. Keep up the good work.

Larry Weingarten

Green

Bob, I remember you told a story about a guy in the local tavern, who was good at putting his foot in his mouth. He asked something like "What, do I look black?" and offended a person of color. Then, to make up he asked "What, do I look green?" and everyone looked at you. ;~)

Don't call yourself green, but if others want to, that's OK.

Yours, Larry

hot_rod

Nice, one word

of caution regarding "bargin" evac tubes, or any too cheap to be true products.

If low price tubes start failing and need frequent replacement the payback on the system doesn't pencil so well, the owner may be tweaked and it has the potential of yet another black eye. Chose your components with care and stick with names you know and trust.

I just returned from the ASES solar show and every solar show seems to bring more and more lower priced tubes. Seems like a race to the bottom? I wonder how many of those brands will be around in 2,5, or 10 years from now to honor warranties.

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