1979•OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information)Requires access
Economic analysis of selected solar systems for residential use in Maine
G.K. White, Alan S. Kezis, J.W. Bradshaw
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Abstract
Three flat-plate solar hot water systems, three flat-plate solar hot air furnaces, and an attached passive solar greenhouse are economically analyzed and compared to conventional systems. Six different scenarios were devised by selecting different repayment periods, interest rates, rate of change in nominal electricity prices, and rate of change in nominal oil and gas prices, and were applied to the hot water systems. Regardless of the scenario, the oil systems were found to be the least costly and the gas systems the most costly with at least one solar system less costly than either the gas or electric system. All the solar space heating systems were found to have a net loss in cost over the 20 year life span. It is concluded that the future viability of solar heating systems depends upon energy prices, capital financing options available to homeowners,and subsidized private investment in these systems. 3 references. (MJF)