Solar Radiant Heating

Solar heating systems can be utilized to supplement radiant heating systems, providing a renewable energy solution that provides radiant comfort. Radiant slabs provide for the most effective use of stored solar energy and increase the total efficiency of the system. This approach provides solar-heated domestic hot water spring through fall and minimizes propane use for space heating, especially in the shoulder seasons.

Resources

In addition to leading our local contractor efforts, our founder Vaughan Woodruff provides consulting, technical writing, and training for clients and audiences across the country. For more information related to integrating solar with radiant distribution, check out some of the resources Vaughan has developed:

Standardizing Solar Combisystems, PM Magazine. See nine key considerations for integrating solar and radiant.
Ask the Experts: Hydronic Heating, Home Power magazine. Vaughan was asked to respond to a Home Power reader who inquired about the suitability for solar heating for new construction.
Code Considerations for Solar Heating Systems, SolarPro magazine. This article examines various key installation requirements for solar heating systems.
Solar Approaches to Radiant Heating, Heatspring. This course is designed for heating and solar professionals.

Solar Combisystems

Solar radiant systems are commonly referred to as combisystems. In the current market, the most cost effective solar combisystems are those that we consider as “domestic hot water plus” systems. These systems are designed to maximize the economics of integrating solar with domestic water heating and radiant distribution by providing a simple, elegant design that has its greatest benefit during the summer and shoulder seasons.

For clients seeking to offset large space heating needs with solar heating technologies, we have extensive experience with large volume heat storage and expertise with integrating solar with a variety of heating appliances. The advanced complexity of these systems requires a contractor you can trust with design and installation.

Contact Us Today To Learn More About Solar Heating.

(207) 659-1054

Vaughan has professionally bridged the gap between being a contractor and being an advocate for Maine homeowners in their mission to save energy. He is not a ‘one size fits all’ in terms of efficiency and many times he has recommended our services over his own when looking at the types of challenges homeowners face when decreasing their carbon footprint.

Bo Jespersen
Owner / The Breathable Home
Working with the Insource Renewables team was for me not only a satisfying experience but also encouraging about the renewable energy industry itself. These people were well-informed and articulate in their advice and planning on my project.
They brought the fruits of both long experience with solar design and deep conviction about the importance of renewable energy in today’s world. In follow-up, they have been generous and good-natured in answering questions.

Phoebe Phelps
Orland, Maine
We contracted Insource Renewables to install a solar heater for our swimming pool and a cluster of home energy improvements. We were very pleased with the expertise, integrity, and work ethic of Vaughan Woodruff and his fine team.
We were consistently informed of and/or consulted on scheduled activities and events throughout. At every juncture, Vaughan and his team were obviously guided by the principle of doing what is right for the customer.
We have recommended to our friends and continue to unreservedly recommend Insource Renewables for any energy-related projects.

Michael Leblanc & Rosalie Williams
Pittsfield, Maine
We are very happy with our new solar panels from Insource Renewables. It’s great that, now, our house is a power generation factory! Vaughan and the rest of the team are excellent, knowledgeable, friendly, proactive. Within 2 days of the start of the project, our meter was running backwards! It’s satisfying to make a small but real change in the severe climate issues that our planet is facing. I’m also really thankful that Vaughan connected us with the Greater Bangor Solarize program, which saved us over $2,000 on our installation! Vaughan provided us with many different options and answered so many questions that we had, until we found the solar project that was right for our family.

Julie Gosse
Orono, Maine
We discovered Insource Renewables (and Backyard Buildings in Unity) this Spring and were immediately taken with the concept of the “solar shed.” We knew we needed to build or buy a shed for some extra outdoor storage, and I’d always wanted to go solar at our house, so this made perfect sense!
Matt, Vaughan, and the whole team at Insource were excellent to work with, answered all our questions, and made sure everything came together on this project. We are excited to be building out the inside of our shed while knowing we are making power every day just by having this system in our back yard.
Great job all!

Bruce Fitzgerald
South China, Maine
When our heat pump had electrical issues, there are a couple of ways that this event could have gone. Insource could have blamed the manufacturer, basically come back and continued to tweak the unit, or – worse yet – not been terribly responsive overall. I can’t tell you how good and stress free it has felt to know that you guys have put the customer first and have done your absolute best in the matter.
We are very grateful.

Steve Podgajny
Brunswick, Maine