Car wash manager Tony Wilson said the Northwood Drive location is open year-round, even in the coldest of winter -- thanks to silvery rooftop solar panels that heat both water for self-washing and warmers beneath cement floors in wash stalls. Wilson said typically, only drive-through bays -- when motorists stay in their vehicle during a wash -- have heated water.
"That's why when it's real cold, car washes are closed," he said. "In the winter, water freezes.
And we get enough energy from the moon at night to keep the lights on. If there are two or three people washing at the same time, the (traditional electric) meter starts running."
Tin and tinting
On a clear day that's busy, there is enough sunshine power to cut the use of traditional electricity in half, Wilson says. "There's 50 percent energy savings," he said. "Once the sun comes out on a non-busy day, the (electric) meter stops running and it's 100 percent savings. If this place is jumping, we'll save 50 percent energy."
Last week, under overcast skies and an outside high of 38 degrees, the water temperature from solar heating reached 41 degrees, Wilson said. Car wash owner Brian Dayton of Seaford plans solar power for locations in Laurel and Seaford, Wilson said. Dayton, who could not be reached for this story, also operates a facility on Parsons Road in Salisbury, the manager said.
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more:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20081221/BUSINESS/812210337/-1/newsfront2That gave me a thought -- has anyone tested a concentrator for solar PV at night? Results could be at least non-trivial ...
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