HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 08-31 Area gets first solar furnace REVIEW Wage 2A Wed., Aug. 31, 1977 THE REVIEW
Area
gets ft
solar
by Anne Skinner No matter what chances you gave for victim of excellent salesmanship from
the truck's successful entry into the Hillcrest Electric Company in
The air was so thick you could cut it narrow sunken yard,all eyes were riveted Maplewood, Tendall noted the need for
with a knife. The contractors were on the man from Champion Mobile Homes relying on alternative sources of energy
reassuring the owner and his friends.The — recent manufacturers of solar fur- as well.
spectators were very near disbelief. The
setting included a semi truck and usually naces. "We've got to start looking to the sun
bed trailerminu the narrow John Tendall's Dellwood home is being and wind as sources of energy.
long flat Peninsula Ann. built by North St. Paul Contractor Keith Somebody's go to start trying these units
Ackerman. While admitting he was the to see if they're economical and usable.
I'm willing to try," he said.
The ultimate installation took place a
week ago Tuesday.It was scheduled for 2
p.m. until the truck began to have dif-
ficulty creeping down in to the lakefront
home.
Eventually, the trailer cleared the two
trees on either side of Tendall's driveway
—but the subsequent danger involved the
wheels slipping off the edge of the dirt
furnace
driveway.The angle was too sharp for the breath. It was placed on a bed of gravel According to Jim Novak of Hillcrest
truck to maneuver in such a narrow and will be filled with stones. Electric, the unit cost $6,000. It is the
space. The furnace's capacity is five days of up company's first contract since it took on
When in doubt, use raw muscle. Ten to to 20 degrees below zero weather. It the product's distribution three months
12 men — spectators included — com- weighed little over a ton in transit. When ago.
bined their biceps to literally push the filled with the rocks, it will weight eight "We decided to pick up the distribution
trailer back off the driveway's edge.Once tons. because all the builders are having to look
completed, the truck backed down into The solar absorbers will open and at energy conservation.So we have to be
the yard. collect the rays of the sun. They can be out in front of them," Novak noted.
manipulated to take best advantage of the
Next, an hydraulic crane arrived and sun's energy. Tendall said he expects the unit to pay
opened its boom and secured its "haun- Tendall expects the furnace to supply for itself in seven years if the fossil fuels
ches"into the ground.Nylon straps were about 60 percent of the home's energy continue their 15 percent annual rise in
wrapped around the furnace—which had requirements. The remaining 40 percent cost. It will also be used to power the
the appearance of a miniature A-frame will be supplies by a heat pump system, home's air conditioner during the sum-
mobile home—and the hoist began. which will also power the furnace's mer months. Tendall said the home will
Placing the furnace was a task of ventilating fan. Once the air has been likely be powered 100 percent via solar
delicate maneuvering.The operator lived warmed by contact with the rocks,it will energy during the summer and 60 percent
up to Tendall's expectations—and bated be pumped throughout the house. during the winter.
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ONCE HOOKED UP,owner John Tendall the home's energy needs in the summer
expects the unit to supply 100 percent of and about 60 percent of it in the winter.