Author: Melink Solar

Melink Solar & Geo Awarded U.S. Department of Energy Grant

Posted on by Melink Solar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Why it Matters

Cincinnati, Ohio — Melink Solar & Geo, Inc., a solar PV and geothermal engineering company, has been awarded grant funding by the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE). The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) specifically provided the grant funding. The funding enables Melink to accelerate the research and development of its next-generation Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. This system stores energy using thermal batteries. It can potentially reduce installation costs of geothermal heat pump systems. In effect, providing significant energy saving opportunities for the U.S. with widespread implementation. The system’s prototype currently heats and cools Melink’s new Net-Zero Energy HQ2 facility in Milford, Ohio.

Melink Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System
Melink Solar & Geo has been awarded an innovation grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for its Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. A system prototype is in operation at its Milford, Ohio, headquarters.

“Our company is developing a Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System to minimize the need for expensive ground loops. Instead, we are mimicking the thermal energy storage capacity of the water inside such ground loops with phase change materials (PCM),” said Steve Melink, founder and CEO. “Melink is piloting the first prototype at our Net-Zero Energy headquarters, and we are now developing next-generation prototypes for eventual commercialization. With our third U.S. Department of Energy grant, we are committed to mainstreaming this technology for the benefit of the entire HVAC industry.”

Hard Work Pays Off

The funding is part of an ongoing innovation project with the DOE. The project encourages small businesses to advance innovation at federal agencies. Melink received the recent funding as a result of its Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. This system demonstrated technical feasibility during the first phase of research. Melink Solar & Geo’s skill team worked collaboratively with the University of Dayton, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and industry partners. Together, we designed a more cost-effective and energy efficient HVAC system.

“Funding from the DOE is the result of a multi-year effort. A group of intelligent and highly dedicated people have proven that the system has merit. I’m excited to say that the Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System is just one part of our growing platform of Net-Zero products,” said Seth Parker, vice president and general manager of Melink Solar & Geo.

The two-year funding will be used to finalize engineering and early commercialization of the Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. For more information about the system or Melink Solar & Geo, please visit https://www.melinksolar.com/geothermal or contact geo@www.melinksolar.com.

About Melink Solar & Geo

Melink Solar & Geo is a national provider of renewable energy and efficiency solutions for commercial buildings. We provide consulting services and turnkey management of solar and geothermal projects. These services help businesses of all sizes reduce energy consumption and produce clean and sustainable energy for their facilities. The company recently opened a Zero-Energy building on its campus, featuring new thermal storage technologies being tested. This will help further mainstream geothermal HVAC for commercial use. Melink Solar & Geo is affiliated with Melink Corporation, which provides energy efficiency solutions for commercial buildings.

Melink Solar Featured on 2020 Top Solar Contractors List

Posted on by Melink Solar

Solar Power World magazine’s Top Solar Contractors annual list includes Cincinnati-based solar installer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cincinnati, Ohio — Although the COVID-19 pandemic is the immediate crisis, mitigating climate change is also an urgent issue. Solar installations are one way to help reduce greenhouse gases from fossil fuel-based power generation. Solar Power World has recognized the efforts of solar contractors across the United States in its 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, where local solar installer Melink Solar achieved a rank of 69 out of 407 companies.

Top Solar Contractors

The Top Solar Contractors list is developed each year by Solar Power World to honor the work of solar installers big and small. Solar firms in the utility, commercial and residential markets are ranked by number of kilowatts installed in the previous year. Companies are grouped and listed by specific service (developers, electrical subcontractors, EPCs, installation subcontractors, rooftop installers), markets and states.

“The Solar Power World team is so pleased to highlight more than 400 companies on the 2020 Top Solar Contractors list, especially during this unprecedented time,” said Kelsey Misbrener, senior editor of Solar Power World. “All contractors featured on the 2020 list reported strong 2019 installation numbers and are continuing to stand tall this year.”

This year’s collection of more than 400 Top Solar Contractors is facing obstacles that the industry has never seen before. The first quarter of 2020 was the country’s biggest ever capacity gain, with 3.6 GW of new solar capacity added. However, COVID-19 impacts slowed the market in Q2.

Melink Solar installed 27,266.8 kW (27.2 MW) of solar power in 2019. Since its founding, the company has installed more than 65 MW of solar, equivalent to 215,000 solar panels. Melink Solar is a commercial solar EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) firm offering turnkey solutions with projects across the U.S. The firm designs solar systems, procures all labor and supplies, constructs the solar array, monitors performance and provides remote and field troubleshooting assistance.

To learn more about Melink Solar, please visit www.www.melinksolar.com/solar.

About Melink

Melink Corporation is a global provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for commercial buildings with five offerings: Intelli-Hood® Kitchen Ventilation Controls, HVAC Test & Balance, Solar PV, Geothermal HVAC, and PositiV® Building Health Monitor. For more than 30 years, Melink has helped companies save energy, increase profitability, and make the world more sustainable. In 2018, Melink became an ESOP and is now 100% employee-owned.

About Solar Power World

Solar Power World is the leading online and print resource for news and information regarding solar installation, development and technology. Since 2011, SPW has helped U.S. solar contractors — including installers, developers and EPCs in all markets — grow their businesses and do their jobs better.

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Fighting Climate Change with a One-Two Punch

Posted on by Melink Solar

To invest in energy efficiency or renewable energy? A question often pondered by building owners, design engineers, investors, energy engineers, performance contractors, and anyone in between who has a say deciding how to invest money to make the strongest financial and environmental impacts. In an ideal scenario, one can invest in both efficiency and renewable energy.

Integrating Efficiency and Renewable Energy

When it comes to the materials we use in everyday life, we have all heard the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Well, there is a reason why reduction is mentioned first! It can be argued that the most sustainable energy source available is the energy that we never have to use.

Of course, there will always be energy used no matter how efficient a building is. But, in the energy spectrum, renewables reduce the cost for the electricity that must be used. Renewables also offer many other benefits, such as protection against fluctuating energy costs, incentives like federal tax credits, net metering, shaded parking lots… the list could keep going. And research confirms that investing in both energy efficiency options and renewable energy is a smart move. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) collaborated in a 2007 study, reporting that investments in both energy efficiency and renewable energy are essential for the United States to create a secure energy future.   

Boxing gloves

Creating an Energy Synergy

Think about it like this… If a boxer has a great right hook but a poor defense, he may win some fights but could easily lose to an opponent with a solid defense and a timely counterpunch. Combining two strengths to be stronger overall is called synergy. That is when the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. When energy efficiency and renewable energy are combined, they complement each other in a way that can maximize the total impact, both environmentally and economically. Consider this…

Right hook: An upgraded utility plan to reduce HVAC costs.

Left jab: Intelli-Hood®, Melink’s demand control kitchen ventilation system to further reduce HVAC costs.

And for the knock-out uppercut: A solar array made of super-efficient photovoltaic modules that meets the entire energy load of the building (taking into account the reduced energy usage from the previous energy efficiency measures).

And what’s even more of a win? By reducing the facility’s entire energy load, the upfront cost of the solar array is reduced. Plus, the quick payback as a result of the energy efficiency measures creates additional cashflow to help pay for a renewable energy source, like solar array (or even geothermal!).

Accounting for Energy Opponents

But what if? Let’s say that the uppercut was blocked in this scenario because, in many cases, the availability of renewable energy is limited due to geography and available space. For example, in the hills and valleys of Southern Ohio, wind energy is not going to be near as effective as compared to the plains of Northwest Texas.

Or, while solar performs well in Ohio, a building could have very limited space for an array. For the counterpunch here, one could implement new energy efficiency technologies and maximize efficiencies on existing equipment. Then, for the knockout, a smaller solar array like a parking canopy could still be very impactful.

The bottom line? There are many options at play when it comes to the powerful combo of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Together, this combo helps to reduce peak demand charges, which can be astronomically higher than off-peak charges. For example, if a new energy-efficient HVAC system is added to an office building, that building will still see high peak demand charges (although lower than before the upgrade) from the utility. However, capturing a renewable energy source, like wind or solar, can greatly reduce the impact of peak demand charges.

Renewable energy wind turbine power

Winning the Fight on Climate Change

In summary, combining energy efficiency and renewable energy delivers the greatest environmental and economic benefits. Melink Corporation can help building owners, engineers, and designers with both energy efficiency and renewable solutions. We know this combination works from experience, too. With our own Zero Energy Building and another LEED Platinum building, Melink does not just talk the talk, we walk the walk.

Contact us today to protect your business from the volatile energy market, commit to sustainability, reduce utility costs, and fight climate change.

Tips for Purchasing an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Posted on by Melink Solar

Buying an electric vehicle (EV) can be challenging, especially if you haven’t done so before. Here are four tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

EV Purchasing Tip #1

Double Check Your Incentives

EV incentives are always subject to change at the federal and state level. As of December 2019, the reduced federal tax credit of $7,000 is no longer available to automakers that have reached cumulative sales of 200,000 vehicles. This places Tesla and GM vehicles at a higher price point, as the federal tax credit no longer applies to these automakers. All other automakers have available tax credits in the United States, with Nissan seemingly next in line to hit the 200,000-vehicle mark. Plus, certain states (such as California and Colorado) offer EV incentives. Check energy.gov for current credits.

EV Purchasing Tip #2

Define Your EV’s Intended Use

Vehicles can serve many purposes such as daily drivers, road tripping, and towing/hauling. It’s best to define early on what the use of your EV will be. Are you taking road trips in this vehicle? How long is your daily commute? How many miles do you typically drive in a day, a week, a month? This will help you to narrow down vehicles that are best suited for you, as EVs come in various projected ranges.

Typically, older, used EVs have lesser ranges per charge. A few examples:

  • 2015 Nissan Leaf with 84 miles of range
  • 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf with 83 miles of range
  • 2015 BMW i3 with 81 miles of range

Newer EVs tend to have longer ranges:

  • 2020 Tesla Model 3 with a minimum of 240 miles
  • 2020 Nissan Leaf with a minimum of 150 miles
  • 2020 Chevrolet Bolt with a minimum of 240 miles

With the capacity of a longer range, there of course comes a higher cost. That said, used EVs tend to be much less expensive than new ones, when compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. EVs not only depreciate as they go from “new” to “used” vehicle, but they depreciate even further as the federal tax credit is not available to used vehicles.

For example, if a new EV sells for $30,000 in 2020, why would a prospective buyer purchase the same vehicle a year later for $26,000 when he/she can buy the same new vehicle for $31,000 (anticipating a price increase) and potentially apply a tax credit? Therefore, new EVs tend to depreciate more quickly than ICE vehicles, so take this into your equation.

Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle (EV)
Source: Colton Sturgeon, Unsplash

EV Purchasing Tip #3

Consider Your Climate

An EV’s expected mileage range is greatly affected by the temperature. When an EV is parked where temperatures are at or below freezing, the projected mileage range can be decreased by 30% or more. This is due to both the efficiency of the batteries decreasing in cold temperatures, as well as the additional electric load to heat the car, seats, steering wheel, etc.

For those who park indoors, this may not be as much of a factor because your car is kept at a higher ambient temperature (60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) when not in use, so your battery efficiency won’t decrease nearly as much.

EV Purchasing Tip #4

Check the Battery Life

When purchasing a used EV, one of the deciding factors should be the condition of the battery. An EV’s range decreases over time due to the degradation of its batteries. How much a vehicle’s batteries degrade over time depends upon the specific vehicle/battery, as well as the utilization of the vehicle by the previous owner(s). Some vehicles may decrease in range by 1% each year, whereas others may decrease by 3% or more each year. Thus, this battery degradation directly decreases a vehicle’s range.

So, if you’re considering purchasing a used EV, what can you do? Do your research; check the online forums of the specific make/model to read about other owners’ experiences with battery life. If you’re purchasing from a dealership, ask them to run diagnostics to check the health of the battery. If purchasing from a private party, take the vehicle to an independent shop or a dealership to have the battery evaluated.

If you’re purchasing your first EV or just considering what EV options are on the market, I hope these tips help. Good luck!

The Application of Ground-Source Heat Pumps with Waste Water Systems

Posted on by Melink Solar

The use of waste water, both grey and black, as a heat source or sink is not a new concept. But, until recently, the availability of cost-effective, factory-constructed systems has been limited.

Now, with these new systems hitting the market, engineers have more options than ever for designing more sustainable facilities. One such way the marketplace is utilizing waste-water technology is through ground-source heat pumps.

However, many engineers may be hearing pushback when they suggest incorporating waste water into plans. Maybe you’ve heard or said it yourself: “We’ve never done this before.”

To combat the obstacle of pushback, engineers must outline the project goals to demonstrate good engineering concepts and application guidelines:

  • Understand the application of waste-water energy recovery systems for heating and cooling applications
  • Understand characteristics of unconventional water sources and their applications as the heat sink and heat source for ground-source heat pump operations
  • Recognize the capital cost requirements to effectively implement heat recovery from unconventional energy sources
  • Understand the importance of performing a thorough site investigation of the project location to assess the site limitations and unique features

Case Study: Grey Water Energy Recovery

Project Type: Retrofit of laundry area for 350-room hotel
Project Location: Alberta, Canada
Project Size: 6,000 gallons of hot water/day
Average Run Time: 10.7 hours/day
Average Output: 1.28 million BTU/day or 375 kWH/day or 1,700 gallons (50° to 140°F)
Average Performance: 4.71 COP
Peak Performance: 8.77 COP
Estimated Annual Savings: $40k/year

Laundry facility utilizing ground-source heat pumps with waste water

Learn More about Ground-Source Heat Pumps + Waste Water Systems

Steve Hamstra of Melink’s Solar & Geo team will present more on the application of ground-source heat pumps with waste water systems at the ASHRAE Conference, prior to the AHR Expo (Feb. 3-5, 2020, in Orlando, FL). If you’ll be there, we invite you to schedule a meet-and-greet with the Melink team to discuss geothermal solutions for your business.

Melink Corporation provides turnkey management of geothermal projects for architects, engineers, ESCOs, and building owners, as well as consulting services for architects and engineering firms.

Tips for Home Solar Panel Installation

Posted on by Melink Solar

Melink Employee-Owner Jason Brown offers tips for DIY home solar panel installation.

Jason Brown, Senior Applications Engineer for Melink Corporation, added a 9.76 kW solar system consisting of 32 panels to the roof of his new home in 2019.

“I went with adding solar because I know it works, and it’s worth the investment. I had installed solar on my previous home,” said Brown, who has served in various technical roles for Melink T&B, Solar & Geo, and Intelli-Hood®. “I recommend it to anyone that is looking to save money, help the environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions, and increase their home equity.”

Home solar panels

Install

After a little homework and modeling, Brown came up with a system he could install for less than $1 per watt by doing the project himself.

Home solar panel CAD drawing by Jason Brown

Next steps included filing the appropriate permits, purchasing materials, renting a lift to move the solar panels to his roof, and gathering his Melink Solar & Geo co-workers to assist him with the installation. Over a weekend, they completed the project: mounting the racks, wiring the system, and installing the panels themselves.

Solar & Geo co-workers prepping for the home solar panel installation.
Prepping for the home solar panel installation
Brown rented a lift to move the 50-pound panels to his roof. Once installed, the overall weight of the system on the roof is less than a second layer of shingles, not compromising the snow loads in place on the home structure.
Mounting the solar panel racks to the roof
Mounting the racks to the home’s roof
Electrical breaker box
The breaker panel
AC Combiner and Rapid Disconnect with NEC labels
The completed AC Combiner and Rapid Disconnect with NEC labels

System Maintenance

As for maintenance, the system requires little upkeep or cleaning. The panels are installed at a 5/12 pitch angle, which allows them to be cleaned naturally by the region’s rain cycles.

Home solar panel installation
The home solar panels are installed at a 5/12 pitch angle.

Additionally, the system’s micro-inverters have a free, built-in monitoring system that can be observed through a phone app. The app shows system production (instantaneous or over time calculations) and efficiency between each panel. With this tracking, Brown will know if there is a problem within the system that needs attention.

Home solar panel phone app tracking
Energy balance displayed on the app
kWh displayed on the app

Forecasted maintenance depends on the type of inverter installed. Traditional string inverters may need to be replaced in 12-15 years, while many micro-inverters have a 25-year warranty/life expectancy.

“Sometimes these component parts can last the life of the panels, sometimes a little less,” Brown said. “I went with micro-inverters for their longer projected life-rating and to offer better performance with any shading.”

Micro-inverter for home solar panel installation
The type of micro-inverter Brown selected has as 25-year life expectancy versus a traditional string inverter.

Lastly, Brown said some indirect tree trimming may come up in the next 25-30 years to allow more sunlight to reach the panels.

System Performance

The best part? Brown’s home system is currently trending to the projected energy savings and on pace to be under a 5-year ROI with using the 2019 tax credit. The solar array is on track to provide 70% of his home energy usage annually, resulting in a savings of $75-165 per month depending on the time of year and the current electric rates.

As rates from energy suppliers increase so does the system’s calculated savings. Additionally, by doing the project himself, the system has increased the value of his home with nearly a 3-to-1 return.

Home solar panel installation in Cincinnati, Ohio

Home Solar Panel Installation Tips

If you’re considering your own home solar project, here are Brown’s tips:

  • To understand your home’s energy profile, check your electric bills to find out what the average kWh usage is over 12 months. This will give you a glimpse of your home’s energy usage and an idea of what to plan for.
  • Research residential solar tax credits through the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency® or ask a tax professional. For the tax year 2020, the federal tax credit is 26% and will drop to 22% for tax year 2021. 
  • Determine if you would be installing a ground-mount or roof-mount system. The solar modules need to be mounted facing south with not too much obstruction (trees, shading of the sun, etc.). Most residential installations are roof-mounted due to the size of the property and to elevate the modules, offering a better chance of extending the sunlight hours.
  • If you choose to do a roof-mount installation, determine the age of the roof on your home. Keep in mind that the solar system you’re planning will be there 25-30 years. Ideally, solar should be added at the time of new construction or roof replacement.
  • Before purchasing materials, assemble a Bill of Materials (BOM) of what you need to purchase. This will give you a full understanding of the project costs.
  • Call your local zoning and permit offices before you start. You need to review the guidelines to make sure you are within your right to install this electrical upgrade and that you’re abiding by all local codes and permitting requirements. Your township/county will likely require you to file an electrical permit, and they may need to perform a structural review.
  • If you live in a neighborhood, you also need to contact your home owners association (HOA). Your HOA may require you to provide documentation and pay an application fee.
  • Once you have done your research and filed for the appropriate permits, file an interconnection agreement with your utility provider so you can connect to the grid.

This information is for educational purposes. Melink shall not be responsible nor retain liability for use of the provided information. Prior to beginning any electrical or solar project, you are advised to consult with an industry professional.

Melink envisions clean energy transforming the world by improving our global economy, security and environment — for ourselves, our children and future generations. “Walking the Talk” stories showcase Melink employee-owners that are making sustainable choices in their personal lives.

Capture Reflective Light – Bifacial Solar Panels

Posted on by Melink Solar

Traditional solar modules are designed to capture as much light energy as possible on one side and convert that into electrical power, while any residual light is reflected away.  A recent innovation in solar panel technology allows for light to pass through areas in the module and is re-captured on the back side for increased efficiency. These are known as bifacial solar panels.  Many of these panels have a slim profile and limited framing dimensions to increase the surface area and collect as much energy as possible. 

An ideal application for these new solar panels are on top of white membrane roofs, already designed to reflect light, to increase the efficiency of the total array.  In a study conducted by a leading solar panel manufacturer, LONGi, panels were found to be 10-12% more efficient in baseline comparisons.  Depending on the field application the efficiency gains can be as dramatic as 27% when combined with a tracking system to follow the path of the sun throughout the day. 

A key benefit in analyzing the use case is the reduction in the overall array size, racking requirements, and balance of system components as more power can be produced per Sq/ft as compared to traditional systems.  While these bifacial solar panels carry a slight cost premium today, this can typically be more than accounted for in efficiency gains and array size reductions.  Additional applications could include building integrated solar installations and wall mounted solar to increase efficiencies with building reflective surfaces.

Melink Corporation is deploying bifacial solar panel technology at its new HQ2 building. This will help to further offset the buildings energy usage and drive to net-zero energy footprint. The modules will be part of an enhanced parking lot solar canopy that will include car charging stations for electric vehicles.  In addition to our own building, several arrays that are currently in development by the Melink Solar team include bifacial module technology. 

MELINK SOLAR & GEO EXPAND ENERGY-SAVING OFFERINGS

Posted on by Melink Solar

Melink Solar & Geo recently became a national representative for SHARC Energy Systems, a company that has developed a series of products focused on recovering thermal energy in liquid waste such as sewage, laundry wash water, brewery tank cleaning water, etc.  This energy is then transferred via a heat pump to create new hot water for either domestic hot water (showering and cleaning) or space heating hot water.  These systems can also take the place of a cooling tower to allow heat rejection in the summer months without consuming precious water or requiring chemical treatment.

Why would MS&G want to promote these products?

First, this is a largely untapped source of thermal energy that is HUGE!  In 2005, the US DOE estimated that 1,194,200 BILLION BTU’s are discarded annually down our drains in North America – probably much more nearly 15 years later.  Note that if you burned natural gas to make that much heat at typical market costs, this untapped energy stream could be worth nearly $6,000,000,000!  That’s a lot of zeros!

Second reason to add this to our “toolbox of energy solutions” includes our mission to “electrify everything” in a manner that is highly cost effective and environmentally positive.  This technology is complementary to our other Solar PV and Ground-Source Heat Pump offerings in meeting that goal.  This additional also complements our other divisions; Testing & Balancing, IntelliHood (smart, variable volume commercial kitchen hoods) and PositiV (our new building “health” monitoring system).

PIRANHA - SHARC Wastewater Heat Recovery System

Case Study

Recently we designed a geothermal heat pump system for a new 7 story/230 room hotel that is under construction in the USA Midwest.  We observed that the heat pump system removed much more cooling energy than required for heating on an annual basis.  One way to address this is to apply this type of technology to “pump” waste heat from the HVAC system into the Domestic Hot Water system to reduce the burning of natural gas, reduce energy cost and allow the heat pump system to operate more efficiently.  We’ve proposed to provide a SHARC PIRANHA system to address this and depending upon the size of the system (5 or 10 tons) we could provide an annual energy savings of $4,000 to $9,000 with a CO2 reduction of 22 to 45 metric tonnes. This system could provide 27-54% of their annual hot water needs.  Payback on the initial investment can be as short as 6-7 years.

We provided the conceptual design for a 235,000 square foot research facility proposed to be built in Ohio.  They wanted to consider a ground-source heat pump solution for their nominal 1,000-ton cooling load.  We looked at a full-size geothermal bore field that would cost approximately $5.3 million, then a smaller bore field with a cooling tower that would cost $3.0 million and finally, a VERY small geothermal bore field with a SHARC system tied into the city sewer for only $1.5 million!  This offering allows us to provide better energy consumption than a full-size geothermal borefield or the cooling tower options with lower first cost, no water or chemical treatment for a cooling tower and ALL HVAC components safely underground or inside to reduce risk from damage from weather events or acts of terror.

SHARC Wastewater Heat Exchange System

Applications

We continue to work with SHARC Energy to develop concepts that can enhance our mission to change how we heat & cool buildings and provide hot water.  These types of systems can be great for:

  • Lodging applications such as recovering heat from sewage or laundry, possibly large commercial kitchens with a significant dish washing load as well
  • Breweries, distilleries and wineries that use a great deal of hot water for cleaning that is then lost down the drain
  • Car washes – also can be lots of hot water down the drain
  • Apartment buildings, college residence halls and senior living facilities – target size of 50 to 400 residents is the sweet spot, but larger is great too!
  • Large swimming pools that have separate tanks for filter backwash water before it is released to a city sewer

We are even looking at two municipal (large) snow melt systems in the Midwest that use natural gas to provide the needed heat.  Converting these to municipal sewage heat pumps can significantly reduce energy consumption, cost and CO2 emissions.

Want more information on the SHARC system? Contact us here or call us at 513.965.7300!

Road-Tripping in a Non-Tesla 100% EV

Posted on by Melink Solar

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

Abraham Lincoln

I have the unique pleasure of working with an employee-owned organization, Melink Corporation, that is dedicated toward making the world a better place. Our vision is to help advance clean energy such that it transforms the world through improving our global economy, security and environment – for ourselves, our children and future generations.

Though energy efficiency and renewable energy are at the core of what we do, sustainability is central to who we are. If we don’t lead by example, who will? So, in addition to operating a Net-Zero LEED® Platinum headquarters facility, we have a super-green fleet of vehicles. Our National Network of Service Technicians each drive hybrid vehicles. Our parking lot has over twenty electric-vehicle charging stations. In total we have over forty hybrids and seventeen EVs in our fleet driven. 61% of our employees drive either hybrid or electric.

I, personally, drive a 2018 Chevy Bolt and have done so for about nine months. The car has a 238 EPA estimated range and does not have the luxury of accessing Tesla’s Supercharging Network. I have a 45 mile commute, one-way from my home to my office. Fortunately, by driving an EV, living in a home and working in an office that are both powered by renewable energy, my ‘electric gas’ is very clean. I have three young kids, and it is very important to my wife and I, that we set a good example; not only so we guide them toward making their own integrity-based decisions as they mature, but also so in a direct effort preserve their future. As Abraham Lincon said, You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

This month was the first time I took the Bolt on a good old fashion, American road-trip. I knew it would be a challenge but as another President said, nothing in the world is worth doing unless it means effort pain and difficulty. Here’s how it was (and can be) done.

The Hardware. You’ve got to have an EV that has an extended range. Here’s a list, for your reference, of the longest range EVs on the market today. But you’ve also got to have the capacity for Level 3 charging. On the Chevy Bolt the hardware cost an incremental $750, from the factory. GM advertises 90 miles of charge in 30 minutes, up to the 80% mark and the speed begins to taper to protect the battery.

The Fuel. There are of course Plug-in Hybrid EVs such as the Chevy Volt and Honda Clarity. Those models have about 30 – 50 miles of battery capacity with traditional gasoline as a backup. This isn’t the kind of EV I’m talking about here; I’m talking about 100% electrons. And I must acknowledge that during my road trip the electrons pulled from the grid may be coming from brown-power sources; but not necessarily. Wal-Mart, for example, has solar on many of their locations. And one of the two EVgo stations I charged at was at a Wal-Mart. Nonetheless, what’s the advantage of driving an EV vs. a traditional internal-combustion engine that uses gasoline? For one, EVs convert about 60% of their energy from the grid to power at the wheels; gasoline only converts about 19% of the energy stored to the wheels. Also, electricity, even from a coal-fired power plant, is a domestic energy source. Finally, you can get your electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind.

The Apps. Before making any long-distance road trip, pre-planning the locations of charging stations (and their distances from one another), is critical. There are a number of apps you can use to see what’s out there: PlugShare, ChargePoint, and EVgo are the ones I use.

The Infrastructure. EVgo is America’s largest Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Network, with over 1,000 chargers in 66 markets. As a non-Tesla driver, this network is vitally important for the emerging EV market.

The Planning. A few days before my trip from Southwest Ohio to Eastern Tennessee, a 350 mile commute, I identified two Level 3 Fast charging stations and one Level 2 charging station for my trip. The first Level 3 charger I stopped at was only 35 miles from my house, located at a Wal-Mart in Florence, Kentucky. I topped off and drove another 239 miles to Knoxville, Tennessee… quite literally almost no margin for error between charging stations. Fortunately, during my planning I learned of an EVgo charging station that’s being installed about 3/4 that distance, along I-75 near Williamsburg, Kentucky. So the infrastructure is continuing to develop. After making it to the next fast-charger in Knoxville… I had 8 miles to spare. Nonetheless, I made it. So I charged for about one hour (180 miles). While I waited I was able to eat lunch and catch-up on some work. Then I drove another 35 miles to my final destination, which was for business purposes There I stayed for about 30 hours, plugged in to a residential 120V outlet at 12 amps. I got my charge up to about 90% before making the return trip… back to Knoxville, then to Florence, then home. Similar to my first-leg, I made it back to the Florence charger with about 6 miles to spare.

Lessons Learned. For one, my tire pressure was relatively low when I left my house. It took the necessity of my thin battery margin to realize the impact it had on my mileage efficiency. So, I filled them almost to max-pressure and the Bolt was ‘intelligent’ enough to roll this new information into its algorithm, thus giving me an increased range by about 10 miles from where I was before. Second, I noticed that by turning off my air conditioning, the algorithm gave me another 10 mile boost in my range. Also, I tried to keep my speed (on I-75, no less) at around 65 mph. You’ll notice in this chart the relationship between speed and range; the faster you drive, the less efficient your mileage.

In order to change the world, we’ve got to do things differently. Otherwise, if we continue to do the same things, nothing will change. This trip wasn’t easy. An otherwise normal five-hour trip took me about seven-hours, one way. I didn’t want to leave the house at 5am and I certainly didn’t want to get home at 2am. But I wanted to demonstrate it could be done, in the hope that just maybe it inspires others to make the leap, not only to an EV, but to a brighter future.

Geothermal Codes and Standards

Posted on by Melink Solar

Standardization has always been the hallmark of American way of life and its position as a global leader in achieving protection of public health, safety and welfare. This has been true in every industry and the geothermal industry is no different. This piece will highlight the best practices, standards and codes that have been developed over the years by this ‘relatively nascent’ industry.

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), has led the way in design and installation standards for closed loop geothermal heat pump systems. Over the years, this volunteer group of industry experts have perfected design guidelines, pipe and joining methods, flushing, flow testing and antifreeze selection. Their latest version also addresses source water piping, water quality and treatment.

Another industry standard that has gone through the ANSI process is the new ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448 Series-16 Bi-National standard that covers five different types of heat exchangers including horizontal, surface water and open loop systems. This is the first edition of the bi-national series and covers both residential and commercial geothermal systems.

As far as codes and its application is concerned, the geothermal industry has effectively been a subset of the hydronics industry. Both the International Mechanical Code and Uniform Mechanical code have addressed it, but only in bits and pieces. The first comprehensive code was launched just last month (August 2018) by International Officials of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and is called the Uniform Solar, Hydronics and Geothermal Code (USHGC). This code includes systems where equipment and components collect, convey, store, and convert the sun’s energy and geothermal for a purpose including but not limited to service water heating, pool water heating, space heating and cooling and electrical service. This will serve as a great reference document for Authorities Having Jurisdiction over the installation of geothermal systems.

We at Melink take pride in our membership with various industry associations including IGSHPA and IAPMO and are honored to be contributing members of these groups. We also ensure all our design and installs adhere to the above standards and applicable codes.

It all fits in our vision to drive the industry by ‘innovating without reinventing’.