Solar shed used to house and heat water in Round Hill home

Homeowner Bruce Lawton of Round Hill installed a solar shed that looks like any other garden shed. It looks like a garden shed because it really is a garden shed.

And the government will help the homeowner pay for it. The 8-by-8-foot shed in Lawton’s yard cost just less than $7,000 after the 30% ($2,000) tax credit from the federal government.

The shed circulates water in small pipes under the roof covering to pick up the heat energy from the sun. When the water is about 8 degrees hotter than the setting on the water heater in the basement 64 feet away, the water drains down from the roof and into a 10-gallon tank next to the water heater. It transfers its heat to the water heater, and – when the sun is out and the pump kicks in – heads back to the roof for another sunbath.

Hmmm… an interesting idea.