This month, I've spent hours tramping across my roof with energy experts. We've measured its pitch, calculated how closely it faces true south and used high-tech tools to determine what times of day and which months the rooftop will be shaded.
The goal: to figure out how much the sun's free power can offset my home's hot-water and other energy needs.
![[Go to enlarged image]](/image_cache/Socratoad/512/1E10ECBD-BBAC-4567-8243-E6BD2F687AB9.jpg)
| Powered by the Sun: Here's how a typical "closed-loop" solar thermal system for cold climates heats household water. |