Creighton University's Graves Hall, located on its Omaha campus, stands as the pioneering North American facility to deploy VirtuHOT HD, an advanced solar thermal collector developed by Naked Energy and installed by ELM Solar, an ELM Companies subsidiary and Naked Energy's North American distributor. This innovative technology substantially reduces water heating expenses while bolstering the university's commitment to sustainable practices. Graves Hall, a recently inaugurated residence for 400 first-year students, signifies Creighton's dedication to environmentally conscious initiatives.
Situated atop Graves Hall's roof, the VirtuHOT HD collectors harness solar energy to heat the dormitory's water supply efficiently, delivering substantial energy cost savings. These collectors feature a low-profile design, standing at just 10.4 inches in height. They employ a modular layout with angled absorber plates, enabling them to capture more sunlight than traditional solar panels. Consequently, this cutting-edge design optimizes the roof space's potential by generating more energy per square foot than any existing solar technology. The installation at Graves Hall is projected to generate an impressive 237,000 BTU (69.9 kW) of thermal energy, marking a significant advancement in sustainable and cost-efficient energy solutions.
ELM Founder and Chairman Lee C. Graves emphasized that solar thermal technology possesses significant potential by relieving buildings from the power grid's burden of heating water, which typically constitutes a substantial energy expense. This leads to cost savings for building owners and alleviates pressure on the power grid. He commended the remarkable work the Naked Energy and ELM teams carried out in designing and implementing this transformative technology.
As per data from the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating represents a substantial portion of household energy consumption, making up approximately 20% of total energy use. Furthermore, the surge in grid connection requests by 40% in 2022 has placed additional stress on power grids nationwide, heightening the risk of grid instability. In this context, pioneering solar thermal systems like VirtuHOT HD play a pivotal role by alleviating the grid of water heating demands. This strategic shift offers cost-efficient and sustainable heating solutions and helps optimize grid capacity for various other essential purposes, contributing to grid stability and overall energy efficiency.
About ELM Companies
ELM Companies, established in 1998, has been at the forefront of developing pioneering solutions in the energy and utility services sector, focusing on enhancing regulatory compliance, grid reliability, and distribution efficiency. With a quarter-century of experience, ELM has consistently engineered innovative technology solutions informed by direct utility industry insights. Their extensive fleet, comprising over 1,100 vehicles, effectively manages over 3,000,000 tickets annually across the U.S. utility industry. ELM's portfolio also includes cutting-edge MicroGrid energy storage solutions deployed for utility companies, the U.S. Military, and major corporations. They provide state-of-the-art, cloud-based utility mapping systems that offer instant access to critical infrastructure data. Moreover, ELM is recognized for pioneering solar equipment with the world's highest energy density, setting new standards in the market.