Solar-Heated Fire Station Opens In Kansas City, Mo.
The Midwest’s first solar-heated fire station has been opened in Kansas City, Mo. The station is part of the modernization of the fire department facilities and replaces a station built in the early 1900’s.
The solar energy is used to heat both the air and the water in the station. On a sunny day, the station will be heated to the desired temperature directly from 2808 square feet of collector panels on the roof and slanted south wall of the station. When the correct temperature has been reached, heat will be stored for later use in about 71 tons of enclosed rock on the building’s south side. The rock can store enough warmth for about 1 1/2-days’ use in cloudy weather. An electric heating system will provide backup.
Water is warmed when the heated air passes across a heat exchanger in a process that works in reverse of a car engine’s cooling system A savings of about $6000 a year on utility bills is anticipated.
