| The news is out. Residential solar water | | | | pump 'heat-transfer fluids', such as |
| heating systems now cost between $1,500 and | | | | antifreeze fluid. Heat exchangers then |
| $3,500 - compared to $150 to $450 for | | | | transfer the heat from the fluid to the |
| electric and gas heaters. Solar hot water | | | | water. Better for colder climates. |
| systems are still significantly more | | | | |
| expensive initially… So how is that | | | | 3. Drainback systems - also use electric |
| FREE? | | | | pumps to circulate water through the solar |
| | | | heat collectors. In this type of indirect |
| With energy prices soaring, considering the | | | | heating system, the heated water drains into |
| savings in electricity or natural gas, | | | | a holdintank when the pumps stop. |
| experts report that solar water heaters now | | | | |
| pay for themselves within 4-8 years! | | | | Both the indirect and the drainback systems |
| | | | work well in colder climates because they |
| Solar water heating systems last 15 to 30 | | | | minimize the chance of freezing water by |
| years - at least twice as long as | | | | constantly circulating the water or fluid. |
| conventional systems. With this in mind, | | | | |
| after the initial payback period, you can | | | | Passive Systems |
| enjoy free hot water for 10 to 20 years! | | | | |
| | | | Passive solar water heaters circulate water |
| Of course, the best reason to install a solar | | | | or a heat-transfer fluid without electric |
| water heater is the positive impact on the | | | | pumps or other devices. There are two basic |
| environment - no fossil fuels or nuclear used | | | | types of passive solar water heating systems: |
| to generate the energy to provide your home | | | | |
| with hot water - only pure energy provided by | | | | 1. Batch heaters are very simple and have |
| the sun. | | | | been used for years. They consist of one or |
| | | | more storage tanks placed in insulated boxes |
| Conventional Water Heaters Contribute to | | | | with their painted, or heat-absorbing sides |
| Global Warming | | | | facing the sun. Since water flow is minimal, |
| | | | these systems work best in warmer climates. |
| Consider this: according to the University of | | | | |
| Wisconsin's Solar Energy Laboratory, an | | | | 2. Thermosiphon systems - these systems rely |
| average four-person household with an | | | | on the natural process that causes warm water |
| electric water heater needs about 6,400 | | | | to rise. The system circulates water through |
| kilowatt hours of electricity per year to | | | | solar heat collectors and then into a holding |
| heat water for their home. | | | | tank, which is located above the collector. |
| | | | |
| Assuming electricity is generated by a | | | | Thermosiphon systems can function effectively |
| typical power plant with an efficiency of | | | | in colder climates due to the constant |
| around 30 percent; this means the average | | | | circulation of system fluids. |
| electric water heater is responsible for | | | | |
| about 8 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) | | | | Solar Water Heaters Gaining Popularity |
| annually, a significant contributor to CO2 | | | | |
| pollution - and global warming. | | | | Reaching the point where 50% of all U.S. |
| | | | households have some type of solar hot water |
| Let's put this into perspective. The average | | | | system installed might not be such an |
| car emits about 4 tons of CO2 annually | | | | outrageous goal. According to the |
| … so this means electric hot water | | | | Environmental and Energy Study Institute |
| heaters generate about twice as much CO2 as | | | | (EESI), there are 1.5 million solar water |
| the average automobile - every year! | | | | heaters already in use in U.S. homes and |
| | | | businesses. Since Solar water heater systems |
| So, for every solar hot water system | | | | can work effectively in just about any |
| installed, the effect is like taking two cars | | | | climate, it's estimated that 40 percent of |
| off the road for the life of the solar | | | | all U.S. homes have sufficient access to |
| heating system. Imagine if just 25 % of U.S. | | | | sunlight to make it cost effective for them |
| homes installed solar hot water systems | | | | to install solar water heaters right now. |
| … the drop in C02 emissions would be | | | | |
| staggering. | | | | Go Green! |
| | | | |
| So, what's not to like? Financial savings, | | | | Using the sun to heat water is not a new |
| tax credits, clean energy, saving the planet | | | | idea. Solar energy has been used for years to |
| … sounds like a winning move to me. | | | | heat water for homes and businesses around |
| | | | the world. In some countries, such as Israel, |
| How They Work | | | | solar hot water systems are now mandatory for |
| | | | residential use. In the U.S., as far back as |
| Solar hot water systems can be implemented as | | | | the early 1900's, solar hot water systems |
| either active or passive systems. | | | | have been common in southern California. |
| | | | |
| Active Systems | | | | Today, solar heated water systems provide hot |
| | | | water for everything from remote cabins and |
| Active solar water heaters generally use | | | | homes to hospitals and office buildings. |
| electrically powered pumps and other | | | | |
| equipment to circulate water or a | | | | The more we embrace new technologies that |
| 'heat-transfer fluid' through the system. | | | | promote eco-friendly solutions for energy |
| There are three types of active systems: | | | | production and reduce CO2 emissions, the |
| | | | better chance we have of leaving a planet to |
| 1. Direct systems - these systems use pumps | | | | our children that not only survives, but |
| to circulate water through special solar heat | | | | thrives. |
| collectors. Best suited for mild climates. | | | | |
| | | | Go Green! Look into installing a solar hot |
| 2. Indirect system - instead of pumping water | | | | water heater today. |
| through the solar collectors, these systems | | | | |