| Residential hot water is a significant | | | | and long-lasting. You can easely build |
| energy consumer for most households. In | | | | simple systems yourself all you will |
| fact, hot water is sometimes the largest | | | | need are parts that you can find in any |
| single energy cost. Using solar energy | | | | hardware store. |
| to provide at least some of the hot | | | | Active systems make use of pumps to |
| water in your household can result in | | | | circulate the water. In some systems, |
| significant savings. | | | | the pumps can be powered with solar |
| There are several ways that solar energy | | | | energy; otherwise they must be connected |
| can be integrated into a hot water | | | | to the household electrical supply. In |
| system. Although solar boilers can be | | | | both systems a storage tank is needed to |
| used on their own, they are most often | | | | hold the heated water. |
| used in conjunction with traditional | | | | On hot days with plenty of direct |
| water heaters which are powered by gas | | | | sunlight solar systems can heat water |
| or electricity. In this kind of system, | | | | with surprising efficiency. During this |
| the water heated with solar energy can | | | | kind of weather, there may be no need to |
| be used on its own (if it is hot enough) | | | | use electricity or gas as a backup. |
| or as preheated water for the | | | | When the weather is colder, the solar |
| traditional water heater. Pre heated | | | | heaters can preheat the water which |
| water will also dramatically decrease | | | | passes into the traditional water |
| your energy bill. | | | | heater. This preheated water requires |
| Solar boilers can be used in any type of | | | | much less energy to bring to proper |
| climate but are most practical in areas | | | | temperatures which can result in |
| which don't have freezing weather during | | | | significant savings on your energy |
| the wintertime. Solar hot water systems | | | | bills. |
| in colder climates can use indirect | | | | As with all alternative energy systems |
| heating systems which do not expose the | | | | there is a lot of room for your own |
| water to the freezing temperatures. | | | | imagination if you like that. If you |
| Instead, a fluid that resists freezing | | | | don't you don't and just use the |
| circulates through the solar panels and | | | | technology, but for those who like to |
| is used to heat the water. Southern | | | | play around with technology like myself |
| climates can use direct heating systems | | | | these systems offer a myriad of |
| where the water itself passes through | | | | possibilities to think about. |
| the solar panels installed on the roof. | | | | For example, a stirling engine converts |
| There are two basic types of solar hot | | | | changes in temperature into mechanical |
| water systems -- active and passive. | | | | motion, for example to generate |
| Passive systems rely on gravity and the | | | | electricity. Mmm, that's a nice thought. |
| natural flow of water from hot to cold. | | | | A change in temperature is something |
| They are simple systems and require very | | | | this system will provide, but it will |
| little maintenance. They are durable | | | | also heat your water. A double benefit? |