How Effective Are Solar Hot Water Systems?

Solar hot water heating systems are relatively simple to install, simple to maintain and the most cost effective way to introduce your home to solar energy. They can save significant energy and cost when they replace an electric hot water heater. And they can be successfully used even if you live in a climate where freezing temperatures are common during the winter.

If you live in a climate that does not have sub-zero temperatures, and your household consists of less than five people, you can put in a batch heater. This is the least expensive solar water heating option, and it is relatively easy to build if you have the inclination to do-it-yourself. It is simply a water storage tank that also serves as the solar collector.

The tank is enclosed in a glass-covered box that is positioned to allow maximum exposure to the sun. The water in the tank heats up and hot water is accessible for use. However, it is not the most efficient system, since it takes longer to heat up an entire tank of water than to heat a flat panel solar collector. Also as the tank cools at night, there is less hot water available for use.

There are two better systems that can be used even in freezing areas. The direct pump system circulates water between a solar collector and a storage container. With this design, water in the solar collector can heat up quicker, and the tank can be insulated for better temperature holding capacity. The pump can be designed to run on electricity from a photovoltaic cell if you want to keep your system completely solar powered.

A thermosiphon system also uses a separate solar collector, along with the pull of gravity. And it allows for the use of an insulated storage reservoir for more consistent hot water delivery. When using either of these systems in cold climates where freezing is an issue, both the piping and the storage tank should be situated indoors and properly insulated to provide hot water even on the coldest days.

For more information regarding solar technology and how you can utilize solar power in your home or business, please visit http://www.GreenLivingRocks.com and http://build-a-solar-panel.info.

Look for our other posts. We are dedicated to providing information about solar power. Without using solar power as an alternative energy source, we are destined to completely wipe the world clean of natural resources. When we use renewable energy, we all win.

From one of our articles that can be found on our blog:

“A solar panel design has a specific set-up needed to make it work efficiently. The design has been refined over the years. Solar panels started out as very cumbersome pieces of technology. Today, these panels can be used in something as small as a calculator. When deciding on the placement of panels for home use. It?s helpful to know exactly what you need to get an entire solar energy system hooked up and running smoothly.”

From the operators of www.GreenLivingRocks.com — providing education regarding how to make a home made solar panel, solar powered, and solar pv.

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