Need Hot Water? Get off The Grid, Hook up a Solar Hot Water System
You should know, your hot water tank probably requires more energy to operate, than your car? Using a Solar Hot Water System is one of the easiest and best ways to save money there is. The beauty of this is you can reduce the power normally required to make your hot water, or create a system where you won't need one watt of grid power. That’s almost like... Free Energy
Making Solar Hot Water is at least three times more efficient than making electricity with a photovoltaics (PV) system. The overall cost is lower, whether Commercial or DIY. Of course, taking the Do-It-Yourself route is substantially lower. Then there's Federal, State and Utility Tax Incentives to add to a Solar Hot Water System benefits. Another is the quick turn around in savings you will realize from your investment. In fact, as few as four years for short-term payback are realistic. Okay, but before we take a look at what living solar energy can do to water, there's two system types you should know about:
So what's the difference? Well a Passive System has no moving parts. It uses the sunlight’s energy without the help of mechanical or electrical systems. It converts solar energy into usable heat, such as water, air and even thermal mass. Actually, this kid of a solar hot water system uses the principle of thermo-siphoning. What’s thermo-siphoning? Well, as you know, when stuff gets hot, it tends to rise. And heated water does the same thing. The reason is hot water is lighter than cold-water, so it ends up on top of the cold water. That’s called thermo-siphon circulation. Okay, then what about active systems? They’re a bit more complicated, because they use electrical/mechanical stuff, like pumps, valves, sensors and controllers. These all assist in the circulation of the heated medium, be it air or liquid, and greatly increase the systems performance.
So whether passive or active, liquid or air, the idea is to effectively harness the suns energy for heating. However this is supposed to be about solar hot water, so let’s get back to it.
Okay, so how do we know which solar hot water heater system is best? In order to get the biggest bang for the buck, the homeowner must decide the amount of hot water required and consider a system that will maintain that supply. The System you choose will also determine the collector type and the equipment you use with it. Obviously, the number members in the dwelling will dictate the size of the system. For example, the average three-member family’s daily hot water requirement is roughly eighty gallons. That’s about twenty-six gallons a person. Bathroom time accounts for the most, the kitchen next and laundry last. An average Solar Hot Water System will produce around 65% to 85% of these needs. Install a hybrid system and that could go to 100%. Climatic Conditions, along with desired System Performance are also important to system selection. The Collector’s Size will determine its Solar Thermal Energy Output. Once you have a good idea of how much hot water your household will need, you can proceed with system selection. There are additional things to consider; the components in a solar hot water heating system that you should know about. Depending on the system's size and type, components will vary.
Since Solar Collectors are first on the list, obviously they’re the most important. So wouldn't it be wise to know about the best types to use? Good question. Get a good look at the large variety of system Solar Collector Types
Regardless of the type selected, each hot water heater system type has proven its reliability, and durability. Therefore, the key factors of climate and number of family members will ultimately decide the best system, whether active or passive, open loop or closed loop. The advantages of a well designed and placed solar hot water system is definitely worth investigating. To keep your family in hot water even under a winter sun, don’t just consider it, do it!
A good solar hot water system used in conjunction with an energy efficient device, such as a Tankless Hot Water Heating System will save large dollars – large, large dollars USDE Home page, http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/Texas State solar water heating calculator, http://www.infinitepower.org/calc_waterheating.htm A Solar Hot Water System is worth its weight in Electricity
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A Good Solar Hot Water System will prove to be a welcome hedge against burning grid power to make Hot Water. If you're a DIY enthusiast, you can build your own or go with a commercial system.
