Free Solar Hot Water Heaters

The news is out. Residential solar water heating systems now cost between $1,500 and $3,500 - compared to $150 to $450 for electric and gas heaters. Solar hot water systems are still significantly more expensive initially... So how is that FREE?

With energy prices soaring, considering the savings in electricity or natural gas, experts report that solar water heaters now pay for themselves within 4-8 years!

Solar water heating systems last 15 to 30 years - at least twice as long as conventional systems. With this in mind, after the initial payback period, you can enjoy free hot water for 10 to 20 years!

Of course, the best reason to install a solar water heater is the positive impact on the environment - no fossil fuels or nuclear used to generate the energy to provide your home with hot water - only pure energy provided by the sun.

Conventional Water Heaters Contribute to Global Warming

Consider this: according to the University of Wisconsin’s Solar Energy Laboratory, an average four-person household with an electric water heater needs about 6,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year to heat water for their home.

Assuming electricity is generated by a typical power plant with an efficiency of around 30 percent; this means the average electric water heater is responsible for about 8 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, a significant contributor to CO2 pollution - and global warming.

Let’s put this into perspective. The average car emits about 4 tons of CO2 annually ... so this means electric hot water heaters generate about twice as much CO2 as the average automobile - every year!

So, for every solar hot water system installed, the effect is like taking two cars off the road for the life of the solar heating system. Imagine if just 25 % of U.S. homes installed solar hot water systems ... the drop in C02 emissions would be staggering.

So, what’s not to like? Financial savings, tax credits, clean energy, saving the planet ... sounds like a winning move to me.

How They Work

Solar hot water systems can be implemented as either active or passive systems.

Active Systems

Active solar water heaters generally use electrically powered pumps and other equipment to circulate water or a ‘heat-transfer fluid’ through the system. There are three types of active systems:

1. Direct systems — these systems use pumps to circulate water through special solar heat collectors. Best suited for mild climates.

2. Indirect system — instead of pumping water through the solar collectors, these systems pump ‘heat-transfer fluids’, such as antifreeze fluid. Heat exchangers then transfer the heat from the fluid to the water. Better for colder climates.

3. Drainback systems — also use electric pumps to circulate water through the solar heat collectors. In this type of indirect heating system, the heated water drains into a holdintank when the pumps stop.

Both the indirect and the drainback systems work well in colder climates because they minimize the chance of freezing water by constantly circulating the water or fluid.

Passive Systems

Passive solar water heaters circulate water or a heat-transfer fluid without electric pumps or other devices. There are two basic types of passive solar water heating systems:

1. Batch heaters are very simple and have been used for years. They consist of one or more storage tanks placed in insulated boxes with their painted, or heat-absorbing sides facing the sun. Since water flow is minimal, these systems work best in warmer climates.

2. Thermosiphon systems — these systems rely on the natural process that causes warm water to rise. The system circulates water through solar heat collectors and then into a holding tank, which is located above the collector.

Thermosiphon systems can function effectively in colder climates due to the constant circulation of system fluids.

Solar Water Heaters Gaining Popularity

Reaching the point where 50% of all U.S. households have some type of solar hot water system installed might not be such an outrageous goal. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), there are 1.5 million solar water heaters already in use in U.S. homes and businesses. Since Solar water heater systems can work effectively in just about any climate, it’s estimated that 40 percent of all U.S. homes have sufficient access to sunlight to make it cost effective for them to install solar water heaters right now.

Go Green!

Using the sun to heat water is not a new idea. Solar energy has been used for years to heat water for homes and businesses around the world. In some countries, such as Israel, solar hot water systems are now mandatory for residential use. In the U.S., as far back as the early 1900’s, solar hot water systems have been common in southern California.

Today, solar heated water systems provide hot water for everything from remote cabins and homes to hospitals and office buildings.

The more we embrace new technologies that promote eco-friendly solutions for energy production and reduce CO2 emissions, the better chance we have of leaving a planet to our children that not only survives, but thrives.

Go Green! Look into installing a solar hot water heater today.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Home Appliances Utensils" article category.

People interested in the above article "Free Solar Hot Water Heaters" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

What Are the Benefits of a Hot Water Demand System?

There are a host of benefits from having a hot water demand system installed in your home. Surprisingly the list includes such things as cleaner dishes and a smaller carbon footprint for your family. See how a demand system would impact your family.

The Most Important Things You Should Know About Drinking Water Purification Systems

Just how important are drinking water purification systems? The short answer for that question would be – very important. Just think for a moment. The amount of contaminants present in water is mind boggling. According to recent reports, the contaminants found in water include heavy metals, herbicides and pesticides, and even prescription drugs. Now, can you think of drinking such water?

How to Find the Best Water Purification Process?

The moment you turn on the TV, flip through a magazine, or take a look at the newspaper, you find advertisements with terms like water purifier, water purification process, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, and so on. A lot of people have no idea what these terms actually mean and they buy water filters randomly. But a water filter is not meant to be bought that way. You need to understand the concept of purifying water and you need to buy the best product in order to stay away from waterborne diseases.

So You Think Your Water Filter Uses The Best Water Purification Technology?

Have you ever thought about the water purification technology behind your water filter unit? As you know, there are different types of water filter units available in the market today and each company claims that their product is the best one. But, how do you know which is actually the best one? And how important is it to use the best one? Let me tell you. First of all, you should understand the meaning of the term water purification technology. A water filter, as the name suggests, purifies or filters water and gives you pure water.

Supercharge Your Tankless Water Heater - Get Fast Hot Water and Be Green!

If you own a tankless water heater then you are aware that it takes longer for a tankless unit to deliver your hot water than it takes for a storage type water heater. With the addition of a hot water demand system you can get your hot water faster and stop wastefully running water down the drain while you wait for it to arrive at the fixture.

Tools For Cooking

Far too often people overlook the importance of using the proper tools when cooking fine meals. While there is nothing in the world that can quite compare to cooking with the finest and freshest of ingredients, these things can only be enhanced by making use of the perfect tools for the job at hand.

Tankless Water Heater? Turn it Green with Faster Hot Water!

If you have a tankless water heater then you probably already know that it takes longer to get hot water with a tankless water heater than with an old fashioned storage tank type water heater. While you wait for the hot water to arrive, you are running water down the drain. What a shame to have to waste water to save energy. But there is something you can do to change the situation.