Solar power water heating – a wise investment

There is no doubt at all that hot water is a necessary luxury in every home and business, but it is equally well-known that the cost involved in providing the amount of heated water necessary can be high. In fact, for most households the cost of hot water represents about one-third of the total energy bill. That is why turning to solar power water heating is always a wise investment.

There is no mystery to what solar power water heating is. We all know the advantages to our pockets and our environment that solar power has, though they there can be varying degrees of savings depending on usage, location and the type of solar power system that you use.

The variety of solar water heating systems available means that wherever you are located, there is a system that’s right for you.

There are active (uses electricity to pump heated water) and passive (uses convection) systems to use, but they are basically constructed in the same way. Each uses a solar thermal collector through which the sun’s energy is captured, and both transfer the heated water around the building. Where the systems differ is if they are open loop or closed loop. In the open loop system, the water is heated directly through the collector while in the closed loop system heating fluid is heated in the collector before it in turn heats water in a storage tank.

But how does it all work? Well, the thermal collector is fixed to the building much like any solar panel: on a roof or a wall. The collector could be made of glass placed over an insulated box with a flat solar absorber (flat plate collector), or perhaps of a number of metal tubes in a glass cylinder (evacuated tube collector). Water is pumped into the collector and, once heated, is pumped back into a storage tank ready for use.

In some systems (active closed loop) a heat exchanger, which simply a copper coiled pipe within the storage tank, transfers the heat from the collector to the water. Heating fluid (usually a mixture of water, anti-freeze and an anti-corrosive fluid) is pumped through the heat exchanger and heats the water to the home.

But is it a wise investment? In most countries, governments offer rebates and other incentives for home-owners and businesses to switch to a solar power water heating system, with some states in the USA offering a 30% return on the purchase. It is also certain that financial savings will be significant, though that is dependant on the system used and your location – locations at a higher latitude will generally save less because of lower sunlight. However, it has been estimated that a 56sqft tank heated by solar power in the north west of the USA can cost under $8,000 to install and save around $260 per year in heating bills. The system can pay for itself in about 14 years.

Solar power water heating one of the most cost effective heating systems available and the fact that it too can be set up by yourself, as a DIY project, adds to the potential to save money. Kits are available to buy and once you have a clear idea of what to do, then the rest is easy.

Buying a solar power water heating system would be one of the wisest decisions of your life; it’s well worth the investment.

Solar Power Water Heating – Comment Below

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