Include Solar Water Heater Plans for Your New Home

Solar Hot Water
Solar hot water heating systems are an effective way of
conserving energy and reducing your energy bill.

Contrary to popular belief, solar water heating is not a
new technology. Solar water heating systems have been used
commercially for over a century now, with the first
commercial water heater (the Climax Solar-Water Heater)
going on sale in 1891 in the United States. By the year
1900, over 1600 houses in California were equipped with
this solar water heater.

Due to its effectiveness and low cost, the solar water
heating gained popularity until, by 1941, more than half
the population of Florida was getting its hot water through
solar water heaters!

Solar water heating only lost its popularity as a result of
lowered electricity rates, and an aggressive campaign by
Florida Power and Light to increase electrical consumption.
This was done by offering electric water heaters at bargain
prices. Thus Florida’s solar water heating was brought to
halt.

The United States is not the only country with a solar
water heating history. There are many other countries where
solar water heating was used in the past and has since
fallen out of use – but not all of them. In fact, currently
more than ten million Japanese households heat their water
using solar water heating systems. This is definite proof
that it is a workable technology.

Important Facts about Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

* Solar water heating can be used in any climate. Sound
unbelievable? Check it out on the U.S. Department of Energy
website. They say so as well.

* The fuel used to run a solar water heater is sunshine.
And, at the time of this writing, sunshine is free – no tax
has been added yet.

* A solar water heater can reduce your water heating bill
by 50%-80%. But with energy prices going up, the amount of
savings will soon be even higher.

* Aside from reducing your energy bill right now, a solar
water heating system will protect you from future energy
price increases. Your heating will no longer rely on fossil
fuels for electricity.

* When building a new home, or when refinancing, the
economic aspect of this becomes even more interesting.

You can, for instance, include the cost of a solar water
heater with a new thirty-year mortgage package. This would
usually amount to about $13.00 -$20.00 a month. Federal
income tax deductions for mortgage interest would reduce
the payment for the solar water heater by about $3.00
-$5.00 per month.

If your fuel savings with a solar water heating system is
$15.00 or more per month (which it likely will be) you will
have reduced your monthly heating bill right then and there.

* Solar water heating will significantly reduce your carbon
footprint, and reduce the demand for fossil fuels which
pollute the environment.

* Solar heaters can be installed in combination with backup
systems. In fact, you could install a solar water heater
next to your existing system and make it possible switch to
conventional water heating whenever necessary. This way you
are guaranteed always to have hot water.

-Types of Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

There are two types of solar water heating systems, active
solar water heating systems and passive solar water heating
systems. They both work on the same principles.

The only difference is that active systems have a pump or
other mechanical means of moving the water through the
solar heating systems, and passive systems rely on nature’s
principles: warm water rises to the top, and cold water
sinks to the bottom. With a passive solar water heating
system, the water storage tank must therefore always be
positioned above the solar water heater collector.

- Active Solar Hot Water Heating

There are two main designs of active water heating systems.
Which one is best for you depends on the climate you live
in.

There is what’s called an “indirect circulation system”
which uses a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid to transfer
heat from the collector to a heat exchanger (a device used
to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the water
in your storage tank). This is good for colder climates.

There is also the direct circulation system, where water is
simply passed through solar heat collector and then routed
to the water storage tank for use. This system works fine
in milder climates.

- Passive Solar Hot Water Heating

Passive solar water heating systems are usually cheaper
than “active solar water heating systems,” as they do not
need controls or pumps to circulate the water.

But generally, they are not as effective as the active
systems. If you live in a warm climate, a passive water
heating system might be all you need. Passive water heating
systems are also known for being very reliable.

Essentially, solar water heating systems consist of a water
storage tank and its solar collectors. The solar collectors
are used to collect solar energy which heats water, and the
tanks store the heated water. That’s all there is to it.

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For more information on important facts to consider when
looking for a solar hot water heater, and to find out where
to obtain good quality solar hot water heaters, go to
http://www.squidoo.com/solar-hotwater