Archive for May, 2009
Solar Power Water Heater
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
How to Select Best Solar Energy Water Heater
Solar energy water heaters are one of the most effective solutions for residential and commercial water heating. According to research and surveys, water heating is the second largest energy consumer in your house. When considering the selection of any solar water heater there are considerations that should be made regarding appropriateness to determine the best solution. Several factors you should consider in selecting any water heating system are given below:
Size: The storage size and point of usage should be well defined and appropriate Price and operational costs: The cost of the device, maintenance costs and the operative costs should be known before the installation of any water heater Quality of material used: The quality of material used for solar energy water heaters should be solid and durable. Look for units that are primarily made from copper, bronze and stainless since these elements will stand the test of time. Brand: The best brand appliance should be chosen for avoiding any problems related to technology or other issues Repairing and availability of spare parts: The appliance should be easily repairable and there should be no problem in getting the spare parts should any issues arise Available features: Make sure any unit considered has features for handling water quality such as sediment or scale.
The many benefits of solar heaters include; 1) renewable energy source, 2) cost savings, 3) reduced carbon footprint, and 4) you will be producing your own energy. Solar heaters are great for water heating, space heating and any other form of heating.
Tankless heaters or instant hot water heaters work on demand to provide the warm or hot water, when necessary. The main benefit is the lack of tank. Claims are made about very high efficiency but the primary efficiency advantage is eliminating standby losses. This is generally a small (about 15%) portion of the energy consumed. Other features of instant hot water heaters include nonstop hot water supply, size and flexibility during installation. There is a list of many manufacturers for the instant water heaters. Tankless water heaters can be used for commercial and residential water heating systems. Tankless units can be powered by gas or electric although the electric units generally have significant flow limitations.
Gas water heating appliances are built with vent systems. The most common type of venting has the heated exhaust gas exit via convection up through a vent in the roof. The hot exhaust gases are vented preventing fumes in the home and is replaced by fresh air in the building. This happens without the use of any electric power. Power venting of water heater is similar to the direct venting models and it makes use of the assistance for mechanical exhausting the combustion to the outside. Power venting can enable gas water heaters to be located in a location where they are then vented horizontally rather than vertically.
Within solar energy water heaters there are models that come rated as Energy Star models. The EnergyStar models provide enhanced performance, lessened costs, reduced pollution and frequently qualify the owner for grants. The Energy Star models require a higher SEF (solar energy factor) than other models. The energy star models have to supply greater than 50% of the heated water from the sun. Studies have shown solar heaters are the most efficient way to heat your water both from an energy use standpoint as well as minimizing the carbon footprint. Solar heaters in colder climates are all indirect type heaters since the fluid that flows through the solar collectors is not the same fluid that comes out of the faucets in the home. All of the principles of solar heating are the same whether the load is small (residential) or large (commercial/industrial). The efficiency, economics, and environmental benefits are all there but in a larger scale. If anyone has an interest in saving money, being a better environmental steward, or more comfort they should consider solar heating.
About the Author
Jeanette Gretsch is the president of SolarHotUSA which deals in solar water heaters and other solar energy products. He is a chemistry graduate from Georgia Institute of Technology and have a vast experience in Solar Water Heating systems.
Demo Solar Powered Hot Water Heater
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Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater and Outdoor Shower $149.00 Endless hot water, in a FLASH! LP – powered Portable Tankless Water Heater. Hot water, instantly and exactly where you need it! Great for camping, cabin use, washing boats and cars, etc. Switch this Heater on and an intense flame instantly heats the water as it passes through. There’s no reservoir to deplete like at home, as long as you feed water in, HOT water is coming out! Battery ignition star… |
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Beckett 7060110 210 GPH Underwater Pump for Small Ponds, Fountains, Waterfalls $47.99 Epoxy-encapsulated submersible pump. All have 115V, 60 Hz., and a 20-feet cord. Availability: 92 gph, 19 watts, 0.3 amps, max lift 4.3′ screen inlet, outlet accepts 3/8″ ID tubing; 210 gph, 25 watts, .5 amps, max lift 7.1′ outlet accepts 1/2″ tubing; 340 gph, 50 watts, .8 amps, max lift 12.2′ outlet accepts 1/2″ tubing; 535 gph, 80 watts, 1.2 amps, max lift 12.4′ outlet accepts 3/4″ tubing…. |
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EcoSmart 11 Kw Tankless Water Heater $209.99 Configured for climates where incoming water temperatures are in the 60 to 70 F. range. Self modulating flow sensor technology regulates the amount of energy required to heat the water needed. Digital temperature display showing the outlet water temperature setting. Uses 2 standard Emerson Electric heating elements with brass tops to prevent electrolysis. Stainless steel heat exchanger. Automatic … |
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Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Swimming Pools, Spas & more $34.95 Solar Panel Instructional DVD & Plans for water heating. A simple step-by-step, DIY, easy to follow solar panel construction DVD. No special tools required. Sleek design, professional look and ease of fabrication. Heating system fully integrates into your existing pool piping network. 3500 watts (12,000BTU) of free solar power per panel. 10+degrees F increase in water temperature in one day. Engin… |
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Schumacher SE-1-12S Fully Automatic Onboard Battery Charger – 1.5 Amps $22.42 This Schumacher onboard battery maintainer is fully automatic and is an excellent choice for charging and maintaining 12V batteries. The battery maintainer charges battery in 2-12 hours and automatically switches to float-mode battery monitoring when charging is complete. It provides reverse polarity and overcharge protection and works using standard 120V AC power. Since the maintainer uses short … |
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Koolatron P95 Travel Saver Cooler 45-Quart, Light Grey $126.50 The Koolatron Travel Saver 12-Volt Cooler offers a large 45-quart capacity and unique domed lid. Perfect for long road trips, the cooler can be plugged into your car’s power outlet to keep up to 72 twelve-ounce cans cold. An optional AC adapter (sold separately) lets the cooler also be used wherever there is a standard household outlet. The cooler can also be used as a warmer for keeping hot foo… |
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Kintrex SPC0601 7 Amp 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Power Charge Controller With Digital LED Display $39.95 The SPC0601 Solar Charge Controller is designed to protect batteries from overcharge and excessive discharge when being charged by a solar panel device. The controller functions to automatically assure the battery is fully charged and keep the battery fully charged without damage to the battery. The SPC0601 Charge Controller also functions to limit the load placed upon the battery to ensure the ba… |
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DIY Solar Projects: How to Put the Sun to Work in Your Home $14.38 Advances in solar technology have made many DIY-friendly products available to consumers, several of which will be hitting the market for the first time in 2011. These include solar water heaters, solar battery charging stations, solar powered lights, photovoltaic shingles that provide supplementary electricity, solar heat pumps, and solar panel kits that generate primary home electrical service. … |
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Solar Water Heating–Revised & Expanded Edition: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series) $14.96 Heating water with the sun is a practice almost as old as humankind itself. Solar Water Heating, now completely revised and expanded, is the definitive guide to this clean and cost-effective technology. Beginning with a review of the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, Solar Water Heating presents an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy c… |
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The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling $15.74 Passive solar heating and passive coolingâapproaches known as natural conditioningâprovide comfort throughout the year by reducing, or eliminating, the need for fossil fuel. Yet while heat from sunlight and ventilation from breezes is free for the taking, few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. Now Dan Chiras, author of the popular book âThe Nat… |
