In
a typical household, hot water for various domestic
purposes accounts for the second highest energy cost.
The need for hot water is eternal and there is no way of
bypassing that need. By opting for solar hot water
systems however, we can have all the hot water we
need, without having to worry about the cost of making
it. The economic payoff is substantial and one stand a
chance of reducing water-heating costs by up to 65% or
more. The sun is a huge storehouse of abundant energy
and with residential solar panels and commercial solar
panels, we can trap the sun’s energy and put it to good
use, without entailing high costs or endangering our
environment. The best thing about solar energy is that
it is virtually free and environment-friendly! So if you
care enough about your environment, and wish to ensure a
greener future for your children, switch to solar energy
without a moment’s hesitation.
There
are many commercial solar hot water
systems available in the market today. A typical
solar hot water system generally has 2 parts to it –
solar collectors, which is basically a fluid system to
move the heat from the collector to the point of usage,
and a reservoir tank, which stores the heat. However,
these systems often come with a steep price tag and may
also carry features that you don’t actually
need.
How
do solar hot water systems work? Solar energy systems
basically work by transforming the sun’s rays into
various usable forms of energy. Today, solar energy is
being used for a most diverse range of applications,
from powering an electronic calculator to providing
light and heat to an entire household. Solar modules
made at home may not be powerful enough for large tasks,
but they are usually suitable, and provide sufficient
energy, to power many small gadgets and applications,
including heating water for a wide range of domestic
purposes.
Many
times I get asked about how to make solar hot water
systems at home. Buying new solar water heating
systems, most often, come across as an expensive
proposition. If such systems could be made at home, it
sure would have been a great way of saving on plenty of
costs. Interestingly, a basic solar hot water system can
indeed be built right at home. The simplest of
ingredients are needed for this, such as a used hot
water heater, black paint, recycled Styrofoam cut into
small pieces and so on. With these, an effective water
heating system can be fabricated that will use the sun’s
energy to heat water, without any other
cost.
It is not a Herculean task to make solar hot water systems at home. However, some of the things one would need to know about include where to find the best deals on the various parts needed to make such systems, where to set it up, how to install and wire, and also what safety precautions to follow. What you need is a step-by-step guide that can help you in this.
