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Knowing that solar energy is available to us - particularly with the escalating
concerns of current supplies of energy and lack of prolonged
availability - is reassuring. Current sources in the way of fossil fuels are thought
to be dwindling and alternative sources need to be sought.
Solar energy is a continual renewable energy source. It is logical to conclude the sun is not going anywhere nor will using it as a
source of energy provide any worries about future supplies dwindling.
 It is also clean and does not provide
any less than favorable gaseous materials to be emitted into the
earth's atmosphere. Knowing all of the above is why
consumers who are concerned about future energy
as well as environmental standards regarding safety and
health are easily turning towards solar energy as a prime alternative
energy source. The following article places emphasis on using a
solar water heater in order to save on associated costs of energy and address environmental concerns.
______ _________
Naturally, solar water heaters make use of solar energy in order to effectively heat water.
The system, in the way of design, is made up of collectors
as well as a system (fluid-based) that transfers the heat from the collectors to the end-consumer.
You can easily use a solar water heater in a residential as well as a commercial location. The water heated can be used in the way of sanitation or in the generation of electrical service.
In order for the solar heater to operate you must place a collector on the top
of your dwelling or commercial building, or at minimum upon a wall that is within the direct path of the
sun. The collector is an insulated box with a top made of glass.
Inclusive is a solar absorption area comprised of sheet metal painted black
in order to better absorb the sun's rays and copper piping.
The absorber can also be made up of metal tubing within a cylinder made of
glass.
Cold water is pumped into the area of the collector where it is
heated. It then flows back to a tank where it is housed for eventual use.
You may be surprised to know solar-style water heaters have been around for quite awhile.
They have been in existence since the nineteenth century. Also it may
further surprise you that currently approximately
one and one-half million commercial enterprises
and residents across America are making use of a solar water heater.
If you believe at this point installation of a solar
water heater will prove beneficial within your household or commercial business then you may wish to
search the "net" for construction plans for
solar water heaters.
How much do solar water heaters cost? Although fairly free of maintenance, there is a certain cost to materials and
installation before profiting from overall savings as to energy.
This naturally brings up the very important point of cost of the solar appliance.
Do not allow installation of a solar water heater deter you.
Any cost involved can be recouped since maintenance is nearly non-existent as well as other associative costs as to energy.
The price you will incur with regard to a solar water heater is relative to the
type or style of water system you select for installation.
There are 2 primary kinds of water-heating systems: a passive system and an active system.
The active system is comprised of a pump and temperature
control. The passive system as the name
suggests is absent of movable parts and works on the
proven theory that hot water will come to the top; and cold water moves toward the bottom.
__________ ____________
The active system has a pump but no tank. The passive hot water heater has a tank but no pump.
From the standpoint of efficiency, passive heaters are not as effective as
active heaters. The passive heater however is very dependable and generally lasts for a longer span of time than the active
heater. The price of the passive heater is less than the active water heater.
The active (flat) system is priced around the three-thousand dollar price point.
The passive system comes in around half of what the active system costs.
Also besides product price there is the matter of installation. The cost to install
a water heater for use within the household is between three-thousand
to five-thousand dollars. The price stated is for general installation.
However, you may expect the bonus to come in the way of operational expense
of the solar water heater. The cost annually is generally around fifty dollars in order to operate a solar water heater.
Compare that to the average per annum cost of electric and gas
heaters. The current traditional-style heaters come in around an average
price projection-point of five hundred dollars. Your energy-savings realized on a yearly basis can amount to right around
$450.00. (Environmental and Energy Study Institute).
Also you can expect your solar heater to provide anywhere from five to fifteen years
more service as opposed to your gas/electric version. The
average life for the gas and electric brand is generally around ten years.
In comparison, the solar water heater's useful
life is fifteen to thirty years in duration.
The passive style solar water heater does not need near as much
maintenance as the active version. The parts
of solar-powered water heaters are maintained very similarly to how
gas and electric heaters are maintained. Maintenance on the heater
is scheduled three to five years. However, all appliances must be properly maintained in order to work at maximum levels of efficiency so do not let the associative cost of maintenance scare
you off.
In using a solar water heater you are practicing energy conservation as well as affecting a cost saving, so
timely expense as to maintenance need not be an area of concern. Further, maintenance needs to be carried out
regardless of the type of appliance whether
it is electric, gas or solar and you are paying well more
monthly when using an electric or gas water heater. Solar
water heaters are, at this point, able to provide the average residence
with nearly half of the energy needed to heat the water required.
When you use any type of solar energy you are greatly contributing to a decrease of dwindling fossil fuel reserves
and other more provincial energy sources.
Another positive consideration is that clearly solar energy generation does not
cause pollution. The costs of installation and
possible higher maintenance costs are rationalized by the savings incurred
when heating the water. Certainly keeping the environment safe and healthy cannot be measured price-wise as no amount of money can get back an environment that has been ruined
or destroyed from pollution or neglect. |
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