We would all like cheaper electricity and gas bills. Most of us shop around for the provider with the lowest electricity, gas or oil prices and leave it at that, but there are other ways to warm your house. Not only could you save money in the long term by reducing your household fuel bills, but you can also do so in a more environmentally friendly way and, in today's world of global warming which produces extreme weather conditions, that is a major factor for many people.
Solar heating can reduce your electricity bills no matter where you live. Obviously, where you live will determine how much sunshine you will get in an average day, but even on a cloudy day with the sun low on the horizon you can still benefit. If you live in a warm climate and don't need heating for much of the year, you still may wish to heat the swimming pool.
What Equipment Do I Need?
A typical system uses collectors, also called heating panels. These are generally mounted on a south facing roof which should ideally be pitched at an angel of between 30 and 60 degrees. If your roof isn't pitched, the panels can be mounted at an angel. The size of the panels will depend on the size of the household and your local climate. As a general rule, you'll need 2.75 sq.m. to heat water for two people, or 4.12 sq.m. for a family of three or four people.
There are two types of panels and the right one for you will depend on your local climate.
- Flat Plate Collectors - a simple flat plate of specially coated black metal covered by glass or plastic. Water passes through pipes that are solered to the plate and the warmed water is then fed to your boiler.
- Evacuated tubes - which are fitted into insulated steel casings. These are more suited to cooler, cloudier climates. By reducing the heat loss, the water temperature can reach 60F/15C so it may not require further heating. Evacuated tubes are more expensive than flat plate collectors.
Can I Install A System Myself?
It is possible to install a system yourself if you are reaonably good at DIY. Either find a parts supplier who will also do the design for you, or join a solar club - non-profit making groups who run one-day courses designed to make solar heating cheaper and easier to install.
How Much Money Will I Save?
Impossible to quantify as it will depend on your local climate, house insulation, heating system, and the type of panels you install. But if you want lower electricity and heating bills, and wish to help the environment by burning less fossil fuel, solar heating is well worth investigating.
About the Author: Tony Luck is an independent distibutor of the cheapest electricity and gas in the UK. Visit his site at http://www.u-save.org
Source: www.isnare.com
solar hot water panel - "Solar Boilers - Have The Sun Pay Your Energy Bill" by Hans Dekker
Residential hot water is a significant energy consumer for most households. In fact, hot water is sometimes the largest single energy cost. Using solar energy to provide at least some of the hot water in your household can result in significant savings.
There are several ways that solar energy can be integrated into a hot water system. Although solar boilers can be used on their own, they are most often used in conjunction with traditional water heaters which are powered by gas or electricity. In this kind of system, the water heated with solar energy can be used on its own (if it is hot enough) or as preheated water for the traditional water heater. Pre heated water will also dramatically decrease your energy bill.
Solar boilers can be used in any type of climate but are most practical in areas which don't have freezing weather during the wintertime. Solar hot water systems in colder climates can use indirect heating systems which do not expose the water to the freezing temperatures. Instead, a fluid that resists freezing circulates through the solar panels and is used to heat the water. Southern climates can use direct heating systems where the water itself passes through the solar panels installed on the roof.
There are two basic types of solar hot water systems -- active and passive. Passive systems rely on gravity and the natural flow of water from hot to cold. They are simple systems and require very little maintenance. They are durable and long-lasting. You can easely build simple systems yourself all you will need are parts that you can find in any hardware store.
Active systems make use of pumps to circulate the water. In some systems, the pumps can be powered with solar energy; otherwise they must be connected to the household electrical supply. In both systems a storage tank is needed to hold the heated water.
On hot days with plenty of direct sunlight solar systems can heat water with surprising efficiency. During this kind of weather, there may be no need to use electricity or gas as a backup. When the weather is colder, the solar heaters can preheat the water which passes into the traditional water heater. This preheated water requires much less energy to bring to proper temperatures which can result in significant savings on your energy bills.
As with all alternative energy systems there is a lot of room for your own imagination if you like that. If you don't you don't and just use the technology, but for those who like to play around with technology like myself these systems offer a myriad of possibilities to think about.
For example, a stirling engine converts changes in temperature into mechanical motion, for example to generate electricity. Mmm, that's a nice thought. A change in temperature is something this system will provide, but it will also heat your water. A double benefit?
About the Author: Hans is an off grid enthusiast and author at http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/ Visit us for introductory and more advanced articles.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
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