Solar Water Heating Systems
Solar water heating, also known as "solar thermal" is an excellent addition to solar electric and can make your green home even greener. Solar thermal is also a great way to get your get your feet wet in harnessing solar energy.
What Is Solar Thermal?
Solar thermal is the technology used to heat water for domestic use. Sunlight warms a collector on your roof and consequently the water/transfer fluid inside. The fluid is then piped to a holding tank to either transfer its heat or as water ready to use. The system automatically circulates the fluid as needed keeping it hot. Even cloudy or cold days produce solar hot water, but for those isolated times when your usage exceeds the solar capability, the storage tank comes with an electrical or gas back-up.
Closed Loop
Solar Water Heating
Closed loop systems do not heat the water directly. Instead they use a transfer fluid (poly glycol) to absorb radiant energy from the sun. This heat is then transferred to the water in the storage tank. There are distinct advantages to a closed loop system. The efficiency rating is higher which in turn means a larger utility company rebate. Additionally there is less weight on the roof and the system has a freeze tolerance of -60° F.
Solar Pool and Hot Tub Heating Systems
Solar pool heating systems work on a similar principle to a direct system solar hot water heater. However, because the water can heat up too much in a solar thermal system, the collector's glazing is often removed. Using non-glazed pipes or a heating system that resembles a flat black mat prevents the pool water from becoming super-heated as well as reduces costs to the overall system. While solar pool and hot tub heating systems often are exempted from federal and state monetary solar incentives and rebates, they often pay for themselves within 1–5 years.
Click Here To View A Video On Solar Water Heating
Video produced by the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office
under a grant from the Million Solar Roof program of the US Department of Energy.
Don’t wait until your old water heater breaks. Installing a new solar water heater requires permits, utility rebate applications and therefore a little time. Start reducing those utility bills now.