Solar water heating systems

background

On average, 17% of a US home's energy and heating bill is spent heating water[1].

Conventional sources of heating, including heating water, are main contributors to a household's utility bill and green-house-gas (GHG) emissions[2].

Solar water-heating systems use freely available energy from the Sun to reduce the amount of utility-power consumed from heating water.

Solar powered water heaters offset GHG emissions and save water heating costs. The more that water is heated by the sun, the less energy from conventional sources is used to heat water.

system designs

Heating water by the sun can be as simple as painting a bucket black and leaving it in the sun.

Solar water heating systems work on the same basic principle and consist primarily of these designs:

• passive systems
• active systems
• closed-loop systems
• open-loop systems
• drainback systems - a hybrid that combines the best of open and closed loop designs

There are many variants that accomplish the same result. Some variations use parabolic troughs, concentrating mirrors, freon or oils as a heat transfer fluid, and vacuum tubes etc.

The majority of solar hot water heating systems installed in the United States are highlighted above. They are popular because they are cost effective and their performance has been proven over decades of use.

1 - according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data (with normal range of 13% to 26%).
2 - extrapolated from EIA data with GHG and co2e equivalents from The Climate Trust.

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about solar water heating systems

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Showing 1 - 10 of 38 Postings (full)

Solar resources for "Do It Yourself" projects

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Benjamin Brink 05 Feb 2012, at 06:13 AM

Solar water heating systems

Created by Benjamin Brink, last modified by Torben Brosten 22 Jan 2012, at 11:31 PM

Pentair inline thermometer installation notes

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 07 Jan 2012, at 06:33 PM

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Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 06 Jan 2012, at 10:05 AM

Oregon Solar Contractors

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 20 Aug 2011, at 04:26 AM

Show your solar spirit!

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 22 Jun 2011, at 06:25 AM

Solar estimating tools and resources

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 22 Mar 2011, at 07:35 PM

Pitt: NOLA eco-friendly homes exceed expectations

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 28 Aug 2010, at 09:29 PM

Drainback solar water heating systems

Created by Benjamin Brink, last modified by Torben Brosten 22 Aug 2010, at 09:06 PM

References to this Page: en:solar-water-heating-systems, en:active-solar-water-heating, en:closed-loop-solar-water-heating

Solar water heating resources

Created by Torben Brosten, last modified by Torben Brosten 22 Aug 2010, at 09:01 PM