How It Works

There are two main types of solar water heating systems, each of which utilize some sort of solar water heating panel that collects the sun’s rays and converts them into heat for the water. In an active, closed loop solar water heating system, the flat plate collector works to collect the sun’s rays. The antifreeze fluid runs in the collector loop only so that it does not contaminate the water supply. It is heated in the collector plate, then runs through the collector loop through the coils in the water collection tank to heat the water that is stored there, and then runs back out into the plate collector again for reheating. The tank also has a back up water heater in case there is not enough sunlight to fully heat the water supply. The hot water then runs from the storage container into the home for nice hot water in the washer, dishwasher or shower.

In a passive solar water heating system, the process is a little different. In this case, the water comes from the cold water supply and runs into the batch collector unit which has the solar panels which heat the water. When the water is heated, it goes to the top of the batch collector and is pushed out and into the storage tank which contains the backup water heater. This system is not usually as effective as the active systems, but a type of passive system is what is usually used to heat swimming pools or other large water supplies. Every solar water heating system has to have a backup heating unit in the storage tank so that when there are a series of cloudy days, the home can still have all the hot water that is needed.

Converting over to solar power water heating takes some research to make sure the proper water heating unit is being installed for the climate in which the individual lives. The majority of the solar power water heating units are designed to work well in climates where is does not drop to freezing temperatures much, if any, during the course of the year. The reason for this is because the water in the pipes of the system will freeze and damage the system, as the sun’s rays are not enough in freezing temperatures to keep it moving through the pipes without freezing. These solar power water heating systems are effective means of heating the water supply for a home or for commercial use, and also can be used for solar pool heating, thus saving expenses and the environment.

Types of Materials and Systems

One piece of equipment that all solar power water heating systems need is the solar collector which enhances the sun’s rays and converts them to energy. There are three different types of solar collectors on the market today. The first is the flat plate collector which has a glaze on it and is insulated. They contain a plate that is designed to absorb the sun’s rays and lies beneath at least one cover plate, which is usually made of either glass or plastic, although with swimming pool plates they are often made of metal. Another type of collector in solar power water heating is the integral collector or batch system. In this system the water passes through the tubes that are contained in an insulated, glazed box which collects the sunlight and preheats the water. The third system uses evacuated tube solar collectors, and is usually only used in commercial settings.

There are two basic types of systems in solar power water heating: active and passive. The active systems have a sort of pump that moves the water or the antifreeze through the pipes so that it can be heated by the collection plates. The passive systems hold the water in a collection container where the solar panels are so that it can be heated and then move by way of the hot water rising to the top, into the storage tank. Each system has its benefits, with the active systems being more effective at heating the water and the passive systems typically lasting longer and being more reliable. Both systems use a backup heater in the storage tank so that it can be used when there are a series of cloudy days outside and the water cannot be heated by the sun.

The Original Post is Located Here: Go Green by Using a Solar Water Heating System

The Queen of England is planning to cut energy bills at Buckingham Palace for centuries to come by creating an underground network to extract heat from the earth’s natural warmth. The pipes containing water and a refrigerant chemical will run from the palace to the 4 acre lake in the grounds. As the water runs through the coiled loops of pipe placed on the bed of the lake it is warmed to a temperature of around 55F/12C. When the water arrives back at the palace it will go through a compressor which raises the temperature to around 140F/60C, and then through a heat exchanger (metal plates) which warms the water used in taps and the heating system in the palace. There is of course considerable capital expenditure required to get the system up and running, but it is estimated that this will be recouped in 3 years by savings on the heating bills.

The liquid in the pipes can also be decompressed so that instead of generating heat, it can cool air for an air-conditioning system. This system was used in a small trial at the palace in 2002 when the Queen’s staff drilled 400 feet into the chalk aquifer under the palace grounds to run an air-conditioning system in a new art gallery. The results of this trial were reportedly so impressive that work on planning the larger scheme began soon after.

Other high net-worth people like the singer Elton John with large estates in the UK have installed a similar system. But can the ordinary householder tap into geothermal energy and save money on heating and electricity bills? Yes, for the price of a small car it is possible to drill hundreds of feet into the ground and you can not only reduce heating and electricity costs by around 70% but you can also benefit from a free supply of pure water.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Are Becoming Popular

Few people are even aware that geothermal heat pumps are even an option when it comes to their heating and cooling needs. Most of us are aware that electric heat pumps are available but the new generation of geothermal units are just now gaining popularity. These state-of-the-art heat pumps provide the same continuous and even heat or cooling just like the electric pumps but they are far more efficient at doing so. So, if you are in need of a new heating/cooling system for you home or business, here are some reasons to consider purchasing a geothermal heat pump.

Let’s face it. The environment is becoming a bigger and bigger issue for everyone. We are all looking for ways to use less energy and pollute less. Geothermal heat pumps are simply the most environmentally friendly heating and cooling units available today. Plus, no system can rival a geothermal heat pump when it comes to energy efficiency or cost effectiveness. So, not only are these heat pumps environmentally friendly, they ultimately cost less to operate and consume less energy while doing so.

However, it is also very true that geothermal heat pumps will cost you more to purchase and install than other options. However, depending on the location and the cost of the other heating/cooling option, geothermal heat pumps will recover those added up-front costs within 6 or 7 years. Once that point has been reached, geothermal heat pumps will save you money over the other heating/cooling options each and every single year it is in use. In the long run, these new age heating and cooling units will prove to be the most cost effective option available.

Geothermal heat pumps cool your home in the summer by removing excess heat and humidity from the home. This heat is then transferred to the earth where it naturally dissipates. The process is much quieter and less obtrusive than found in conventional heat pumps.

In the winter, geothermal units heat your home by forcing fluid through pipes buried in the ground. This fluid picks up radiant heat coming from the ground. The heat absorbed by the liquid is then compressed within geothermal heat pumps in order to raise the temperature. The heat is then distributed throughout your home.

Geothermal heat pumps also offer the added advantage of providing homeowners with free or drastically reduced hot water. This savings alone can add up to hundreds, potentially thousands, of dollars during the lifetime of a geothermal heat pump.

Although geothermal heat pumps are more expensive to purchase and install, they become the less expensive heating and cooling option as time progresses. Therefore, even if you are planning to move in the next few years but need a heating/cooling system right away, geothermal heat pumps may prove to be true selling points later on down the road. So, no matter what your plans for your home, installing a geothermal heat pump will always be a wise investment and provide you many worry-free years of heating and cooling comfort.

The Original Post is Located Here: Save Money on Your Home Heating Bills With Geothermal Energy

Looking at the current price of fossil fuel-based electricity, it is quite impractical to convert into solar energy system. However, with the growing concern on the state of the earth, there is really a need to find other means of energy aside from what power plants are using right now. Where do you place yourself?

Whether you are an advocate of clean energy or simply care about where your finances go, looking at the pros and cons of residential solar energy system will help you decide on whether to convert or not.

Pros

Solar energy is free. Did you know that the earth absorbs 174 pettawatts of solar radiation? This means that we have more than enough source of free energy to power every house in the world. Unfortunately, most of our energy is still drawn from oil, gas and coal. But in recent years, there is a steady increase of demand for alternative and renewable energy like solar power. It is estimated that the demand for alternative sources of energy will increase by 53% between 1999 and 2020.

Solar energy is clean, renewable and sustainable. Because the energy created from the sun’s rays does not produce byproducts like those from fossil fuel power plants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury or carbon dioxide), it does not contribute to pollution. Accordingly, the increase in the use of solar energy and other alternative forms of energy will decrease the demand for greenhouse gases-producing power plants.

The price of photovoltaic cells is steadily decreasing. The demand for solar panels has risen by 57% in the United States in 2007 and is steadily increasing on a monthly basis. The increase in demand results to the improvement of solar technology as a whole. The prices of photovoltaic cells have declined on the average of 4% every year over the past 15 years.

Solar panels can be installed on most rooftops, eliminating the problem of finding a suitable place for installation. Solar panels require little or no maintenance. The original photovoltaic cells technology is used for most satellites orbiting our earth today which are not maintained at all. Many solar panel manufacturers give 25 to 40 years warranty on their products.

Because most areas of the country receive a substantial amount of sunlight throughout the year, solar panels can be installed anywhere.

Many states in the country give tax credits and rebates to households who want to install solar energy system. Check with your state government the cost of these incentives.

Cons

While the prices of PV cells are in constant decline, the cost of installation is substantially high compared to the current electric cost. But the good thing is, after your initial cash out, you don’t have to pay every month on electric bills for the rest of your life.

On areas cities and areas with heavy pollution problem, solar energy may not work as fine. Weather can also affect the efficiency of solar energy. If it is raining, overcast weather or if there is a hurricane, the solar panels’ efficiency is decreased.

You are only producing energy during day time.

These are general pros and cons you might encounter when considering the conversion to solar energy system. It would be best if your decision is based on location, cost, budget, rebates, tax credits and practicality.

Is Solar Energy The Future of Generating Energy For The Home?

Solar energy for residential houses is nothing new. It has just been relegated to the background in lieu of rising cost of real estate; newer more advanced building materials, design and the limitation of resources.

Since man started building homes, sunlight played a major influence in the design. In fact, even in the more advanced urban planning method of the Ancient Chinese and Greeks, the orientation of the buildings is as much as possible directed towards where it could capture the most sunlight.

The ancients might not be as intellectually sophisticated then to use catch phrases as passive solar and thermal mass but when they build, they were building in compact proportion, employing overhangs, producing insulations and building in manners that direct the airflow within the structure and producing well lit, well ventilated spaces using the relative position of the sun to the orientation of their structures.

Lately, as the conventional sources of energy became more expensive, homeowners were once again turning to the sun for energy requirements.

Since the 1950’s, harnessing the sun’s rays has been developing and today the solar cell technology has achieved very efficient levels that modern (so-called green house) designs apply the sun’s power to provide energy for the home.

While solar energy is free, the device that will convert it to run our appliances is not. To provide solar energy for the home, solar cells called photovoltaic made from semi-conducting materials, are grouped into modules. These solar panels are mounted on rooftops, yards or open spaces where it can capture the maximum amount of sunlight.

Whenever possible, the panels will be installed facing south to get the most out of the sunlight but tracking systems are also used to follow the direction of the sun. The solar panels collect the energy from the sunlight. The process basically is that when the panels are exposed to sunlight, the electrons are separated form the atoms. This movement of the electrons creates electricity.

To store power, pumps are often used – circulating water in the cells. The water goes into a storage tank where the power is stored, ready for use. Sometimes, the use of gravity is employed if it will just the same store the heated water in to the tank.

In spite of all the development in solar energy though, the use of this technology is not enough to provide power to the whole house. The best method so far can only fulfill about 80% of a households power needs. The employment of solar energy for the home will still require the use of the conventional power distribution method.

Powering the homes by solar means will still, for a while be augmented by a local power distribution agency. To many, this is already a good starting point. Homeowners that feel that the high cost of powering their houses through solar power, is justified when compared to the price that is now being paid for conventional electrification method where horrendous amounts of CO2 are being dumped into the atmosphere just to generate a pitiful amount of electricity.

However, due in part to the rising costs of energy, the technology for solar energy has been undergoing rapid phases of development. Experts are confident that within five years, powering the home through the solar method will be made widely available for those who prefer it as its sole energy source.

The Original Post is Located Here: Is Solar Energy Good for Our Homes?