| With the rising costs of power bills and the | | | | own solar power water heater will significantly |
| emphasis on conserving the earth's dwindling | | | | reduce your electric bill and your carbon footprint! |
| resources, more people are finding that building a | | | | There are a variety of methods to choose from |
| solar power water heater is a realistic alternative | | | | when deciding on a DIY solar hot water system, |
| and an excellent place to start to reduce and | | | | depending upon your own circumstances, such as |
| eventually eliminate their electric bill using clean, | | | | your particular usage, application, situation and |
| renewable energy. A DIY Solar Hot Water project | | | | budget. One innovative solution for a solar power |
| can work out to be extremely cost-effective and, | | | | water heater is to make a 'garden wall' that faces |
| therefore, the return on investment can happen | | | | south, and put an underground cistern for |
| very quickly. | | | | collecting the water that's heated by it. Usually, |
| Solar thermal power is the most efficient way of | | | | garden wall solar thermal systems feed into the |
| harnessing the sun's power. A photovoltaic | | | | kitchen sink or the dishwasher, which are big |
| system using commercial grade solar cells is about | | | | users of hot water. They have a bracket of pipes |
| 16 to 18% efficient; for every 6 watts of sunlight | | | | running through a clay wall that's painted black; the |
| that hit the panel, about one watt of electricity is | | | | water is heated and circulates (via normal |
| generated. However, the use of a solar power | | | | expansion) into the cistern, which draws cooler |
| water heater (or solar thermal transfer) is about | | | | water from the storage tank next to it. This |
| 45% efficient, due to the way that | | | | won't give you boiling water, but even on a cool, |
| thermodynamics works and this is a good reason | | | | fall day they can give you water that's about 100 |
| to start your journey to solar home power by | | | | degrees - a little cooler than a cup of coffee, but |
| looking at building a solar power water heater as | | | | more than hot enough to wash dishes in. |
| your first project. | | | | Another DIY solar hot water system can bring |
| In essence, sunlight hits a dark colored tube with | | | | the 'garden wall' concept to the house; the |
| water in it; the water heats up for the same | | | | southern wall of the house becomes the 'garden |
| reason your car heats up in the parking lot in the | | | | wall', and the water is either routed to the main |
| summer. That water is then circulated to a | | | | hot water storage heater, or routed through |
| storage tank, where it fills your solar power | | | | plastic tubing underneath the floor, to give radiant |
| water heater, or is piped throughout your home | | | | heat in the family room. |
| to provide warmth. | | | | Whatever method of building a solar power water |
| What most people don't realize is that getting hot | | | | heater you choose to use, you need to take into |
| water is usually the single most expensive part of | | | | account what is most practical for your home, |
| their utility bill. Water has a high degree of thermal | | | | given your own particular circumstances. But it is |
| latency which means that it's a great way to | | | | definitely worth considering a DIY solar hot water |
| store thermal energy, and because it's liquid, | | | | solution - it's easier and cheaper than you may |
| move it to different parts of the house. However, | | | | think and can provide an extremely cost-effective |
| this also means it's expensive to heat up in the | | | | way of reducing your power bill. By building your |
| first place, whether by electricity, natural gas, or | | | | own solar power water heater, you will cut costs |
| propane. Which is why heating water accounts for | | | | significantly and will find that you can recoup your |
| just over 30% of the average household's power | | | | costs very quickly with the savings that you |
| bill. And why starting your journey to | | | | make on your power bill. Then you're into pure |
| energy-freedom with a DIY solar hot water | | | | profit for ever, which is a wonderful feeling. Here's |
| project makes excellent sense. Tackling just this | | | | to hoping that the sun's warmth runs your |
| one area of your energy needs by building your | | | | showers in the near future! |