Solar Water Heating

Solar water heaters use the suns energy to produce hot water. There are two types of solar water heating systems that are typically used for residential installation: pumped or compact. The type of system is up to you and the installer. Both systems have to be connected to an auxiliary power source. Now here is where some rely on electric or fossil fuels. The back up system is used when the water in the tank drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

By having a back up system the solar powered water heater provides hot water all year round. That being said the residential home owner should consider a wood burning stove chimney as the auxiliary thus eliminating the dependence on electricity or fossil fuel. The main consideration of course is climate. Northern locations can expect the pump to be used more frequently than southern locations

Due to the amount of importance of the carbon footprint special attention must be paid to auxiliary power, especially where a pumped system is concerned. Realizing what kind of power is used and the results can have an impact on the planet.

For example if you use electricity to run the pump and the system controls it is called a low carbon solar as it is cancels the carbon savings by 20%. That is a lot of carbon! But, all is not lost there is an alternative and I think it is absolutely going to be the standard in the near future; using photovoltaic panels on sight to create solar electricity to pump the fluid and run the system. This creates a zero-carbon thermal system which produces a zero carbon footprint. Look for this fantastic design improvement when considering a solar water heater, it’s worth the investment and the planet thanks you