| Solar water heaters are a cost effective way to | | | | system and the other a compact system. Usually, |
| produce hot water for your home. They can | | | | they will both use a separate source of energy as |
| reduce heating bills for water in half and | | | | an electrical heating element or they may be |
| dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. They | | | | connected to a central heating system which |
| can be used in any climate, and the fuel they | | | | could be oil or gas and are activated only if the |
| use-Sunshine is free. The most popular uses for | | | | water in the tank becomes colder than 50'C. |
| solar water heaters are heating hot water for | | | | This combination make sure you always have hot |
| radiant heating and heated pools. | | | | water available. You can also go further and have |
| Buying a solar system may take about 10 years | | | | a combination of solar water heating combined |
| to pay itself, but taking advantage of federal tax | | | | with a wood stove that also works in climates |
| credits and state, it may be paid much sooner. | | | | that are cooler and do not use any electricity or |
| Solar water heaters also last much longer than | | | | fossil fuels. |
| gas or electric water heaters. In the meantime, | | | | When you use solar energy, sensors are usually |
| your investment is paying dividends for the | | | | mounted on the roof of the house or building or |
| environment. ENERGY STAR solar water heater | | | | perhaps on the wall facing the sun. There are |
| can reduce your emissions of carbon dioxide in | | | | cases where the collector is standing on its own |
| two. Install a solar water heater qualified will | | | | but this is unusual. The passive system involves |
| reduce the load on your electric water heater to | | | | the fluid through the collector and the active |
| about 2,500 kWh per year, preventing 4000 | | | | system pumps the working fluid through it. |
| pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere | | | | Solar Geyser make sense both financially and |
| each year. This is the equivalent of not driving | | | | environmentally. In warmer climates, the |
| your car for four months each year! | | | | secondary energy source is used very little and |
| Solar Water Heaters are of two types of | | | | even in cooler climates the amount used is much |
| different systems. One is called a pumping | | | | lower than that of a hot water heater traditional. |