SOLAR WATER HEATING

SOLAR ENERGY - IT DOESN'T COST - IT PAYS

Nearly all forms of energy we use today to power commonplace vehicles and appliances is stored solar energy. Oil, gas, coal, wood and hydroelectric power simply wouldn't be here without the sun. If you give any thought at all to our future on this planet, squandering valuable resources like oil, gas and coal is downright foolish. In addition to polluting our air and
water these sources of energy are irreplaceable for the next few hundred million years.

Although solar space heating and hot water systems have a higher initial cost than conventional gas, oil or electric systems, they are the only systems that will pay you back. The dividend of energy savings has the added value of being untaxed. When the economics and environmental plus of solar equipment are totaled, the value of directly using the sun's energy becomes
clear.

SOLAR HEATING - A SIMPLE SOLUTION THAT CAN WORK FOR YOU

Take a black sheet of metal and put it in the sun. It becomes warm, at least warmer than any light colored object around it. Now put the sheet of metal in an insulated box with a sheet of glass facing the sun. The piece of metal will get hot, about 200°F. Tilt the box so the glass is directly facing the sun and the black sheet of metal will get even hotter, 250°+F. If you
now flow air or water over the black metal, you have a solar collector. The water or air is called a heat transfer fluid. Many gases and liquids can be used as a heat transfer fluid. They are necessary to move the solar produced heat from the collector to a building, tank or pool which you desire to heat. All other aspects of solar heating and hot water are merely refinements of this simple design.

Solar collectors work best in direct sunlight. A well made solar collector produces about half the heat in light cloudy weather as it does in full sunlight. So much solar energy is blocked by the dark rain clouds that solar collectors produce virtually nothing under these weather conditions.
All solar collectors, outside of the tropics, produce fifty to one hundred percent more heat in summer than in winter. The summer sun is much hotter because its high position in the sky at noon is closer to perpendicular to the earth's surface. The earth's atmosphere blocks a large part of solar energy and the summer sun goes through less of the atmosphere. The sun is at
its lowest point in the noon sky on the shortest day of the year, December 21st. or the winter solstice. Because of the extra atmosphere blocking the sunlight, solar collectors produce less heat. The colder outside temperatures also affect the collector production through heat lost through the collector back, front and sides.

Because of the above factors we recommend that solar space and water heaters be tilted at an angle equal to your location's latitude plus 15° to optimize their production of heat in the winter. Swimming pool collectors for outside pools used in the spring, summer, and fall should be tilted at an angle equal to latitude minus 15° to optimize the seasonal sun. The sun is most intense at noon every day when it is highest in the sky. The four to five hours in late morning and early afternoon are called the "Solar Window". This is when more than 80% of the total collectable energy falls on a solar collector. Collectors should face as true south as possible towards the solar window. A variation of up to 30° east or west of true south is acceptable. If the collector(s) are faced more than 30° off true south more collectors will be required. If a choice of east or west is available it is usually best to orient the collectors to the west. The outside temperatures are almost always warmer in the afternoon. Prevailing local weather patterns should also be considered in mounting the collector. For instance, if you are in an area where mornings are normally clear and afternoons are cloudy, it would be best to face the collector in a more easterly direction. A properly orientated solar collector can increase system payback up to fifty percent quicker than a haphazardly installed system.

PASSIVE SOLAR WATER HEATING

ACTIVE SOLAR WATER HEATING NON FREEZING CLIMATES

ACTIVE SOLAR WATER HEATING FOR FREEZING CLIMATES

ACTIVE SOLAR HOME HEATING SYSTEMS If you are not familiar with how glycol (antifreeze) systems work, we suggest you view the Active Solar Water Heating for Freezing Climates first. There is a link at the bottom of that page that will take you to the heating systems page.
 

About us - AAA Solar has been distributing solar and wind energy products for over twenty two years. We have sold or installed over ten thousand solar and wind energy systems. We distribute a full line of alternative energy products including solar electric systems, wind turbines, solar hot water heaters, solar home heating systems, swimming pool heating systems and solar ovens. Many systems are available in kit form for the do-it-yourselfer. Our installation and service department is a fully licensed and bonded New Mexico contractor with plumbing, electrical and heating and air conditioning licenses. We install and service solar systems and high efficiency heating and cooling appliances throughout the state of New Mexico. We occasionally install and or service systems in neighboring states. Please call us or e-mail for more details.

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