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By: Adrian Fletcher
It is estimated that the normal family home spends a lot of money on hot water " or rather the fuel that is required to heat water. This has traditionally been done by utility companies that use coal or other fossil fuels (or even nuclear power) to power a hot water element or boiler in your home. There are various methods and devices that make this system as efficient as possible but the bottom line is that fossil fuels are getting harder to find and will get harder to find in the future. Consequently the costs are rising and will continue to rise. Alternatives are being looked for by utility companies, governments and the individual consumer. One alternative is to use solar power to heat your water. This article will discuss how a solar power water boiler works and how it could be the alternative to high energy bills whilst being an environmentally friendly option too. Solar water heating is probably the simplest and most popular application of solar energy that is being currently used. It is a simple case of allowing the thermal rays of the sun to come into contact with water. There are two ways of doing this that are popular. They are known as flat plate collectors and batch collectors. Flat plate collectors are a system of pipes that allow water to pass through them from a storage tank and into the plumbing system or another tank. The pipes are designed to allow the sun's energy to heat the water as it passes through the piping. It is generally attached to a black backing that attracts and absorbs the sunlight. The piping is also place in a location that will get plenty of sunlight like the roof. A batch collector system is a specially made water tank that will absorb the thermal heating provided by the sun and thus heat the water stored in the tank. This water can then be used in the home. The tank is placed in a position where it can get maximum exposure to sunlight. The water supplied by either of these systems can then be used in the regular plumbing system of the house where it can be used for everyday usage such as showers, washing up the dishes and cooking. Even though the home will still be connected to the electricity or gas that normally heats the water, the solar heated water will require a lot less energy to heat it than ordinary cooler water. This will help to save on energy bills. Many people may be put off by the initial cost of installing a solar power hot water system however the costs have come down considerably over the years. If you factor in that it has very few maintenance costs and can last up to 20 years then there is a good chance that you will be saving money. The initial cost will take about 5 years to recover on saved energy bills. This leaves up to 15 years of energy savings. You are also being more environmentally responsible as there is less greenhouse gases being produced using this system.
Article Source: http://www.articlenorth.com
Get more information on solar power water heaters visit www.solarpowerappliances.com. You will also find solar pool heating systems and solar garden lighting.
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