Unlike electricity for which photovoltaic panels are needed, domestic hot water for space heating is produced with thermal solar panels. They transfer the sun's heat to the water that flows through them.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himYou don't necessarily have to revolutionize your home or spend a fortune to start saving money on your bills while also helping to protect the environment. A simple and more accessible way to change is to invest in one sanitary water heater.
According to the University of Wisconsin Solar Energy Laboratory, a family of four uses on average to heat water, 6400 Kwatt / hour of electricity per year, releasing eight tons of CO2. Much more than a car that consumes, on average, "only" two tons.
Unlike electricity for which photovoltaic panels are needed, domestic hot water for space heating is produced with thermal solar panels. They transfer the sun's heat to the water that flows through them.
Solar water heaters are very reliable and can work in any climate. There are several types, including those with pumps, "forced circulation", And the so-called"with natural circulation", Which do not have it and are recommended in southern areas, where there are no significant frost phenomena. Forced circulation systems, on the other hand, are suitable when the collectors are larger, where there are centralized systems for heating or in very cold areas where the collector circuit must be filled with antifreeze liquid.
Then they exist combined systems for heating hot water and rooms, even if the irradiation available during the heating season is much less than in summer. For this reason, it would be better to opt for this solution in cases where other energy saving measures have already been implemented (for example adequate thermal insulation) or if a low temperature heating system is envisaged.
The costs to acquire one solar water heater they are quite affordable: they range from 1000 to 3500 euros that can be deferred and deducted from taxes by taking advantage of the concessions offered by the current regulations that incentivize solar power. But above all, an expense that is easily amortized considering the savings on bills of gas or electricity. Browsing the Internet you can get an idea of the various brands and models available from which to choose the one that best suits your needs (and your pocket).
If this is not the case or you can always decide to attend a self-building course of your own solar thermal collector or try directly to build it yourself with recycled materials. The effect obtained will be similar to that of a solar panel, with the only difference that you will use it salvaged items and that you will have done it with your hands. All you need is: the external grill of a refrigerator, some wooden strips, a large aluminum sheet, a piece of glass, electrical tape, two water containers, a few meters of rubber tube the thickness of the tube metal grill, an old rubber doormat. Seeing is believing.
Learn more about Solar thermal, download the appropriate manual.
