There
are two different types of
solar water heaters, passive ones and active ones.
Passive solar water heaters do not require circulating
pumps or controls. Rather, they consist mainly of a very well-insulated
storage tank and a collector. The collector is placed outside in the
sun, water is pumped through by the natural convection of water, and
the hot water product is stored in the tank.
Active solar water heaters, on the other hand, do use
pumps and controls. While active direct circulation systems work similarly
to most passive systems -- water is heated by the sun and then sent
to a storage tank -- active indirect circulation systems use the sun
to heat a non-freezing heat-transfer liquid, and this, in turn, heats
the water. It is good for a climate that often has freezing temperatures.
Currently, a huge percentage of our electricity bills
can be accounted for by our need to heat water. When you have a solar
water heater, the costs of heating your water are free. Think of the
money that you will be able to save down the road if you buy a solar
water heater right now.
As mentioned above, a huge chunk of our electricity bill can be accounted
for by heated water. Just think of how much you use hot water in your
daily life -- you use it to shower, launder your clothes, wash your
dishes, and more. A solar water heater will help you cut down on the
costs of doing these every day things.
And if you have a pool or a hot tub, then a solar water heater made
specifically for these things will really help. It can cost more money
than we'd like to think about to heat a pool or a hot tub.
To cut down on costs and to add up benefits to the environment, install
a solar water heater in your home. Even if your solar water heater only
produces enough hot water for one hot shower a day, think of how much
that can save you.