Most charge
controller inverter homes also have passive solar hot water heaters,
further reducing costs and decreasing their reliance on non-renewable
resources. Passive solar water heaters are generally of one of three varieties:
flat plate, evacuated tube, or batch heaters. Batch heaters seem to be the most
popular, and they are a relatively easy-to-do project if you choose to build
your own. You can purchase...or often find for free...a salvaged electric hot
water tank thoroughly sealed and painted black. Encasing it in an insulated plywood
box, it is glazed, or covered with fiberglass, glass, or high temperature
resistant molded plastic. Placed in a location...inside or out depending on
your climate...the sun heats the water either completely or partially. The most
effective design to date appears to be placement of the upright tank at an
angle. The heated water from the tank is piped either into an auxiliary tank
for complete heating, or, in warm locations, used directly from the batch tank.
It is simple, extremely effective, and once again, completely passive energy.
Batch heaters, sometimes called breadbox heaters because of their design, can
be used in stages as well. Utilizing more than one tank, and then taking
advantage of the sun's angle at various times of the day, the home owner can
take advantage of the hottest water created by the sun's rays. Flat plate and
evacuated tube are also often found in solar passive homes, but their designs
normally call for professional installation, and they can be less effective.
The history of autumn
solar controller energy and its adoption shows that the acceptance of solar
power in the United States has been excruciatingly slow. The primary reason
sited is the high price of solar energy components. A valid argument... until
you look at:
· The cost of not adopting solar energy
· Rising fossil fuel costs
· Economies of scale to bring price down
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