Showing posts with label Solar energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solar energy. Show all posts
Gas Or Electric: Gas Water Heater
If we were to think of all the everyday occurrences when hot water came out of the faucet we might appreciate this convenience a bit more. Examples of when this occurs are our daily shower, washing our hands, doing the dishes, cleaning clothes, etc.
In addition, there are many methods by which water can be heated. Our water can be heated through an electric water heater, solar power and by using a gas water heater.
Utilizing a gas water heater has been a choice of many households for a number of reasons. Therefore, if considering this method of water heating it is important to understand how a gas water heater works and its benefits.
How A Gas Water Heater Works
A gas water heater is a combination of gas and electrical appliance that heats up water within a home or business so that the individuals within that facility can have access to hot water. Basically, there are two types of water heaters. One is a gas water heater while the other one is an electric water heater.
The basic difference between the two is that one of the units, the electric water heater, utilizes heating elements within the tank to heat up the water that is within the tank. With the gas water heater the water within the tank is heated through a gas burner located at the bottom of the unit.
Basically the water enters the units through a separate tube. The heating of the water is regulated by a separate device mounted on the water heater. That separate device is called a thermostat. When the thermostat is set to a certain temperature and the water within the tank falls below that temperature, the thermostat sends a signal to the heating unit calling for activation. This activation then heats up the water to that temperature and the hot water is then ready to be used. The flow of the hot water is accomplished through the hot water pipes within the facility.
Benefits
It can be argued that the gas hot water heater is better than the electric water heater and vice versa. Generally, this argument is based on the costs associated with heating water and passing those costs on to the consumer. Frequently, the costs are associated with the energy system that is utilized.
For example with the gas hot water heater the energy source is a combination of gas and electricity. Whereas, the electric water heater utilizes electricity as its energy source. Therefore, depending upon which geographical location the household or business is located would determine the cost factors associated with utilization of electricity or gas.
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Cheapest solar water heater
Making a cup of tea with the solar power. Just a 600cc Coke bottle inside 1500cc Coke PET bottle.
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Energy Efficient Water Heaters
Older electric water heaters consume larger amounts of energy than either their natural gas or oil fired counterparts. More energy usage creates a higher demand on our local power plants. Studies show that a typical family of four using a traditional electric water heater over the course of one year, uses enough energy to cause a typical power plant to emit about eight tons of carbon dioxide into our air. This is almost double the carbon dioxide fumes emitted by a typical family automobile. A family of four using a natural gas or oil fired water heater over the same period of time will only contribute around two tons of carbon dioxide into the air. By switching from your old electric water heater you can save energy, utility costs, and the air we breathe.
Solar water heaters are also a good choice. Several homes have sufficient access to sunlight to have a solar water heater installed with no problems. They can also work in all climates.
Solar water heaters also offer some financial benefits. Although the initial cost is more, between $1500.00 and $3500.00 for a solar water heater versus $150.00 and $450.00 for an electric or gas water heater, you will immediately see the savings in your electric or natural gas bills. The amount you will save in energy bills will pay for the new solar water heater on average in four to eight years.
Solar water heaters last just as long as more conventional water heaters, on average 15-40 years. After the initial time it takes for your solar system to pay for itself, paying zero in energy costs virtually means free hot water for you and your family. More savings can be found by checking with your tax consultant. Starting in 2005 the US government began offering homeowners up to 30% tax credit off the cost of installing their new solar powered water heater. Restrictions do apply, so be sure to check with you tax professional for details.
If you decide that installing a solar water heater is right for you and your family, be sure to hire a qualified professional to help you with this project. Certified installers will be familiar with any zoning and building codes in your area as well as if you will need a building permit for installation. For help finding a professional in your area, check with Five Star Consumer Referrals, Inc.
Shannon Shimizu is a small business owner of a contracting referral service called Five Star Consumer Referrals, Inc. The Five Star vision grew out of frustration of not knowing any reliable contractors for home improvement and repair projects. The goal of the business was to supply homeowners with excellent contractors who were licensed, insured, bonded and whose references were checked. Homeowners were thrilled with the prospect of having an outside third party who had a vested interest in the outcome of their home improvement project, and contractors were very happy to have a generous source of qualified leads.
In addition to running her business, Shannon is a wife and mother to two young children. Juggling motherhood and a full time business can be stressful, but the rewards of being able to work from home and raise her children is well worth the tradeoff.
For more information on Five Star Consumer Referrals, Inc. http://www.5starhelps.com
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Save the Environment and Your Wallet with a Solar Power Water Heater
The sun produces untold trillions of watts of power, and even though we receive just a tiny fraction of that power, it is many times capable of empowering our entire world. For the past few decades, solar power has been gaining prominence as the technology matures and it becomes even more efficient and cheap to produce equipment for. Most people are familiar with solar panels that convert solar rays into usable electricity. However, solar power can also be harvested for its heat energy, as in the case of solar power water heaters, which don't use any source of power but the sun to heat water.
Millions of Degrees
The sun burns so brightly and hotly that it is many millions of degrees in temperature. When it reaches Earth it only warms us to 0 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That might not seem too impressive, but there is still a great deal of heat in all of the solar rays that bombard us. The only problem is finding a way to harvest those solar rays. Most of them aren't absorbed, and if there were a way to effectively absorb many of them, a great deal of concentrated heat could be produced for our use. Solar power water heaters use solar panels to trap that heat and concentrate it (effectively making it hotter), so even though the atmosphere might not get hotter than 100 degrees, or even if it is below freezing, solar power water heaters can easily heat water up to 200 degrees (although they may require a backup source of energy from time to time).
Many consumers might be rightfully wary of purchasing any new technology, and solar power water heaters and no exception. However, as they mature, you can rest assured that the appliances will become even more reliable and efficient, so only make the purchase when you feel comfortable and assured. Even bigger savings can be achieved through the use of what are known as passive solar water heaters. Active models use pumps and other mechanical devices to move the warm liquid or air along, but passive versions achieve the same results without the use of those devices, so they save even more energy and consequently money.
If you're ready to start weaning yourself off of the power grid, then now is the time to upgrade to solar power water heaters. You'll end up saving hundreds of dollars a year, and you'll never have to worry about the energy being shut off because the sun won't stop burning for billions of years. On top of all of those savings, you'll also be able to sleep easier at night knowing you are doing what you can to help deal with the climate crisis and save the environment.
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The Sun's Energy for Solar Hot Water Heaters
Any Climate
One of the most impressive features of solar hot water heaters is that they are quite versatile. They can be used in any climate, although there are different types for warm and cold climates to optimize their efficiency. For example, solar hot water heater models for colder climates use an antifreeze liquid to transfer heat energy to the water heater, while models designed for warmer climates skip the antifreeze because it wouldn't be necessary. This means that no matter where you live, you can purchase and install a solar hot water heater for your home.
Not only can you shave 10% of your energy bill off each month, but you will also be helping the environment out while you're at it. Think about it – you can easily save $25 off your energy bill each month and help the environment. It's a win-win situation that even if you can afford to pass up, you won't want to. So how hard is it to install a solar power water heater? You probably won't want to do it yourself, but you can expect to pay little more than a thousand at most to cover the cost of the heater and installation, so those savings will become even more apparent after about three years. Additionally, if you add the cost onto a mortgage, you'll be able to shave a few more dollars off in tax deductions.
Of course in an idealistic world, the first consideration for installing an environmentally-friendly appliance would be the environment and not money (although that's generally not the case). However, a solar hot water heater is both economical and environmentally helpful as you'll be releasing less carbon dioxide into the air. The sun is going to burn brightly for a few more million years, so it's about time that we start using it to provide cheap and infinite power. Without a doubt, such appliances will become even more efficient in the years to come, but that's hardly a reason to wait. Each month that you put it off, you're simply losing money that you could be saving with a solar hot water heater.
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Minimize Energy Bills with a Solar Water Heater
Some Maintenance but Much Cheaper
A solar hot water heater is the perfect choice for ecologically aware individuals and families. A conventional water heater may account for as much as ten percent of your electric bill per month, although that number certainly varies a lot depending on the age of your water heater (newer conventional water heaters use less energy than older models). Installing a solar water heater is more profitable under certain conditions than others. For example, purchasing a new house and installing a solar water heater can easily help you save $20 a month, while the cost can be as little as $10 a month on your mortgage. Home owners with mid-1990 models or older will also see significant savings when they install a new solar water heater in their home.
However, there is a small amount of maintenance associated with solar water heaters. Fortunately, it isn't costly or time-consuming, and you'll only need to perform it about every three years (the hardest part is simply remembering to perform it). Different solar water heaters require different forms of maintenance, but it won't be anything too difficult to perform. Another note of caution: solar water heaters generally have a backup source of electricity (generally off of the grid) for when the sun does not supply quite enough power to heat your water. While in theory this isn't necessary, nobody wants to shower in cold water, so you can expect your solar water heater to still use about 10% the electricity that your conventional water heater uses. So far, no 100% electricity-free water heater has been developed, but you can certainly take a huge step towards that goal with a solar water heater.
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