You probably know that you can generate electricity from the sun. However electricity is not the only thing the sun can give you. The easiest green energy project, and one that will give you a great saving on your utility bills, is to supplement your current water heating system with a solar one. It is possible to build a cheap solar water heater at home.
Solar panels that are used to heat water have been around a lot longer than electricity generating ones. Plus their construction couldn't be easier. You may even be able to pick up a lot of the parts from junk yards, or building reclamation yards, for very little cost.
A solar driven water heater is basically a panel that is exposed to the sun. As you pump water through this, the water is heated by the sunlight, and is then pumped through a coil in your domestic water cylinder. Inside the cylinder it gives up the heat energy, and in doing so heats your water supply.
It doesn't have to be very sunny for your panel to heat water. However it is unlikely that it will provide all your hot water needs all year round, and for this reason your water cylinder will still have the system you already use installed in it. Whatever this is, be it gas, or electric, or driven from your heating system, you can simply revert back to the original method of heating if the water is not hot enough. Even though you may still need your utility companies help to make your water as hot as you need it to be all the time, any heat your system does provide is energy you don't have to buy.
This money saving will pay for the heating system, so over time it will produce truly free hot water. The system is very simple, and there is very little to go wrong, or that will need maintenance, and it should produce free hot water for many years to come.
The number of panels you will need will depend on your climate, and the orientation of your roof. If you get this right it will help you to extract the maximum saving in energy cost from your system. If you get yourself some plans there will be help for you to make this calculation.
Green home renewable energy is one of the best ways you can reduce your dependence on the utility companies, and their ever growing bills. By building your own cheap DIY solar water heater you will take your first step to self sufficiency. You will save money, and help the planet too.
By Tony Kitson
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
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