Solar Water Heating(SWH) System

Each time you feel the warmth of the sunrays on the rooftop or courtyard, it reminds you of a natural energy source is always there for the hot water and space heating needs at your home. It is available in an unlimited amount and at free of cost!

 

You may be aware that it is possible to convert sunlight into electricity using the solar panels, but it may feel shocking & interesting for you that the same can generate heat energy for solar water heating and space heating. Solar water heating is a cost efficient technology in use to produce heat energy in abundance for your domestic or commercial needs. It will save money on utility bills which will ultimately pay for the SWH installation cost.

 

Selecting the best solar water heating system may not be easy without proper knowledge; it is recommended to seek for a specialist’s help, who has experience of installing the SWHs and providing quick consultation on them. There are two widely used varieties of solar water heating systems available for your choice.  A Passive solar water heating system does not require any pump induced energy but, the natural gravitation force to help the water circulate from collectors to the tank. It has less number of mechanical parts, reduced maintenance/servicing cost and low expenses for initial setup. Whereas an Active solar water heater is a more expensive, yet energy efficient type having pumps and controls to aid in the process of water circulation. 

Both of these solar water heating systems include two key components – a solar collector and a water storage tank. The solar collectors capture the sunrays before converting them into heat energy. They can be of the following types:

• Flat plate collector:  well insulated and glazed collectors following a flat-plate assembly method
• Evacuated-tube collector: the transparent and energy efficient glass tubes arranged in rows with little scope for heat loss from them.
• Integral collector or Batch collector: a system made of single or multiple tanks or tubes kept in an insulated box for long term water storage. It does not fit cold climates due to the risk of freezing pipes in heavy cold condition.

While looking to pick up the best SWH for your home, you need to review the solar water heating systems from all angles. It is the geographical region, climate condition and your home’s position that will be crucial in deciding which solar heating system will be perfect for you.

The active solar heating systems can make up for your extra expenses with lowered utility bills per month. They can be of the following types:

• An indirect circulation system uses a heat exchanger to transfer heat into the water storage tank from a nonfreezing fluid circulating in it. This kind of system suits the very cold regions where the temperature may fall drastically to cause the pipes freeze at any time.
• A direct circulation system uses pumps to let the water circulate through the collectors and then flow back into the storage tank. They function well in mild climates where there is no risk of temperature going below the freezing point.

Passive solar heating systems are normally more reliable, durable, less costly to install, but they are not as efficient as the active ones.  They can again be of two types:

• A thermo-syphon passive system makes the hot water rise from the collector to the crest of a tank without the use of a pump. In this case the collector is fitted underneath the storage tank to make use of the natural gravitational force.
• An Integral collector-storage passive system assembles hot water in storage tanks or tubes that are placed inside an insulated box and fits the best in mild weather conditions.

An apparent problem in using solar energy is the lack of control on the weather. If you reside in a dark and cold area with only a few sunny days experienced in a year or there is no south facing roof in your residence then the solar water heating may not prove to be as effective as it should.

If all these details can’t eliminate your doubts or confusion, don’t feel worried at all! Solar water heating systems have been in use for a long time but are not extensively used everywhere, therefore asking for advice and guidance from 123 Zero Energy would be a worthy step to take before looking to invest in one.

To ask your query regarding solar water heating systems or their prices, 123 Zero Energy can be visited online or contacted over phone at 1-800-317-9054

Purchase the Right Solar PV System

Purchasing a solar PV system for your home can be a profitable deal due to great savings on energy cost, but you should not get carried away by their advertisements. Be sure not to forget the key aspects of your solar photovoltaic system purchase as it demands for a huge investment initially which is quickly paid off through energy savings made over the time of its usage. Below are considered some essential factors which you should consider for purchasing the right solar PV system.

See it working and know the issue-

Ask your family, friends, colleagues or neighbors who have already installed solar PV systems in their homes; they will guide you with their own experiences and probably warn you about certain issues that have been facing all these years – the ones that you certainly like not to get caught with. Ask each of them about possible issues in their solar PV systems and their brand names (local/international).

Manufacturer’s warranty offer-

Be aware of what guarantees and warranties the solar PV system manufacturer offers. If the solar system manufacturer has a good reputation and the warranty offered on the panels is valid for 25 years you can expect the solar PV system to last for a time long enough to pay back your investment and make you earn a profit. However, to enjoy the warranty offered on the product, the manufacturer should be operative in the market; so keep away from the brands without a solid presence in your area.

Reasonable price goal-

If you are asked to pay considerably less than what other same size solar PV systems cost, you may receive low quality components and poorly done installation work. Quality components and installation can’t be very cheap and, just like other product purchases you make in your lifetime; you are likely to get what you pay for. Though highly established companies are able to offer you systems at good savings based on an increased number of their product purchases, other companies are seen cutting costs by compromising things like quality and performance.

CSA and UL certifications of Solar Panels-

It is applicable to your solar panel purchases, because you will get the confirmation that your panels have the best energy yield capacity that would bring you great investment in the industry.

Decide on the right kind of solar panels- 

There is a wide variety of solar panels like on-grid panels, off-grid panels, hybrid solar panels and standard solar panels. Whether you are interested in expandable solar PV systems or Tier 1 manufactured panels to meet your energy needs at home, you can always find the best quality products available in the market for use.

Solar panel racking-

Solar panel racking is a crucial part of your solar PV system installation which can increase the energy production by 20%. Be sure that the ground, roof mounting or racking system is strong enough to keep the system secure and survive the snowfall as well as the wind in your area.

Solar inverter effectiveness- 

Check for the effectiveness of the inverter used in the solar PV system. Evidently, the more advanced is the inverter technology (Enphased Inverter) the better will be the reliability, energy production and system performance.

Get multiple quotes-

You are recommended to ask for more than one quotes before making any solar system purchase as the price may tend to vary a lot between different providers; but never and ever settle for the lowest priced system which might have low grade components in it which may end up costing you further in the long run in terms of breakdown and maintenance etc.

If you want to order highly efficient and reasonably priced solar PV systems, 123 Zero Energy is available with a wide array of options all the time. Consider going through the range of solar PV systems on 123 Zero Energy at your convenience and contact us it at +1(800) 317-9054 to immediately place an order for the desired one!

To find the best solar PV system for your residential or commercial use, please keep connected to its expert team of renewable energy consultants via sales@123zeroenergy.com

Benefits of Domestic Solar Water Heating Systems

The sun is the main source of energy in the solar system. It offers plenty of free and green energy to the earth even though not making it fall evenly everywhere. The large variance in the sunrays available in our planet’s lower and higher altitude has been a cause of concern for household owners.  However, the inventive solar water heating systems are helping them generate sufficient amount of heat energy with the solar collectors for domestic use like water heating, space heating etc. Some of these domestic SWHs are tankless and others have water tanks positioned normally on basement or roof area to   store water for the future.

What Actually are Domestic Solar Water Heating Systems?

These are solar powered heating systems technically designed with components like solar collectors, heat exchangers, pump and controller for domestic applications. Based on an effective technology and taking in free source of energy, the domestic solar water heating systems bring a significant reduction in the utility bill as well as carbon footprint. There are flat plate SHWs and evacuated tube collector SHWs which homeowners can choose and mount on their wall or roof. They can also be integrated with any existing hot water systems for assured performance.

Basically, domestic solar water heating systems are capable to meet around 0.33% of the total hot water demands of a 4 member family. More elaborately, investing in a solar water heating system will lower the annual energy bills by £55 -80 for a three-bedroom home in a semi-detached state. The solar water heating system users also qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) program, which is mainly designed by local government to reward financially and encourage households to heat their homes with solar energy.

How Do Domestic Solar Water Heating Systems Function?

Domestic SHWS gather the heat coming from the sun through solar collectors which are normally fitted to the roof at the best angle to receive maximum possible sunlight. They can even be placed on wall or ground to get high exposure to the sunrays. An immersion boiler or heater can be used along with them to raise the water temperature whenever required.

The solar thermal collectors used in SHWs are of two types: evacuated tubes collectors and flat plate collectors. They differ in configuration but have the same function. The evacuated tubes collectors contain highly insulated and replaceable vacuum tubes assorted in different sizes to fit domestic heating needs whereas the flat panels contain inexpensive flat glazing collectors which look like solar PV panels and are installed on the room for energy absorption and heat generation.

In the installation of SHWs, routing is done from the collectors to a hot water tank using high insulate pipes. The unheated water from the bottom of the tank is pumped and flown through the collectors so that it can receive the generated water and go back to the top of the hot water tank storage.

 Top Benefits of Domestic SHWS

• They ensure hot water around the year.
• They lower energy consumption for domestic hot water needs.
• They bring down carbon emission and keep the environment safe.
• In comparison to other renewable energy heating solutions, domestic solar water heating systems have great durability and reduced maintenance expenses.
• There is little extra cost involved in SWHs apart from the initial purchase cost and installation charges.
• The domestic solar thermal systems work flawlessly with any existing hot water boiler or heating system or heating pumps. 
• They enable homeowners to earn Renewable Heat Incentive for production of renewable energy.

If you live in arctic zone and need effective heating technology to support your daily life, special solar water heating systems of 123 Zero Energy would be very helpful. They can not only survive arctic temperature but also ensure maximum heating performance while turning off/on the pump as required. To enjoy hot water baths and laundry at your home in all the seasons with reduced energy bills, order domestic solar water heating systems on 123 Zero Energy today!  

To enquire about solar water heating packages, 123 Zero Energy can be called on 1-800-317-9054!