Solar Water Heating
With California's abundant sunshine, it makes excellent sense to get your hot water FREE from the sun!
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A solar water heater works just like a battery, storing energy from the sun in the form of hot water, ready for use at a later time. It is the first solar energy storage device. So, like a solar battery, solar hot water captures energy from the sun and stores it for later, but of the two, solar hot water may be the more affordable option.
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Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't.
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Solar water heating systems for domestic hot water are eligible for the 30% Federal Tax Credit.
Indirect circulation systems (Closed-loop active systems)
Pumps circulate a non-freezing, food-grade, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home.
Benefits:
a) Not susceptible to freeze damage - even in our geographical area this can be a concern
b) Very little heat loss or thermosiphoning
c) No calcification inside collectors due to propylene glycol/distilled water mixture
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Uses 80 gal. or 120 gal. solar storage tank - with or without a back-up heating element.​
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Manufacturer: Sunearth, Inc., Fontana, CA
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Integral collector-storage passive systems (ICS)
These work best in areas where temperatures rarely fall
below freezing. They also work well in households with significant daytime and evening hot-water needs.
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Replaces the well-loved "Servamatic" dome-type systems from the 80s.
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Copperheart ICS - by Sunearth, Inc., Fontana, CA
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Functions as a 'pre-heater' to the standard electric or gas water heater.​
Thermosiphon Solar Water Heating System
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These passive solar hot water systems, where the tank is installed on the roof, use the 'Thermosiphon' principle to collect heat from the sun and transfer it to your water. The Thermosiphon principle is based on two naturally-occurring phenomena:
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Objects - collectors or evacuated tube arrays -absorb heat
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Hot water rises into the tank
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CleanTech Energy Solutions Inc. installs 2 systems:
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The Sunbank (right top) - Davis, CA
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PV-Powered HYBRID SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS
PV-powered solar water heating systems are hybrid systems where (1) heating element is powered by 4-8 solar electric panels and a 2nd heating element is connected to the grid and serves as a booster when there is lack of sufficient solar power to heat the water to the desired temperature.
The solar panels are NOT connected to the grid and, therefore, do not fall within the limits of the service panel and operate during power outages.
There are 2 system currently on the market:
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SunWater - by Sunearth, Inc. - Fontana, CA
