Energy is a core part of the modern lifestyle, we need heat and power for our homes to create the living environment we expect. Now for the last 60 years we have sourced this energy almost exclusively from fossil fuels, making us very dependant of oil and gas to power our livers. The price of energy shot up the in the 1970's oil crisis, which made us look at the price of energy, however as the prices can back down people generally forgot about alternatives. However once again the price of energy from fossil fuels is high and on the rise, so we need to make a pro-active move to leave fossil fuels and move onto more sustainable fuel options. There are several different forms of renewable alternative energy sources from biomass, wind and geothermal and in this case solar. Solar energy can be used in several different ways. It can be converted into electricity with PV panels, it can heat air or it can be used to heat water. This water can then be used in the home for several different purposes.

Savings With Solar Hot Water Heaters

A solar powered hot water heater can reduce the expenditure of the household on gas, oil and electric considerably. After the initial expense of purchasing or constructing a water heater, it requires practically no maintenance and provides free heat all year round.

Video Of Solar Powered Hot Water Heater

The video below is of a passive solar water heater, which is the simplest and more reliable form of a solar powered hot water heater. The video is of a home made unit, which can still generate most of your hot water requirements and essentially give you free heat.

Solar Hot Water Heater Specifications

The construction of the passive solar water heater system is refreshingly simple. Firstly a black water storage vessel is chosen, depending on the hot water requirements of the property. The black water storage vessel is then placed within an insulated solar box. The box through a glass screen allows the heat from the sun in, and then increases the temperature within the box to raise the temperature of the water within the storage tank. The tank is then connected to a water tank within the property via a flow and return pipe system and pump, with a series of suitable valves.

Make Your Own Solar Powered Heater

Making your own solar powered hot water heater is much simpler than it may seem at first. Many of the parts can be obtained quite cheaply or even free in some cases. Building your own solar water heater can save you money as well as save you on energy bills.