$1000 Solar Water Heater

[Dover]

This system can save $300+ per year in energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions by 2 tons. Full and free construction plans provided below -- it will cost about $1000 in materials.


As of late April 2009 we have lived with this system for 8 months. It has been trouble free and provided a solar fraction of 94% over the cold Montana winter. Aside from the failure of an off the shelf controller, it has required no maintenance. The drain back system has seen temperatures down to -30F with not even a hint of a problem.

I believe that the system has been and will continue to be the functional and thermal equivalent of commercial systems that seem to be going for around $7000+ these days.

Overview:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm

Detailed Instructions:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/RoadMap.htm

[ClarkUSA]

1. I'll be looking into it. How long did the solar water heater take to build?

My system is all electric, which can get expensive.

[Dover]

2. I haven't built one yet so can't answer. But that info is probably provided

or apparent at the links. And it sounds like the 'inventor' is available to answer questions. Very cool. Heating hot water is one of the most expensive things on my monthly bills so I'll be looking into building one of these myself.

[ixion]

3. awesome! Thanks for posting!

bookmarked for later implementation. :)

[Dover]

4. Well I certainly hope that if you or another DUer does indeed "implement" this water heater

that you'll document your efforts and let us know all about it. :hi:

[ixion]

5. I most certainly will...

If you're interested, I'm in the process of building off-the-grid a 'tiny house' where I will later install this water heater. I post pics to the link below every week with my progress so you can follow along. :hi:


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=69913&id=1540913400&l=ed6bc8e585

[Dover]

6. thanks!

[bvar22]

7. Thanks!

Solar Hot Water is NEXT on our list.
We should begin work in The Spring.
Until then, we are working on passive ways to make our cabin more efficient.
(Like putting up siding over the tar paper and chinking all the cracks...LOL)

We would LOVE to invest in Wind & Solar, but until our Rural Electric Co-Op implements a way for us to SELL power back to The Grid, we are stuck.
We are not going to invest in Batteries for storage. (Been there, did that.)

Here is an EZ method for saving energy:
Solar Clothes Dryer

Investment = Zero if you have scrap laying around

Energy Consumed = Zero

Toxic Emissions = Zero

Money given to BIG Power Corps = Zero

Tax Money spent on Bailouts for Billionaires and WAR = Zero


If conditions don't permit Solar Hot Water,
BIG savings can usually be achieved by installing a 10 gallon Hot Water Heater under your kitchen sink.
Most kitchens are on the other end of the house from the bathroom where most hot water heaters are located.
A 10 gallon heater directly under the kitchen sink will give INSTANT Hot Water, and save all that water that used to be wasted filling and heating the water line from the bathroom to the kitchen.
An electric hot water heater does NOT have to be vented. (Gas heaters MUST be vented)
Installation is EZ...a 10 gallon heater fits nicely inside a standard kitchen cabinet.
Costs are anywhere from $100 - $300 for the heater.

[Dover]

8. lol! The manual version of wash day.

For even more savings just have someone hose you down until clean and then just run around outside flapping your arms until dry. It could be dangerous in the winter, however.

I'm a big believer, when possible, in using passive energy solutions when at all possible, like (if building from scratch or retrofitting), using good insulating materials, tromb walls, air flow, etc. That website has all kinds of passive solar/wind/water projects.

Geothermal heating and ac is also an effective way to go and I'm told its very comfortable. It utilizes the ground temps. Haven't priced it yet, though.

Sounds like you've got a plan for water heating and I'm guessing you'll share your process with us. Hope so. That would be fun to follow.

[txlibdem]

9. This is one of those "no brainer" ideas

It just makes you say "why didn't I think of that?"

You can also use solar to provide supplemental heated air for your room or garage.

http://www.solarsponge.com/

http://greenterrafirma.com/solar-air-heating.html

I almost put one of these in a couple of years ago till I found out the HOA will not allow it!