We would all like cheaper electricity and gas bills. Most of us shop around for the provider with the lowest electricity, gas or oil prices and leave it at that, but there are other ways to warm your house. Not only could you save money in the long term by reducing your household fuel bills, but you can also do so in a more environmentally friendly way and, in today's world of global warming which produces extreme weather conditions, that is a major factor for many people.
Solar heating can reduce your electricity bills no matter where you live. Obviously, where you live will determine how much sunshine you will get in an average day, but even on a cloudy day with the sun low on the horizon you can still benefit. If you live in a warm climate and don't need heating for much of the year, you still may wish to heat the swimming pool.
What Equipment Do I Need? A typical system uses collectors, also called heating panels. These are generally mounted on a south facing roof which should ideally be pitched at an angel of between 30 and 60 degrees. If your roof isn't pitched, the panels can be mounted at an angel. The size of the panels will depend on the size of the household and your local climate. As a general rule, you'll need 2.75 sq.m. to heat water for two people, or 4.12 sq.m. for a family of three or four people.
There are two types of panels and the right one for you will depend on your local climate.
• Flat Plate Collectors - a simple flat plate of specially coated black metal covered by glass or plastic. Water passes through pipes that are solered to the plate and the warmed water is then fed to your boiler. • Evacuated tubes - which are fitted into insulated steel casings. These are more suited to cooler, cloudier climates. By reducing the heat loss, the water temperature can reach 60F/15C so it may not require further heating. Evacuated tubes are more expensive than flat plate collectors.
Can I Install A System Myself? It is possible to install a system yourself if you are reaona! bly good at DIY. Either find a parts supplier who will also do the design for you, or join a solar club - non-profit making groups who run one-day courses designed to make solar heating cheaper and easier to install.
How Much Money Will I Save? Impossible to quantify as it will depend on your local climate, house insulation, heating system, and the type of panels you install. But if you want lower electricity and heating bills, and wish to help the environment by burning less fossil fuel, solar heating is well worth investigating.
Related articles from around the web:
DIY Solar Panel - Overview of the Buying & Construction Process Do you know the electricity you use in your home is not environment friendly ? Fossil fuels of gas, petrol or coal are burnt to produce it. It is not good to keep using it. Its constant use will further harm our world with climate change . Burning of fossil fuels adds in greenhouse gases which contribute in climate change.
Mary Ellen Harte: Climate Change This Week: Obama's Opus, Alarming Antarctic History, and More! Today, the Earth got a little hotter, and a little more crowded. Daily Climate Change: Global Map of Unusual Temperatures, June 5 2014 How unusual has the weather been? No one event is "caused" by climate change, but global warming, which is predicted to increase unusual, extreme weather, is having a daily effect on weather, worldwide.
The Advantages of Solar Energy - Going Green Is Not Only About Protecting the Environment There is no doubt that reducing pollution is one of the biggest advantages of using solar panels. No need to be an environmentalist to realize the environmental problems facing the world today earnest seriousness . The fuel crisis , pollution , climate change , all of these issues affect us in one way or another .
Fight over Rooftop Solar Forecasts a Bright Future for Cleaner Energy As the cost of solar power drops, more consumers find that they hold the upper hand as utilities fight to maintain paying customers and the relevance of the grid Mar 25, 2014 |By David Biello SOLAR ROOF: As photovoltaics on rooftops become more affordable, they have become more and more of a threat to traditional electric utilities. Courtesy of U.
Government launches long-awaited renewable heat incentive scheme The government today finally launched its long-anticipated renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme for homes. The much talked about RHI will pay people for the 'green heat' they generate for their homes, offsetting the cost of installing low-carbon systems. The scheme is open to everyone - home owners, social housing providers, private landlords,...
Related searches: Cheap Fuel Bills, Global warming, Solar thermal collector, Do it yourself, Electricity, Climate, Solar power, Renewable energy, Solar Energy,
No comments:
Post a Comment