Are you considering solar panels for warming your pool? You can! Solar panels for heating water are less expensive than you might believe. For less than 0 and about a weekends worth of time, you could even make them yourself. The main benefit is that once you have forked out the cost of installation, you won’t have any ongoing fuel bills.
However, before you decide, you’ll need to consider some factors. First, would the system be getting adequate sunlight during the day? These types of solar panels are passive systems. They’re normally made of plastic coils filled with water and placed between sheets of shatter-resistant glass. The sun heats the water that has collected in the coils. The water is then pumped into the pool.
If your area is covered with tall trees that overshadow your house and yard, it may not get sufficient sunlight for a passive pool heater. However, a clear south- or west-facing rooftop is an ideal location for solar panels to get full exposure to sunlight.
Next, how much difference would there be between the outside air and the temperature you want the pool to be? For example, if you’re thinking about heating an outdoor pool in Minnesota to 80 degrees during a freezing winter, stay with pool covers and a heavy-duty gas heating system. On the other hand, if you want to heat your outdoor pool in Texas to 80 degrees in 50-degree weather, then a solar heating system would be ideal.
Even though you have your new solar heater installed and working, you’ll want to use a solar cover or blanket whenever the outside air is colder than your pool’s water temperature. Anytime you notice steam rising from the pool, it’s wise to use the pool cover to keep the heat in. That way, the heat will stay in the water instead of dispersing it into the air.
If you’re new to solar heating systems, here’s a word of caution. Some people mistakenly believe that they might save even more money if they used the pool’s solar heater to heat water for their home. However, the two systems should not be mixed or used together. Your pool water is going to contain chlorine and muriatic acid. It won’t hurt you to swim in it or to swallow a couple of mouthfuls of it, but you really wouldn’t want to add it to your home’s drinking water system. Installing a solar water heating system for your home is an entirely separate project.
It’s imperitive that you realise that solar panels have two distinct funtions: generating heat and producing electricity. It’s important to know which type you need for the job you have in mind, because they are not interchangeable. However, both types of solar panels can lower energy costs and help support your green lifestyle.
A solar thermal collector uses the sun’s energy to heat water and even other fluids, like oil. This method uses tubing in which the water runs through once heated You would use this sytem for heating pools, hot tubs etc. They can also heat building interiors by using baseboard heating units and hot water flooring systems. Although no additional heating fuels are needed once these are installed, they will most likely require some type of motorized pump to move the fluids.
Another type of solar panel uses solar photovoltaic cells to produce DC (direct current) electricity. Typically, they use semi-conductor material (silicon) in the panel, which interacts with sunlight to create electricity. The electricity can then be used to power computers and appliances, or the whole house, if the system is sufficiently large. The electricity is only created by the panels in daytime when they are interacting with direct sunlight.
In order to have electricity available at night or during overcast periods, the electricity produced during the day must be stored in a battery storage system. You can buy less expensive lead-acid batteries (like you car uses), but you will need to make sure they are filled with distilled water in order to maintain their charge. You can also get more expensive batteries. Sealed AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries will retain their charge without any maintenence. Freeze-resistant gel batteries are ideal for colder climates.
For both the thermal collector and the photovoltaic systems, glass panels are used to encase their collection systems, and both must have direct sunlight to function. For best results, the panels should be installed in a south-facing location that supplies optimum exposure to sunlight during the day. Solar panels can be used in almost any geographical location, but they will not function as well in areas that have a high number of cloudy days during the year.
It’s prudent to have a back-up supply in place even if you live in a sunny climate. You can even go that extra mile and make your own biodiesel if you decide to include a generator with your system And you’ll be glad you have one if your battery storage fails or there is a long period of overcast weather.
Adding a solar electric system to your home is a major decision and investment. And if you are considering it, you are also probably wondering if they will add value to your home. The answer depends on many factors. Below are some points to help you decide.
First, how cognizant is your area of the benefits and value of solar energy? If there is a lot of interest and involvement in green living, there’s a good possibility that buyers will view the solar energy system as an asset and will be willing to pay more. However, if you reside in a community where there is very little eco-friendly participation, where people aren’t too concerned about recycling or the environment, buyers may not care about the effort and money you have put into installing solar panels.
But even in a community completed unconcerned about green living, most people can appreciate the idea of saving money. If you can produce a paper trail of your energy savings over a period of time, the new owner will have evidence that the solar power system will be an asset. With utility bills often running into several hundred dollars a month for some families, savings on electricity becomes a major concern.
But what if you’ve only had your solar panel system for a short time? How can you prove energy savings? You can contact the local electric utility company and ask them for their statistical projection showing your rate of savings over time. You can also obtain data from the company which put in your solar energy system. Most of the larger solar installation companies have marketing departments that collect that kind of data to help people see that solar panels will save money for them.
You might also consider the following: How popular are solar energy systems in your housing market? If solar panel installations are popular, your real estate agent will have statistical data showing the difference in selling prices between houses with solar panels and those that use only a public utility service. If this type of data is accessible in your market, you have the best possible proof that you can show a potential buyer.
We hear about solar energy in the news almost every day. Does it make you wonder if installing solar panels is right for your home? Here are a few of the most compelling reasons to consider it.
The economic climate is finally looking up for those who want to utilize solar energy in a personal way. There are now (or will soon be) federal tax credits that can reduce the cost of residential solar energy system installation by as much as thirty percent. And don’t forget about incentives that may be offered by your city or state to help people convert to solar energy. The list of government entities that offer these kinds of incentives is growing.
In addition, you will see immediate savings in the form of lower monthly electricity bills, since it will be your solar panels that will be running your appliances during the day. And if your power company uses net metering, it’s possible that you could pay nothing for your electricity. With net metering, you can sell back any excess electricity that your solar panels produce to the electric company for a credit to your account. So if your solar electric system produces a surplus during the day, the electricity used from the grid at night could end up being free.
Solar energy is also beneficial for the environment. It is produced on site where it is used, so there are no fuel transportation costs or emissions, and no plant maintenance expenses. Solar energy does not contribute to global warming. Solar power does not produce pollution by burning oil or coal, or nuclear waste that will contaminate the planet for many years to come. And last but not least, it is a great way to protect yourself and your family against the future energy price increases that experts predict.
The future of this planet is of the utmost concern to many environmentalists. In order to resolve the adverse impact of fossil fuels to the environment, solar energy is now taking prominance. Most home owners have given up on the idea that the government or power company will provide the solution. Act now! There are many solar panel projects available to suit everyone’s budget - especially for the DIY enthusiast. Remember that RESEARCH IS KEY, as you do not want to fork out later for mistakes that could have been avoided if this simple step were taken.
After you have decided that you are going to install solar energy on your home, you need to find a dependable company from which to buy them and have them installed. But how do you find the best choice? Here are some suggestions to help you decide.
Seek a company with experience. If you live in an area where solar installation has been well established, you may be fortunate enough to locate a company that has been in business for many years. An experienced business will be able to supply sufficient references. It will also be simple to check their quality of service through the local Better Business Bureau.
Ask them about the types of system they recommend, and do some internet research to find some recommendations of the manufacturers. Ask them what kinds of warranties accompany the equipment. Also, find out what types of labor and workmanship warranties the contractor offers. It is common to find 10-year warranties on the solar panels, and 3 to 10-year warranties on pumps, inverters and controls. Workmanship should carry at least a one year warranty.
Some installers have experience only in off-grid systems, and you may be concerned about them installing your system if it is going to be on the grid. Yes, there are definite differences between the installation of the two systems. But off-grid systems are much more complex than grid tied systems. An off grid installer will almost certainly be quite qualified to connect your system to the local power company, especially since since the person will be overseen by the local building inspectors.~There is no need to worry if an installer has experience only in off-grid systems and yours will be on the grid. While there are certainly differences in how the two systems are installed, off-grid system installation is much more complex. So an off-grid installer will probably be very capable of hooking up your system to the local utilities company. And, in any case, he or she will be monitored by the local building inspectors.}
Membership in a professional organization for alternative energy dealers might be another indicator of professionalism. But first determine what the requirements are to join the organization before you take it into consideration. Memberships are voluntary, and some require only members to pay a fee. Other organizations (like the Solar Energies Industries Association) require field experience and continuing education in to be a member.
Word of mouth is most often the best way forward. Do you know (or know of) anyone who has just had solar panels installed? Ask them how it went with the company they used. You can also check your estate agents as the agents are often knowlegeable as to which contractors in town are the most reliable.
Renewable Energy | admin | 
January 1, 2010 7:11 am | 
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