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Solar heating systems
updated: 13 JUNE 2005 :: By John Herbert | Director
Capturing solar radiation is a cost effective method to reduce your operating costs.
Above: simple solar collector
Once installed, solar energy is free! and can dramatically reduce your energy bills. Solar water heaters are not suitable for every location, before considering a solar thermal system consult the experts.
And remember that lower utility bills provides indirect benefits - reducing your environmental footprint.
solar energy power heating reduces energy bills and reducing pollution
Swimming pools
A solar heating system for your pool is an economical
alternative to conventional heaters. Properly designed solar collectors
capture free energy from the sun and use it to heat your pool.
Solar water heating also extends your swimming season
whilst reducing monthly fuel bills, and without depleting non-renewable
resources such as fossil fuels.
In fact, solar pool heating is the most
economical solar application
today. Solar heaters already make up over 10 percent of all new pool
heating equipment sales in Canada - Yes, that's right cold snowy
Canada!
Five Good Reasons
Even Canadians are using solar energy to heat their pools, here are five good reasons to chose solar water heating:
No. 1: Saves money
Lowering your pool heating costs saves you money.
The price of energy has always been increasing, the price of oil
recently hit the US$50 per barrel, sooner rather than later, these cost
will be passed on the pool owners - on the other hand, after
you invest in solar - the sun's energy is free!
Over a fifteen year period, you could spend
five, six times or more
money heating with gas what you would spend on installing a solar
heater today. Once your solar system is installed energy bills are
dramatically reduced.
Many pool owners switch to solar because it
meets all of their heating
needs. But even if you continue to use a gas or electric heater as a
backup, solar is a very smart investment that will save you money, year
after year.
No. 2: Extends swim season
Solar heating allows you to extend your swimming season
whether or not you have an existing heater. You can keep your pool
warmer and open longer with free energy from the sun.
In most areas a solar heater used in
combination with a good quality
pool cover can add two to four weeks to the beginning and end of the
swimming season. You get a longer swimming season for free, whilst
improving customer satisfaction.
No. 3: Durability
Solar equipment is durable, and often lasts longer than gas or electric heaters. With proper annual maintenance, one can expect fuelled heaters to last seven to ten years.
Most gas heaters have a two-year warranty, and well-made heat pumps carry a two-year warranty with five-year warranty on the compressors.
Solar panels generally have a minimum ten year warranty, and
often last up to twenty years. That means owner might change their
fossil fuel heaters TWICE during the lifespan of one good quality solar
collector.
No. 4: Lower maintenance
Solar water heating systems requires less maintenance which lowers your operating cost.
Unlike gas and electric heaters, which must be
serviced by a registered
technician every year - a solar water heater requires very little
servicing. That means less hassle and lower costs for you. And less
downtime means more income for commercial operators, keeping your
customers happy.
No. 5: Environment benefits
If saving money is not reason enough, going solar energy is good for the environment. The damaging effect of burning fossil fuels is well known, polluting the air we breathe.
Burning fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides that
cause the formation
of photochemical smog in urban areas. Using solar energy heating
instead of fossil fuel can help, it reduces pollution whilst saving you
money.
Burning fuels also releases carbon dioxide, the
main cause of climate
change. Replacing you gas heater with a solar heater could prevent
three to ten tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each
season. That's about the same amount produced by operating your car for
one year!
How does a solar heater work?
A solar pool heater is simple to operate and doesn't change
the way you operate your pool.
Solar collectors are usually mounted on the
roof or another structure.
This is the least expensive option and doesn't take up extra space on
the site. When suitable roof space is not available, collectors can be
ground-mounted on a rack.
The existing pool pump is used to circulate
water from the pool through
the solar collectors and back to the pool. On sunny days, an
automatic controller diverts the water to the solar panel. It is really
that simple.
The key to a successful project, and lower bills is the properly designed and selected the equipment.
Author
John Herbert is the Managing Director at Kelcroft. He was educated and trained in the United Kingdom, he has managed and engineered solutions for more than twenty years, the last twelve years here in Asia. An international designer, designed solutions across three continents, whilst retaining a litigation free record.
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