Blog archives for March, 2009

Solar water heating systems are an effective way of conserving energy and reducing your energy bill.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not a new technology. Solar water heating systems have been used commercially for over a century now, with the first commercial water heater (the Climax Solar-Water Heater) going on sale in 1891 in the United States. By the year 1900, over 1600 houses in California were equipped with this solar water heater.

Due to its effectiveness and low cost, the solar water heater gained popularity until, by 1941, more than half the population of Florida was getting its hot water through solar water heaters!

It only lost its popularity as a result of lowered electricity rates, and an aggressive campaign by Florida Power and Light to increase electrical consumption. This was done by offering electric water heaters at bargain prices. Thus Florida’s solar water heating was brought to halt.

The United States is not the only country with a history of heating its water using solar power. There are many other countries where this heating method was used in the past, and has since fallen out of use, - but not all of them. In fact, there are currently more than ten million Japanese households which heat their water using solar heating systems. This is definite proof that it is a workable technology.

Important Facts about Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

• When building a new home, or when refinancing, the economic aspect of this becomes even more interesting. You can, for instance, include the cost of a solar water heater with a new thirty-year mortgage package. This would usually amount to about $13.00 -$20.00 a month. Federal income tax deductions for mortgage interest would reduce the payment for the solar water heater by about $3.00 -$5.00 per month. If your fuel savings with a solar water heating system is $15.00 or more per month (which it likely will be) you will have reduced your monthly heating bill right then and there.
• Solar heaters can be installed in combination with backup systems. In fact, you could install a solar water heater next to your existing system and make it possible switch to conventional water heating whenever necessary. This way you are guaranteed always to have hot water.
• A solar water heater can reduce your water heating bill by 50%-80%. But with energy prices going up, the amount of savings will soon be even higher.
• Aside from reducing your energy bill right now, a solar water heating system will protect you from future energy price increases. Your heating will no longer rely on fossil fuels for electricity.
• Solar water heating can be used in any climate. Sound unbelievable? Check it out on the U.S. Department of Energy website. They say so as well.
• Solar water heating will significantly reduce your carbon footprint, and reduce the demand for fossil fuels which pollute the environment.
• The fuel used to run a solar water heater is sunshine. And, at the time of this writing, sunshine is free - no tax has been added yet.

Types of Solar Water Heating Systems

There are two types of solar water heating systems, active solar water heating systems and passive solar water heating systems. They both work on the same principles.

The only difference is that active systems have a pump or other mechanical means of moving the water through the solar heating systems, and passive systems rely on nature’s principles: warm water rises to the top, and cold water sinks to the bottom. Therefore, with a passive solar water heating system, the water storage tank must always be positioned above the solar water heater collector.

Active Solar Water Heating

There are two main designs of active water heating systems. Which one is best for you depends on the type of climate you live in.

There is what’s called an “indirect circulation system” which uses a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid to transfer heat from the collector to a heat exchanger (a device used to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the water in your storage tank). This is good for colder climates.

There is also the direct circulation system, in which case water is simply passed through solar heat collector and is then routed to the water storage tank for use. This system works fine in milder climates.

Passive Solar Water Heating

Passive solar water heating systems are usually cheaper than “active solar water heating systems,” as they do not need controls or pumps to circulate the water.

But generally, they are not as effective as the active systems. If you live in a warm climate, a passive water heating system may be all you need. Passive water heating systems are also known for being very reliable.

Essentially, solar hot water heating systems consist of a water storage tank and its solar collectors. The solar collectors are used to collect solar energy (which heats water), and the tanks store the heated water. That’s all there is to it.

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Learn more about Solar Water Heating, Solar Power, and DIY Solar Hot Water

The financial pressure is on to save energy any way we can. Helpful options can range from expensive projects like replacement windows or solar panels to inexpensive choices such as reusing water.

Recycling grey water isn’t just for efficiency experts or gung-ho environmentalists; it’s something that every family can and should do. Grey water is essentially the used, but not overly dirty (non sewage) water that your household consumes.

Think about all the water that goes down the drain when you run the shower or washing machine. That water can be re-used. Keep reading to learn 3 ways you can recycle your grey water and save money on your water bills.

1. Washing Machine to the Garden

Washing machine drain lines are some of the easiest to convert to a gray water system. Washing machines that run on porches, in mud rooms or in the garage are easy to drain through a simple gray water line because you won’t need to go through any major walls.

The proximity of the washing machine to your garden is another factor to consider. Also, because grey water lines flow by gravity, you need to have the used water receptacle lower than the appliance being drained.

With a washing machine, you can easily attach a hose to the drain line and store the water in simple, fifty gallon buckets. When you’re ready to use the water, move it to smaller buckets and then use it to water plants and trees on your property.

When you’re recycling household wash water, you also need to be careful about what kind of detergents you’re using. You don’t want chemicals seeping into your land and plants, especially if it’s an edible garden.

2. Recycling Dishwasher Water

The most basic way to recycle dish water is to wash your dishes in a small basin, carry that water outside once you’re done and dump it on the garden. It’s easy and thrifty.

If you use an electric dishwasher, you can still drain the water. Like clothing washers, dishwashers are drained through a special hosing that keeps the cleaner water separate from any sewage. This water can then be used on your property for watering plants or washing your exterior walls.

3. From the Shower to the Toilet

Believe it or not, you can use your grey shower or bath water to flush your toilet. This simple method can be a fully automated process that involves a special grey water collection installation, or you can simply collect the water and fill your toilet’s tank with it manually.

You can also install grey water collection systems that funnel your shower water to an outside water basin that can then be used for watering your property.

Assembling the items you need to build your solar energy generator is one of the first things you do when starting a project, after you have read the do-it-yourself guide. So you start putting your shopping list together and find out that solar cells can be costly if you buy them new – no worries, with the right information you can find used solar cells. So keep reading and learn where to find those used solar cells that won’t cause pain in your wallet.

EBay – home to just about anything you could possibly find and that includes homemade power items, so it is the first place you should check. You can use other online auctions, but EBay is the most widely used and as so will most likely have more solar cells than you need. Note that you don’t purchase them individually, they are usually sold in groups (or lots).

Before you bid on the solar cells, read the details provided. Don’t bid a “new” price on a “used” item; also, if the solar cells are transparent you can expect to pay more. If you are bidding on a lot that says cracked or chipped used solar cells - don’t overpay and don’t despair, you can repair the chips and cracks. Email the auctioneer if you have any doubts about what you are bidding on.

A quick word on cracked or chipped solar cells; you should be able to get a very good deal on a lot of them. You will have to take the time to fix them but in the end the savings are worth it. Just make sure you know what you are paying for, the devil’s in the details as they say.

After browsing the online auctions, find out who installs solar energy in your town. Go visit them and ask them what they do with panels that are removed during upgrades or repairs. Most of the time they toss them out, their trash is your treasure. Offer to take them off their hands. You can salvage the used solar cells out of the old panels or luck up and be getting some panels you can repair.

The installer might not have any at the time you call or visit, but leave your name and number and ask them to call you. Check back on occasion so they don’t forget you.

Finding your used solar cells should be paying off at this point. But keep going there’s another place to investigate. Your local county highway department’s maintenance department.

Go in person, you’ll get much more accomplished. Ask what they do with damaged road warning signs, the ones that are solar powered. Ask if you can have them to recycle the parts. Once again, you are going to salvage the solar cells from the damaged equipment. Check with them often if they don’t have any at the time.

Lastly, research retailers of solar cells and get some contact information. Explain that you are looking for damage or used solar cells. Offer to buy any that they have had to take back due to cracks or bad packing causing damage. They will probably be happy to give them to you for nothing more than shipping costs.

It might take a little research and looking around to find used solar cells, but it is doable. And what can be more rewarding than making your own solar energy generator with solar cells you paid next to nothing for?

I have actually built my very first solar power system using the excellent Earth 4 Energy renewable energy guides and videos. I recommend you checkout this independent Earth4Energy review for further details.

Further resources on Solar Power Systems can be found here: Solar Power Systems.

Love makes the world go round. And an extension to it is making love to your partner. When you love someone, it can be taken to the next level by making love to that person. Making love connects both of you emotionally and it builds an intimacy that is very healthy for both. Lovemaking is generally full of fun and energy when we are young but after few years of togetherness, it might become just a mundane routine. Here is a list of four very helpful tips on passionate love making Overcoming Your Inhibitions.

How quickly do men fall in love is a question for women which she has been asking since the beginning of time. As women we know that man can be swept off their feet in an instant and once man fall in love all they truly desire is for the man to feel the exact same way. There’s really no denying that men fall in lust very quickly. A man can feel that rush of excitement that is similar to love but brought on by physical attraction within minutes of meeting a woman.

How quickly do men fall in love is it varies. All men are different, but they do seem to fall in love in stages. How quickly they move through those stages are what really matters and there are things that a woman can do to help push that process along. If you want your man to fall in love with you it’s up to you to show him that you’re unlike anyone he’s ever been with. The best way to show a man how unique you are is by being yourself and being confident. Men absolutely adore women who are happy with themselves and don’t make excuses for their shortcomings. Men want to feel as though they’ve won your heart by chasing you. If you’ve already professed your undying love for him, pull back a little. It will set him right back on the track to winning you over.

It is possible to bring the spark back into your lovemaking. All it takes is the will to bring it back and small efforts from both the partner, and try to give your full love to your partner to make your partner happy. To turn up the heat in the bedroom you need to captivate his/her heart again. Here are some proven secrets for doing so review of making good love.

There are actually two types of solar power system.

One is connected to the national grid and the other one is a standalone system.

When solar power system is connected to the grid it means that all electricity which you do not use will go directly to the grid.

To put it in another way you are spinning your meter backwards.

The solar energy system which is not connected to grid is very similar except that it has a battery bank for storing the electricity for later use.

In both cases there is an inverter which converts the direct current (DC)from the solar panels to alternating current (AC), which is what we normally use in our homes.

The inverter is connected to the grid through your electricity meter if you have a grid connection.

Both systems are easy to maintain and require little effort. If you do use a battery bank there is some checking needed for the batteries depending on what type of batteries you use.

The solar panels are very durable and they often come with a 20 years guarantee. In most cases they do last 30 years so after a few years you produce very cheap electricity and your costs will be very predictable.

solar panels are very scalable and you can easily add more panels and get more electricity if you need to.

A panel is simply a collection of solar cells.

Usually they are made of crystalline silicon, or a combination of silicon with another material. It can also be stacked layers of alloy materials.

The silicon is divided into tiny disks. They are less than a centimeter in thickness, and are then polished and fixed from any cutting damage.

Thin silver wires, are spread across each disk and they are laid out in a grid design on top of the panel.

Then it is covered with a thin layer of glass and a material added to the bottom of the panel with a type of cement cement to help prevent overheating.

The solar panels are mounted a little above a surface facing the sun, in order to allow cooling breezes to run under the panels.
The power from the sun is free and inexhaustible. This vast, clean energy resource represents a very strong alternative to the fossil fuels.

It would be a severe injustice to our children not to take advantage of such a widely available resource.

Rolf Finney