How it Works
A solar thermal system or solar domestic hot water system is a system which can be used to either heat or preheat domestic water for use anywhere hot water is utilized. The domestic hot water load of a building is typically the second largest use of energy in a building. By using a solar thermal system, the energy usage can be dramatically reduced without sacrificing any features or comfort of the existing domestic hot water system.
What You Can Expect From The System
The solar hot water system will be able to provide free hot water from the sun and can be used effectively in areas where there is less sun and lower temperatures. Typical hot water heating wastes upwards of 25% of the energy used, since the energy from the sun is free and unlimited solar hot water is very economical and produces no emissions. By utilizing a solar domestic hot water system there is a significant reduction in energy savings and a water heating bill reduction of 50-80%!
Types of Applications
All solar thermal systems are comprised of three key parts. Collecting, storage, and circulation. The collectors harvest the sun’s energy where it is then transferred to a fluid which is used to exchange heat to the potable water supply. The heated water is now stored until it is needed for use. The circulation of the fluid through the system maintains the set temperature of the water tank and uses very little power to operate. This makes solar hot water a great choice for a variety of different applications. Not only can systems be used to heat domestic water but they can also be adapted to provide space heating, pool heating and snow melting functions. The simplicity and flexibility of these systems allows a solar thermal system to use the sun’s free energy to be used in any application where hot water is currently used.