A complete array of solar water heating solutions.

This guide has been written by experts in the field to provide you, a consumer, with information about the use of solar energy to heat the water you use in your home. It is no secret that energy costs have been rising rapidly in the past several years, and that conventional sources of energy are in short supply. As more and more people feel the impact of the rising cost and limited availability of some types of energy, increasing attention is being given to the energy available in sunlight. No longer just a fad for some individual experimenters, no longer only a subject for scientific and engineering studies, solar energy applications are now a matter of intense interest to almost everyone. Of all of the ways in which we can capture and use solar energy to meet our needs, providing hot water is perhaps the simplest and most economical for the homeowner. Many manufacturers now make equipment and systems to provide solar-heated water, and many firms around the country are qualified to install, maintain, and service them. The Federal government and several states even provide tax credits to help cover the cost of solar energy systems. But deciding to buy and install a solar hot water system still requires you to consider a number of factors---whether the system will save you money now or in the future, what kind of system to buy and from whom to buy it, whether to install it yourself or have it installed, and similar matters. This guide is designed to provide some of the information you will need to make these decisions, and to tell you where to get the rest of the information you may need to install or have installed a satisfactory solar hot water system.

The following topics are discussed: how solar water heaters work, making good use of the sun, estimating costs and savings, choosing the right dealer/installer, choosing the right system, warranties and contracts, getting a good installation, and living with your solar energy system. The appendices discuss system performance and durability, and provide sources of additional information on solar energy and its applications. (MHR).

Heating water with the sun is a practice almost as old as humankind itself. Solar Water Heating , now completely revised and expanded, is the definitive guide to this clean and cost-effective technology. Beginning with a review of the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, Solar Water Heating presents an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation and energy economics. Drawing on the authors' experiences as designers and installers of these systems, the book goes on to cover: Types of solar collectors, solar water and space heating systems and solar pool heating systems, including their advantages and disadvantages System components, their installation, operation, and maintenance System sizing and siting Choosing the appropriate system. This book focuses on the financial aspects of solar water or space heating systems, clearly showing that such systems generate significant savings in the long run. With many diagrams and illustrations to complement the clearly-written text, this book is designed for a wide readership ranging from the curious homeowner to the serious student or professional.