Solar Water Heating System
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What is a Solar Water Heating System?

A Solar water heating system collects and generates the heat energy from the sun by converting sunlight into usable thermal energy - typically for producing hot water also known a s "domestic hot water."

Solar water heating systems, also referred to as solar thermal water heating systems and solar thermal systems, are typically mounted on a south-facing roof, with no obstructions (trees, hills, buildings) that would cause shading over solar thermal systems, at any time of the day. Solar thermal systems are classified as low-, medium-, and high-temperature collectors:

• Low-temperature collectors provide low-grade heat (less than 110 degrees Fahrenheit), through either metallic or nonmetallic absorbers, and are used in such applications as swimming pool heating and low-grade water and space heating.
  

• Medium-temperature collectors provide medium-grade heat (greater than 110 degrees Fahrenheit, usually 140 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit), either through glazed flat plate collectors using air or liquid as the heat transfer instrument, or concentrator collectors that concentrate the heat of incident insolation to greater than "one sun" and are mainly used for domestic hot water heating. Evacuated tube collectors are also included in this category.
  

• High-temperature collectors are parabolic dish or trough collectors designed to operate at a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and are primarily used by utilities and independent power producers to generate electricity for the grid.

The solar thermal systems performance rating is an analytically-derived set of numbers representing the characteristic all-day energy output of the solar thermal systems under standard rating conditions, measured in Btu per square foot per day (Btu/ft²/day).

In 2009, the average solar thermal systems performance rating for low-temperature solar thermal systems (metallic and nonmetallic) was 1,239 Btu/ft²/day, medium-temperature (air) was 971 Btu/ft²/day, medium-temperature (integral collector storage/thermosiphon) was 913 Btu/ft²/day, medium-temperature (flat plate collectors) was 981 Btu/ft²/day, medium-temperature (evacuated tube collectors) was 973 Btu/ft²/day, medium-temperature (concentrator) was 2,196 Btu/ft²/day, and high-temperature (parabolic dish/trough) was 1,262 Btu/ft²/day.

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What is "Net Zero Energy?"

Net Zero Energy - when applied to a home or commercial building, simply means that they generate as much power and energy as they consume, when measured on an annual basis.

The U.S. Army now has a Net Zero Energy initiative to help reduce/eliminate America's use of foreign oil  - particularly oil from muslim/middle-east countries - which saves the lives of our brave soldiers in the military.

Why "Net Zero Energy Matters

Americans spend more than $400 billion every year for electricity and natural gas for our homes and commercial buildings, consuming more than 70% of all the  electricity used in the United States, which is about 40% of our nation's total energy bill. This also contributes almost 40% of the nation's carbon emissions.

By standardizing on Net Zero Energy and upgrading existing commercial buildings to Net Zero Energy, the USA increases energy efficiency and reduces the purchases of energy from all sources, both foreign and domestic.

Net Zero Energy Protects your Financial Health

The average family spends $2,200 each year on the power and energy needed for their homes. A Net Zero Energy home can reduce this amount by 80% to 100%.

Net Zero Energy Protects your Health and the Environment

Did you know that buildings (homes and commercial buildings) are responsible for: 

• almost 40% of the our country's greenhouse gas emissions 

• 18% of the nitrogen oxides (emissions) 

• 55% of the sulfur dioxide emissions. 

These harmful emissions are generated from the combustion of fossil fuels, which cause acid rain, haze, smog and cause breathing/respiratory problems for thousands of people. By increasing the energy efficiency of our country's homes and commercial buildings, we reduce these harmful emissions while reducing our monthly utility and transportation expenses. Imagine, never again receiving a monthly bill from your electric power or natural gas utility company!  Having a Net Zero Energy home or business can do that, or provide the option to "cut the cord" to the electric company in the future. 

Every new Net Zero Energy home or commercial building helps our country reduce (energy-related) greenhouse gas emissions. There is a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels of 17% by 2020.

Net Zero Energy Protects America's Economy and Leads to Energy Independence

The USA is still dependent on foreign oil.  Each day, the USA shifts the wealth of Americans, to foreign countries and foreign jobs.  With oil at $100/bbl, Americans send about $1.3 billion for the foreign oil we buy which adds up to almost $1/2 trillion every year. And that's also costing America thousands of jobs. Net Zero Energy will help America become energy independent, create thousands of jobs in the USA and reduce our dependence on foreign oil from insecure sources and from countries that do not agree with our country's leadership or policies.

Building (and upgrading) homes and commercial buildings to Net Zero Energy with less reduces the problems relating to an old, inefficient electric power grid. Increased Net Zero Energy homes and commercial buildings also saves the need for building new central power plants running on fossil fuels, that are still highly inefficient at no more than 50% efficient. 

What does a Net Zero Energy home or building look like?

Net Zero Energy homes and commercial buildings can look like any other residential home, hospital, school or commercial office building, they do NOT have to be ugly or modern in appearance to be Net Zero Energy! 

And, your present home or commercial building can be updated to Net Zero Energy.

What is a Net Zero Energy Building ^sm

A Net Zero Energy Building ^sm produces as much energy as it uses over the course of a year. 

A Net Zero Energy Building ^sm is very energy efficient. The remaining low energy needs are typically met with on-site renewable energy. 

First of all, understand that there is no such thing as a "zero energy building!" EVERY building uses energy, or you may as well be in a cave!  

The important considerations are, 

1.  How efficient is the building?  

2.  How much energy does the building use, and how efficiently is it used?  

3.  How much renewable energy and clean power is generated by the buildings' own onsite renewable energy system?

4.  What are the utility company's prices for the excess power generated and sent to the grid?

5.  How difficult is it to interconnect the renewable energy system of the building with the utility company's powerlines/electric grid?

At the heart of a Net Zero Energy Building ^sm is the idea that any building can meet its energy requirements from low-cost, locally available, nonpolluting, renewable sources, like Solar Trigeneration^sm Energy Systems. Solar Trigeneration^sm Energy Systems are the idea whose time has come, to make Net Zero Energy Building ^sm commonplace.

Solar Trigeneration^sm Energy Systems Provide All of the Cooling, Heating & Power, for Any Size Building, with only the Energy of the Sun. Solar Trigeneration^sm Energy Systems Provide Simultaneous  Cooling, Heating & Power whether it is 12 Noon, or 12 Midnight,  and WITHOUT having to rely on the electric grid!

The Department of Energy developed the Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) and is pursuing the goal of marketable Net Zero Energy Building through research and partnerships. 

The DOE's CBI has developed tools and resources to help the commercial buildings industry improve energy efficiency at various levels of energy savings.