Solar
Thermal Water Heating Systems
Solar Thermal is a technology used for harnessing the Sun’s
energy for water heating. And water heating is the second
highest energy cost in a typical household.
The two major parts of a Solar Thermal system are solar
collectors and a storage tank. A glycol fluid circulates
through the solar collectors, usually on the roof, to capture
the Sun’s heat. Then the glycol circulates through
a heat exchanger to heat water in a storage tank. The storage
tank then supplies pre-heated water to a conventional gas
or electric water heater, instead the water heater pulling
in cold tap water as make-up water. Most of the time the
pre-heated water is hot enough to satisfy the water heater
setting, and its heating element does not even turn on.
A Solar Thermal system will reduce the cost of conventional
water heating by 75-80 per cent, and it lets you be a part
of decreasing energy consumption, pollution and climate
change.
Georgia is considered a good area for Solar Thermal installations.
In fact we are on par with much of Florida in yearly average
solar radiation. The most important requirement for choosing
a site for Solar Thermal is to have un-shaded, due-south
exposure to the Sun.
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