The 3 Types of Solar Heating for Your Home

Are you looking for a way to lower your energy costs that is both efficient and environmentally friendly? With the rising cost of gas or electric heat, you may be looking for an effective alternative. Fortunately, there are several choices available, one of which is the use of solar energy.

Today there are 3 types of thermal solar collectors-low temperature, medium, temperature and high temperature. And while the names may not be all that original and the concept of solar heating is not brand new, there is still much to be gained by opting to use solar energy. The use of solar energy works on the principal that what is gotten out of a solar collector is the difference between what went into the collector and what the collector lost to its outside environment. What is left is used for heating.

Low Temperature Solar Collectors

A low temperature solar collector typically loses nothing to the outside air as it works below the outside air temperature. An example of is a solar swimming pool which is heated by hanging a black plastic mat out in the sun, run pool water through it and Viola! Your pool water is warmed. In this scenario, the black plastic will receive approximately 95% of the solar energy and the efficiency drops significantly. This principle can applied to heating the water in your home, by having metal panels that are filled with water built or installed to the outside structure of your home. The water travels through these panels to your home's plumbing system. You can even have built water filtration added to the system so you can enjoy cleaner, healthier water as well.

Medium Temperature Solar Collectors

This is actually the most commonly recommended form of solar energy for residential use. It works by trapping the sun's energy in an insulated box, typically located on the roof of a building. As outside temperature rise the collectors retain the energy in boxes made of aluminum, copper, foil and low iron tempered glass. Traditionally, as the sun hits the shingles in a non-solar heated home the heat passes through, get absorbed or is reflected. The solar boxes, however, collect this heat and store it as energy to be released as needed into your home. In fact, sometime, there is so much energy collected, that your meters will actually turn backwards meaning that you are creating far more energy than you are actually using.

High Temperature Solar Collectors

Ironically, the high temperature solar collector is not seen as the most efficient as it requires thicker insulation, more cover sheets, or forcing more air from the collector. In fact, of the 3 types of solar collectors it only has a collector efficiency rate of 50% as compared to the 75% of the medium and low.

It should also be noted that studies show that solar energy materials will pay for themselves in 2-3 years and have a life expectancy of 20-30 years.

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How to Save on Your Utility Bills

With these tight economic times, everybody is looking for ways to save money. Your utility bills are an area where you can realize substantial savings with a little thought and effort.

The first area is with your lights in general. Switching all of them to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL's) can add up to significant savings over time. CFLs us up to 75% less energy than a typical incandescent bulb and can last up to ten times longer. The draw back is the up front cost which can be many times the cost of an incandescent. With CFLs you must be prepared to recoup your cost over a few years.

Next, is your water heater. By wrapping it with a hot water heater jacket you can reduce the amount of heat that escapes to the outside air. The jackets are inexpensive at less than $20. The energy savings you realize will depend on the type and size of water heater you have.

Also, you might consider installing an on-demand water heater. These devices only heat as much water as is needed at a particular moment. If hot water is not needed, none is heated. This contrasts to the standard water heater which keeps water at the desired temperature constantly regardless if it is needed at the moment or not. This means the heater must reheat the water over and over as it cools. Imagine how much wasted energy there is while you are work or on vacation! Again, an on-demand system is one in which you will realize savings over time since there is an upfront cost to install it.

The final area where large savings can be realized is with heating and cooling your home. The average home consumes most of its energy maintaining a comfortable temperature - upwards of 40%, in fact. By installing a programmable thermostat you can save up to 30% on your utility bills. These thermostats can be programmed to different temperatures depending on your schedule. For instance, if you leave for work at a certain time, the thermostat can be set to a lower temperature during the winter while you are gone. Instead of maintaining the house at 72 degrees it might maintain it at 60 degrees. Further, it an be set to warm the house back up to 72 degrees thirty minutes or an hour before you arrive home at the end of the day. In this fashion, you are never in an uncomfortable cold house and you save money!

Finally, you might want to consider replacing your air conditioner and furnace if you have old systems. New systems are so much more energy efficient that, coupled with rebates and government incentives, you can start saving a tremendous amount on your utility bills can recoup the install cost in about three years. The difference in energy usage for a new versus and old system can be quite astounding. Call your local HVAC installer to learn more about the specifics.

Hopefully, this article has given you some actionable ideas to help make things a little easier on your wallet!

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Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

What Are the 3 Types of Dehumidifiers?

Hot and sultry, muggy and sticky, there's nothing worse in the summer time than the heaviness of the humidity. In fact, for some states it's so bad, that you are drenched in moisture just to take a walk to mailbox at the end of your short driveway. And, when that humidity makes its way indoors, the days and nights can seem virtually unbearable. Fortunately, there is a solution. Invented by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902, dehumidifiers soon became the ideal way to cool one's home. Over the years the dehumidifier as evolved and today there are 3 main types of dehumidifiers.

All humidifiers work on the same basic principles, though each one varies somewhat based on the type. Like an air conditioner, the dehumidifier uses refrigerant. However, it does not cool the air...it actually warms it slightly which decreases the humidity thus making the room more comfortable. This is done by a fan, hot and cold condenser coils and a water reservoir.

The heat pump dehumidifier is used to pull out water form a building by using a heat pump which works much like an air conditioner pump. A fan is used to move the air across a frigid coil causing the moisture to condense. Then the droplets are collected in a bucket inside the unit. The air is then warmed by a second coil and then released back into the room at a comfortable temperature. The heat pump dehumidifier is considered the best one available.

In large industries, especially those in warmer climates, the most common type is a chemical absorbent dehumidifier. This type uses a chemical drying agent that works with a heat exchange wheel to absorb the water molecules from the air. The process pulls the damp air outside through the vents.

The third type of unit is the dehumidifying ventilator. These work with a sensor controller and an exhaust fan. These are less effective in climates where the humidity is especially high because the ventilators draw outside air into the house. Rather, the dehumidifying ventilator works great in basements but you must pay close attention to how it is working as it can depressurize a room and can cause gas spills...just be sure that if you have a gas furnace that it is properly vented and you will fine.

If you already have a dehumidifier, but it does not seen to be working correctly, there are a few things you can do. First you will want to make sure that it is the right size unit for the space it is cooling; then after you have turned the unit off, check the following:

• Remove the cover clean the condenser and the evaporator coils.
• Lubricate the fan motor bearings, if the motor has oil ports.
• Make sure the humidistat is working properly by testing it with a volt-ohm. Rotate the humidistat's knob as far as it will turn in either direction. If it reads 0 throughout the process then it is time to replace the unit.

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Geothermal FAQ's - Could a System be Right for You?

As our population grows and the earth's resources are strained like never before, many people have questions about geothermal systems but are not sure about some very fundamental concerns. Hopefully, this brief article can open your eyes to the potential of geothermal system.

How does geothermal work?

The basic principle is that a geothermal heat pump extracts heat from the earth during the winter and pipes into your home. This processed is reversed during the summer. The heat pump pulls the heat from your house and pumps it into the earth. This process is similar to your refrigerator. If you reach behind it you will feel a lot of heat. This heat has been removed from inside the refrigerator and pumped to the outside air.

The heart of a geothermal unit is the system of pipes buried underground to facilitate this heat exchange.

Are there benefits to using geothermal energy?

Yes. Geothermal energy is clean. There is no need for fossil fuels - which reduces our dependence on foreign oil. It is also a renewable resource like solar or wind.

Plus, it is a very cool conversation piece for visitors!

Am I in an area where geothermal can be used?

Unless you live in a very odd environment like the arctic, then you are almost certainly in area where a geothermal heat pump can be unitized productively. That said, there may be local consideration that prevent the installation. An installer would have to evaluate your specific site.

How long does a geothermal system last?

Geothermal heat pumps are very durable. Since the system does not have elaborate complicated parts and is based on a simple principle, your system should last many, many decades.

Would my geothermal system be loud?

Fortunately geothermal systems are very quiet unlike a standard HVAC system.

Will I save money using geothermal?

Yes! It is not uncommon to have heating bills cut by 20% - 50%. However, you will need to remain in your home for several years to recoup the installation costs in annual savings. If you plan on moving soon, a geothermal unit is probably does not make sense from an economic prospective. In general, it will take five to ten years to recoup the installation cost.

There is much more to a geothermal system but these answers should help you get started thinking about whether a system is right for you. The environment might just say "Thank You!"

For additional information on the topic of geothermal heat pumps visit Abel Onsite at http://www.AbelOnsite.com