The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates that the average homeowner using electric water heaters can save up to 70% on the cost of water heating by installing a solar water heating system. This translates to a savings of up to $750 a year.

With soaring natural gas prices, the savings on gas water heaters continue to climb. Contact Pure Energy Solar to discuss the many water heating options we have available.

How it Works

Solar water heating systems come in two basic designs: passive and active systems.

Passive Solar Water Heating Systems
Passive solar systems have no pumps, controls, or moving parts. Passive systems come in two basic designs. One is the Batch Type Integrated Collector-Storage (ICS), which operates on in-line water pressure to move the hot water from the ICS to your domestic storage tank. The other type is a thermo-siphon system which has a separate panel and a well-insulated storage tank. These systems use the natural flow of gravity to move the hot water into the solar storage tank located above the panel on the roof. They typically produce between 60 - 80 gallons of hot water per day. The simple nature of these systems provides the most reliable and cost-effective solution for solar water heating on a smaller scale. Multiple units can be connected together to produce greater volumes of hot water.

Active Solar Water Heating Systems
Active solar systems have circulating pumps and controls, and typically use Flat-Plate solar collectors. These solar panels employ insulated metal boxes, copper pipes with black absorber plates, and glazing to produce hot water temperatures between 120 - 140 degrees ferinheight for domestic use. Because these systems circulate water through the collectors, they are better suited for producing large volumes of hot water. For that reason active solar systems are generally used for larger homes, or for heating pools and spas.

Benefits

Cost-Effective
An average household with an electric water heater spends about 25% of its home energy costs on heating water. In contrast to that, solar water heaters offer savings as high as 50% - 85% annually on utility bills over the cost of electric water heating.

Long Term
In addition to having free hot water, after the system has paid for itself in reduced utility bills, you and your family will be protected from future fuel shortages and price increases. Also, in some cases adding a solar water heater to an existing home raises the resale value of the home by the entire cost of the system.

Customizable Solutions
Systems can be sized to meet your current hot water requirements. As your needs grow, you can add to the system. If you move locations, you can take the system with you.

Ease of Use
Once installed, systems require very little attention or maintenance. No special training is required to own one.

Environmentally Friendly
Solar water heaters do not pollute. When a solar water heater replaces an electric water heater, the electricity displaced over 20 years represents more than 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide traps heat in the upper atmosphere, thus contributing to the "greenhouse effect."

Solar Pool Heating

Solar pool heating can be looked at in two ways.

First, it is an extremely attractive investment as opposed to gas heating, since it has a two to four year payback.

Secondly, if you are not currently heating your pool, doing so can extend the usage of your pool from just the summer months to almost the entire year.

Contact Pure Energy Solar to discuss what solar pool heating option is best for your pool.

How Solar Pool Heating Works

Using your existing pool pump, pool water is directed through a series of valves to your solar collectors, generally mounted on your roof.

Pool water enters the solar collectors at the bottom and rises to the top through the individual tubes of the collectors. As the water rises through the collector, it is heated by the sun's radiant energy. In hot climates, the collectors can also be used to cool the pool during peak summer months by circulating the water through the collectors at night.

In systems that include sensors and a valve, when the collectors temperature is similar to the pool temperature, filtered water bypasses the collectors and is returned directly to the pool.

The water is then returned to your pool to repeat the cycle until your pool has reached your required temperature.

Benefits of Solar Pool Heating

Cost-Effective
Solar pool heating is cost efficient, with a two to four year payback compared to natural gas, and it warms your pool without worrying about the rising costs of fossil fuels.

Long Term
A properly installed solar pool heating system is almost maintenance free; and most manufacturers offer 10 to 15 year warranties.

Customizable Solutions
Solar pool heating has the advantage of allowing you to start with a smaller system and being able to add more panels later. You must start with the right size heat pump initially, because it can not be expanded. Also, solar systems can cool pools in the hot summer by circulating water at through the collectors at night.

Environmentally Friendly
Solar pool heating systems use clean, non-polluting solar energy to heat your swimming pool.