Praise the sunshine

March 31, 2011

If you're trying to figure out how to conserve water, particularly during the dry months of summer, solar water heating systems are the perfect solution. Don't be misguided by the assumption that solar energy is only viable in sunny states like California, as panels are often capable of storing sunlight for long periods of time. This ensures that consumers will still have an input of energy during multiple days of rain and cloud cover.

These units may sound complex, but in reality they're quite simple. They're usually comprised of solar collectors mounted to a rooftop, which transfer valuable sunlight to the storage tank with the assistance of a circulation pump. In climates that endure bitterly cold winters, gas or electric boosters are usually rigged to solar systems as a secondary means of compensation.

For those with swimming pools, especially in northern states like Vermont, heating the water is an absolute necessity. There are two different solar energy options for heating the swimming pool, including covers that float on top of the water and thermal collectors that can convert cold water into warm water through circulation and differential temperature controllers.