The Urban Permaculture Farm Magazine
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Heat your water or home for less than $500 Heating water for a shower or water to circulate in a floor radiator or under floor heating system is accomplished with the same method.
This is the concept. Anything black or very dark colored absorbs solar radiation or heat energy. Anything light colored or mirrored/shiny reflects the heat back up into the atmosphere. This process involves placing several feet of black hose in the sun and circulating a liquid inside the tubes to leach the heat out. This heat is then released inside a water tank for heating water or radiator system to warm your home. It is not possible to retain 100% of the solar energy. This is where the word efficiency comes into play. While black objects absorb much of the sunlight’s heat, some is lost due to reflection, atmospheric leaching and wind. Realistically we will be capturing about 60% of the solar heat. YOUR ROOF OR YARD. If you will be installing this system on your roof, measure the sq. footage and divide by 9. Example (20 feet x 40 feet equals 800). 800 divided x 9 = almost 89 sq. yards. This equals 81 sq. meters. 81,000 watts of power (10 times your maximum usage) in a perfect world. Subtract for efficiency and you are at 46,000 watts of heat energy. Consider that it is unrealistic to completely cover your entire roof 100% and you drop to about 10,000 watts. THAT IS STILL A LOT!
BASIC PLAN A HEAT EXCHANGER
The solar panel charges your battery (Optional if your panel is strong enough) and the system circulates hot water or Glycol into your tank. This heat is leached by the usable water in the storage tank. The 55 gallon drum can be replaced with a standard electric water heater. This takes some work but it can be done. The 12 volt batter charger is needed for days when the weather is cloudy for a while and your battery needs an additional boost or in replace of the solar panel. Strong panels alone are the best choice as they do not run the pump when cloudy or dark. This acts as a natural regulator for night.
BASIC PLAN B DIRECT SYSTEM
I personally use the direct system as the concern for chemical leaching is more for drinking purposes and breathing excessive stream. If you will be adding the system as a pre-heater to and existing gas or electric hot water heater, I would advise Plan A especially if you are a steamy shower type. I like warm showers and have my direct system attached to an outdoor shower. Black garden hose (not polytube) contains several warnings in regards to chemicals. This is a lead warning regarding the brass connectors. If you are concerned, cut off the connectors and attach with CPV as listed above. It is worth noting that ALL electric water heaters have plastic contact the warm or hot water so the chemical leaching is actually less in a direct system than a standard electric heater. Also since you ARE NOT DRINKING (never drink tap water) you actually get much less exposure than bottled water.
Attach several feet of black hose to the cold water, allow the sun to do the work (11am -5pm). 500 feet will heat
70 degree well water to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in one hour and 150 degrees in 3 hours. In summertime Central
Florida, I have experienced unused water reach 170 degrees in my 15 gallon system. A 500’ section 5/8” to 3/4”
holds about 10 gallons of water. As it is used, it gets gradually cooler but even at 2 GPM, the water is noticeably
warmer after the first 10 gallons are used. This past summer I filled three rain barrels for testing at 2 PM
Results: barrel one 50 gallons = 110F(first 20 gallons 20 F) barrel two 50 gallons (100 gallons continuous) 97F
barrel three 50 gallons (150 gallons continuous) 89F. Starting water temperature 72F. This was on our 9FT x
18F carport galvanized silver panels. This adds additional heat from reflection and the sheets, even though they
are silver colored, they heat up to 140F. I have discovered that black roofing acts as a passive heater to the hose
and works better than silver or mirrored backing. If you are deciding on a new roof in the future, go white, light
or silver, dark roofs are pointless in the south and increase global warming, drive up AC costs $30-$100 a
month depending on roof size.
VISIT GREENPOWERSCIENCE.COM for step by step instructions!
About the Author
Dan and Denise Rojas are back yard scientists, working on new ways to bring afordable energy to the masses. Check them out at wwww.greenpowerscience.com and on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/GREENPOWERSCIENCE where they have hundreds of green energy projects to try out.
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An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.
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