Learn To Make Your Own Solar Panels And SAVE $$$

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Most of us associate solar power with a tidy array of blue panels fixed neatly to the roof of a house, happily paying our electricity bill for us. But solar electricity is not the only way we can harness the power of the sun in our homes.

Unless you are able to secure a significant government rebate, solar electricity will cost you an arm and a leg and take a very long time to pay itself off. However, installing a solar water heater is another very effective way to save money.

The benefits of such an installation are many. The most noticeable and immediate effect will be a significant reduction in your energy bill. Regardless of whether your current water heater uses gas, oil or electricity, getting a solar unit installed will slash the amount of energy needed to provide you with hot water.

There are other benefits too. By reducing your energy usage you are having less of an impact on the environment, and the solar unit will marginally improve the value of your home. Also, these systems work effectively in virtually any climate and latitude. Add to this the fact that it's very likely you'll be able to secure a rebate or grant to help with the installation cost and we can see there are lots of reasons to go solar for your hot water supply and none against.

There are a range of different unit types available, and you'll need to determine which is the most suitable for your home and budget. Active systems pump water through the panels and may be able to use your existing tank. Passive systems rely on the fact that cold water is denser than hot water, so they do not need a pump. They do need the tank to be mounted above the panels, which may not always be possible.

In areas that are prone to frost the heating tubes need to contain a type of anti-freeze. Such units have a built in heat exchanger and so may be more expensive than other types.

Be prepared to shop around to get the best deal. Most installers are willing to come to your home to give you an accurate quote and will also let you know what system is best for you. By getting several such quotes you will be able to determine what you should be paying and what system you want. The more quotes you get the better a deal you will end up with.

Find out more about solar hot water in the solar home heating section of Roger Vanderlely's website, www.green-planet-solar-energy.com. You may also like to look at tips on finding cheap solar panels for electricity production.

categories: solar hot water, solar, energy, renewable, home improvement, environment