An Inventive DIY Drainback System

Just looking around for some interesting news regarding solar hot water heaters, and I came across this great article!

Apparently this Chinese farmer is getting hot shower water from this roof of beer bottles and plastic tubing. According to the article, "I invented this for my mother. I wanted her to shower comfortably," says Ma Yanjun, of Qiqiao village, Shanxi province.Ma's invention features 66 beer bottles attached to a board. The bottles are connected to each other [with plastic tubing] so that water flows through them.Sunlight heats the water as is passes slowly through the bottles before flowing into the bathroom as hot water, reports China Economy Network. Ma says, "It provides enough hot water for all three members of his family to have a shower every day. And more than 10 families in the village have already followed suit and installed their own versions of Ma's invention."
*Acticle originally found on Ananova.

What a great idea. However, a do-it-yourself solar water heater is very difficult to do right. A professionally manufactured and installed system will cost more than a few re-used beer bottles and some tubing, but in the long run, they’re less expensive than electric or gas water heaters. And you'll still have peace of mind, because you'll have a warranty!

DSIRE... A Great Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy

Check out this very useful site that's a great comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. DSIRE was established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. It's an ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

You ought to take a minute or two and check out the solar incentives in your state for installing a solar hot water system... they're practically giving these things away. Some states with the highest incentives are Louisiana, California, and Washington. Get on board with solar!!

DIY Solar Heating

There are a million and one thoughtful ways to reduce energy consumption in your home by means of solar energy. Although installing a solar water heater is one of the most effective and efficient, you can also cut costs and reduce emissions by utilizing passive solar design.
And to match the million and one great ideas, there's a million and two great web sites out there to get you started. Here's just one that's pretty helpful in establishing the basics of passive solar energy, from DoItYourself.com:

Using the sun to heat your home through passive solar design can be both environmentally friendly and cost effective. In many cases, you can cut your heating costs by more than 50% compared to the cost of heating the same house that does not include passive solar design.

Passive solar design techniques include placing larger, insulated windows on south-facing walls and locating thermal mass, such as a concrete slab floor or a heat-absorbing wall, close to the windows. However, a passive solar house requires careful design, best done by an architect for new construction or major remodeling.

Solar Tips

■Keep all south-facing glass clean.

■Make sure that objects do not block the sunlight shining on concrete slab floors or heat-absorbing walls.

■Consider using insulating curtains to reduce excessive heat loss from large windows at night.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/solar#ixzz0kSSmi5oC

Solar Hot Water In the News...

As this great article illustrates, going with a solar hot water heater is simple and economical... and more and more Americans are figuring this out. Read more from the Wall Street Journal here.

Water heating is the 3rd largest energy expense in most households, after space heating and air conditioners. Installing a simple solar hot water system is just the logical step in the direction of energy independence, and simply saving lots of money each year.

Many great points are touched on in this article. I really liked the statistics illustrated by Monique Hanis of the Solar Energy Industries Association trade group, which represents manufacturers and installers of solar products for electricity, water, and other uses. She says that hot water is the "most efficient way to use solar, short of passive solar where you're using sunlight to warm up tile or stone. You are locking in your cost rate for the next 25 to 30 years. It's basic, but it works."

Sounds crazy, but the benefits of solar hot water heat are just that great.

Welcome to the Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing Blog.

Heating your hot water with the sun simply makes sense. We have developed the new Simple Drainback System to make heating your hot water even easier.

Our designs save time and money on installations, training and maintenance. Simple plumbing methods combined with high quality equipment create the next generation of solar hot water systems.

Joining the "Green" Revolution

A catch-phrase? Yes. Have we jumped on the bandwagon just to look good? No. Is it simply our jobs to do our part in making the world a better place to live in? Yes.

Installing a solar hot water system has many benefits. Whether you want to help fight global warming, help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, or simply want to cut energy costs, installing a solar hot water system is in your favor.

The Simple Drainback Hot Water System makes it easy for you to join the green revolution. You can use your low maintenance system to heat your domestic hot water or even help heat your home. Going Green is a phrase we hear over and over. It's in the news, it's in commercials, it's a discussion at the evening dinner table. We're here to help you learn more about solar hot water systems and it's benefits, and to make the Simple Drainback System the easy solution for your home or business.

About the Simple Drainback System

Let's find out a bit about this new method of heating your hot water by use of the sun. It's good for the environment, it's affordable, and made right here in the Heartland. Here are a few more benefits of the Simple Drainback System:

•This system applies to almost any hot water application
•It's pre-programmable
•Fully automatic
•Long life
•Maintenance free
•High return on your investment
•Low-cost solar hot water
•Freeze protected
•Good for the environment, good for YOUR wallet!

The Simple Drainback System is just that: simple. One tank, one pump, one controller. For a quick explanation on how it works, click here.