Solar Water Heater – An Alternative Eco-friendly Technology
Water heaters are very much used by the developed countries. Earlier it was used as a luxury product, but in recent times water heating accounts for one of the second largest segments of household energy use, after space heating and cooling. The higher energy usage for heating purposes is creating immense pressure on the national grid for excess supply of electricity. Not only this, but it is also affecting electricity prices badly. Traditional heaters, such as geysers and boilers are even more harmful to the environment. The heating process involves the burning of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gas into the environment. In this regard, an alternative technology has come into the picture that can be used to heat water without harming the environment. One such technology is a solar water heater. It simply uses solar power to heat water.
In India, households and businesses are dependent on grid electricity for heating purposes. Water is heated using electricity from the grid, powered largely by coal, which is very harmful to the environment. Most of the households with lower income levels cannot afford to use hot water for their domestic uses. A solar water heater can work as an alternative solution to traditional water heating systems. India has advanced remarkably in the adoption of solar water heaters as alternatives to traditional water heaters. It is estimated that by installing a solar home water heating system, a family can save up to Rs 1000 per month on electricity, and a person can also get a good quality of hot water just like an electric water heater.
Solar water heaters are very economical and affordable because they have a low maintenance cost. India’s solar water heater industries have experienced huge growth over the past 15 years. The potentiality of this eco-friendly SWH market is estimated to reduce both economic and environmental costs of water heating in the long run. At present, more than 50% of the population in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra are using a solar water heater for home. In India, currently, around 1 million households are using solar water heaters and the growth rate is around 20%. SWH industries in India enjoy a lot of subsidy schemes and thus they are gaining popularity.
In India, the payback period for solar heaters is quite short. It substitutes the need for the electricity which is required to run power-guzzling water heaters in residential and commercial establishments. Solar water heaters are relatively easy to build and install and thus they are quite popular and are gaining success rapidly. Furthermore, low electricity tariffs have contributed a lot to the development of this industry.
People mostly prefer low cost and shorter payback period times. Thus, they have started accepting solar water heaters over traditional electric heaters. To increase the use of domestic solar water heaters, well-known solar heater manufacturing companies should arrange for educational programs to educate people about the benefits of the best quality of solar water heaters. A solar water heater can really help in improving the environmental conditions and can reduce electricity bills as well.
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Reduce Your Energy Bills With A Solar Water Heater
Isn’t it a great idea to get free hot water for the upcoming 40 years? If there is an increase in the energy prices by 6 percent annually, the households can save a huge amount over the decades by installing a solar water heater for a home that can supply 65 percent of their hot water. Yes, you will need to spend a good amount for the installation of the solar home water heating system, but this will increase your home’s equity instantly. You will also pay less utility bills. This will allow you to save money every time the rates rise.
Different solar water heaters might have different specifications but serve the same basic purpose. They gather heat from the Sun in a solar collector, transfer the heat, directly or indirectly to the water supply. The heated water is then stored in a tank until it is used. Solar water heaters are the best renewable energy as they are relatively simple and time-tested technology. A domestic solar water heater has very low operating as well as maintenance costs. The deal gets even better if we consider the environmental benefits of a solar water heater. A domestic solar water heater can reduce the emission of carbon dioxide gas up to 1500 pounds per year.
Here are a few things that you need to consider about a solar water heater –
Siting –
A solar water heating solution for the home should be placed in full or near sunlight all year. The optimum collector mounting angle, measured horizontally should be equal to the latitude of the collector location. An ideal direction for a solar collector is true south, but in most cases, it can be mounted within 30 degrees of true south and will be able to tolerate a small amount of shading. Normally, collectors are mounted on roofs but sometimes they can be mounted on the ground as well. They are not that heavy, even when they are filled with water. But make sure that your roof structure is strong enough to take the load of it.
Sizing –
A solar water heater cannot provide you with 100 percent hot water. There will be cloudy and rainy days in a year. Over the year, it can provide you between 50-75 percent of hot water. During the summer season, it can give you 100 percent hot water but during the rainy and winter season, the percentage might fall down to 50 percent. Be very careful while choosing the size of the collectors. It will be better if you can take suggestions from well-known companies like Solostar, before buying a solar water heater.
Therefore, a solar water heater is the easiest initial investment in renewable energy. You will enjoy hot baths with the satisfaction of getting the energy that comes directly from the Sun.
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Future Of Solar Water Heater Companies In West Bengal After Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world to a pause by impacting our lives and disrupting global business. Almost every sector has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The solar water heater industries in West Bengal are no exception. They have also been affected in these unparalleled times.
But according to market analysis, it has been seen that the solar industry is self-confident and potentially stronger to come out of the unprecedented global health crisis in the long term. A domestic solar water heater or an industrial solar water heater, with a life of more than 25 years has become the topmost priority for many of us now. There are several economic incentive packages offered by the Government that is required to comprise positive encouragements for the solar water heater industries in West Bengal. The solar industry can be complemented by substantial investments into critical infrastructure in the areas of digitalization and renewable electricity, which are now the crisis but expected to gain importance in the near future. In this way, it can help in the growth of solar industries as a whole.
Solar energy has very quickly become a financially stable industry. It is capable of allowing to increase energy autonomy at highly competitive electricity production costs (LCOE). Also, it should be noted that PV can be deployed more quickly than nuclear plants or fossil fuel. In these challenging economic times, like the covid-19 outbreak, state incentives can additionally contribute to the vigorous economic outlook for the development of solar industries.
Thus, it is a vital factor to state that the full picture to go solar has not changed due to the outbreak of this Covid-19 crisis, also it will remain in demand even after the pandemic circumstances are over. It has been studied that any disruption coming in the way of the growth of solar energy will remain for a temporary period only. It will not impact the growth on a long-term basis.
Solar industries are interacting with their customers and are teaching them the benefits of getting solar water heating solutions for home and also for industrial purposes. It will not only help the solar industry to be on track post-Covid-19 but help the household to reduce their electricity bills and make a sound investment for the future as a solar water heater can run up to 20 years. Lastly, implementing a solar water heater can reduce carbon footprints to a huge extent, thus saving the environment.
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Is domestic Solar Water Heater good For Your Health?
In today’s world, solar water heaters are becoming very popular, be it a domestic solar water heater or an industrial solar water heater. Now the question arises, is a solar water heater safe for our health? If any solar panel on my roof is directly exposed to sunlight, can it bring skin problems? As far as sunrays are concerned, the water you consume by using a solar water heater is completely safe for your consumption.
The ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause many problems to our health, like cancer and DNA damage. Not only that, but it can also result in ozone layer depletion that causes great harm to our environment. But the sun rays also contain infra-red radiation and this helps in heating the water in the best solar water heating system. Therefore, we can say that hot water generated by a domestic solar water heater is safe to use. However, it is recommended not to use that water for drinking purposes. Clean tap water is indeed entering into the water heater but the metal used to make the piping of the water heater can contain a huge amount of metals, like cadmium, manganese, lead, arsenic, and many other poisonous substances that can be harmful to our health. In course of time, the poisonous substances will get dissolved in water and if this water is used for drinking or cooking purposes then it can directly affect our health. Consuming lead and mercury for a long period might affect the protein synthesis of our body and can result in reduced body growth, hypertension, Alzheimer’s, can cause fetal malformation in pregnant women, and many other diseases.
However, there are many benefits of using an industrial solar water heater or a solar water heater for your home. Those are – clean and efficient water heating, non-intrusive, easy to maintain, no noise production, renewable energy source (can never get finished), and long-lasting.
This blog makes it very clear that the water heated up by a solar water heating solution for home/industry is absolutely safe to use except for drinking purpose. Thus, buying a solar water heater will be the best decision for you if you are interested in a long-term investment. Solostar is economical, safe, durable, and eco-friendly. We are one of the best solar water heater manufacturers in West Bengal. So don’t wait and get your Solostar Water Heater now!
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Why Choose Solar Water Heating Solution For Your Home?
We at Solostar believe in creating a greener world for our future generation. Thus, we have committed ourselves to manufacture products that can help in the conservation of energy so that our future generation can also use them. Not only this, we are deeply committed to making the world rely on renewable energy sources. Hence, we manufacture the best solar water heating system which can help us conserve non-renewable energy sources.
We know solar energy is a clean and renewable source of energy. This eliminates the need for electricity that is produced from fossil fuels or natural gases. If you use a domestic solar water heater, you can save a ton of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. If household heating does not take place then it can also reduce nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, and other pollutants from harming the environment. Carbon dioxide can be one of the biggest ill effects of burning coal. But several studies have shown that mercury and other toxic metals can also make their way into ponds, rivers, and lakes, polluting those water bodies. But by using a domestic solar water heater, you can prevent water pollution and save human lives by ensuring a cleaner atmosphere.
It makes perfect sense to own a solar water heating solution for your home as its price is not very high. Moreover, it operates on solar energy and cancels out the need for electricity. An Indian household spends a huge amount on electricity bills every year. Just by changing your water heating technology from a geyser to a domestic solar water heater, you can save up to 80% on your electricity bill. Isn’t it amazing? If you buy the best solar water heating system from renowned manufacturers, like Solostar, then you will find that a solar water heater is extremely durable and can run for 20 years on an average. You don’t need to worry about the rainy and winter seasons. A solar-powered heater can utilize at least 80% of the solar energy and if it is a cloudy day, the backup of the solar water heater will kick in and provide you hot water for your household work.
So, these are the reasons why using a domestic solar water heater can be more beneficial than using an electric water heater for your home. At the end of the day, if you are using a solar water heater then you are saving your own environment by reducing carbon footprints and contributing to a greener and healthier world.
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5 Frequently Asked Questions With Answers About Domestic Solar Water Heater
Many questions might come to your mind before purchasing a solar heating solution for your home. A solar water heater is a new invention that has come into the market recently. It can provide you with warm water as well as help in reducing your energy bills. Here are the answers to 5 frequently asked questions that usually come across while purchasing a domestic solar water heater – What is a solar water heater?
It is a device that captures sunlight for heating water. The photovoltaic panel captures the sunlight during the daytime, heats the water, and then the water is transferred to the storage tank. The tanks have layers of insulation, keeping the water warm for a longer time. A number of configurations of a solar water heater are available depending upon the cost.
How to decide the capacity for a solar water heater?
Normally, the capacity is decided depending upon the usage per day. If there are 3-4 members in your family then a 100 liters capacity system will be sufficient to serve the purpose. But if the number of users is more then you need a high capacity system.
How much energy can a solar water heater save?
You will see a change in your energy bills after the installation. A domestic solar water heater is more effective than a conventional water heater. 100 liters capacity system can save up to 1500 units of electricity in a year. It also helps in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.
How much cost does it require to install a solar heating solution for a home?
The cost of a solar heater varies between Rs 15000 to Rs 20000 per 100LPD of installed capacity. It also depends upon the type of solar water heater that has been installed. However, if you go for a higher capacity solar water heater then the cost will eventually decrease at a proportional rate.
What is the time required to complete the installation process?
For a house with easy access to the roof and ready inlet and outlet piping, a solar water heater can be delivered and installed in less than 5 days. It takes less than an hour to complete the process of installing a domestic solar water heater.
Buy a solar water heater and move a step ahead to protect our Mother Nature by reducing the usage of non-renewable natural resources, decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases, and also by keeping your electricity bill in check!
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Benefits Of Solar Water Heater For Your Home
Heating is very expensive as it requires gas or electricity. For domestic use, we normally use domestic boilers that run on gas or sometimes we use electricity to heat up something. To save our non-renewable natural resources solar water heater has come into the picture which uses solar energy for heating up water. Solar heating solutions for our home can reduce the consumption of gas and electricity, saving natural resources as well as it will be very much cost-effective also. Here are the benefits of using a solar water heater for home –
They do not consume electricity – A solar water heater does not need electricity or fuel to operate. It only needs sunlight. As a result, it saves our natural resources, and also by using solar energy there is no emission of carbon dioxide. Hence it is also contributing to protecting the environment.
Zero Operating Cost
Operating costs are very negligible for a solar heating solution as it does not have any moving electronic parts. But periodic maintenances are necessary to keep the heater working efficiently. However, during monsoon season you might need an electric backup heater due to cloudy weather and heavy. But again the cost will remain minimum only than using a geyser or an electric rod.
They Can Work During A Power Cut
During power cuts also a solar water heater can deliver hot water and you don’t need to wait for the power to come to switch on your geyser, Also, a solar water heating solution can give you instantaneous hot water if you have a good plumbing line.
They Can Work For Several Days Without Sunshine
Solar water heaters have large water tanks which have layers of insulation. These layers are thick enough to keep the water warm for 3-4 days. Over the night some heat will lose, but that is very negligible. When there is continuous rainfall for 3-4 days the stored water can be used.
Easy To Install And Long Life
A solar water heater does not require much time to install if it has an existing plumbing line. Also, the installation process is very easy. It is very durable. In areas where the water quality is not so good, it can last up to 7 years and in areas, with good water quality, it can last up to 15 years also.
Therefore, a solar water heating solution offers more benefits than a geyser or an electric rod. They can be used for multiple reasons and are best suited for your home saving your cost to a huge extent.
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3 Reasons To Choose Solar Water Heater Instead Of Solar Panels
When we talk about solar energy, there are so many devices and technology available nowadays for common people’s use. People tend to debate about whether they should buy solar panels or a solar water heater. Although both are quite similar technologies, a debate always goes on about which one is more beneficial and which one is going to be more efficient. Both these technologies use the same source of power which is the sunlight but they both give very different results.
Solar panels are known to turn sunlight into electricity which can run almost the whole house while solar water heater turns sunlight into heat energy in order to heat the water in the tank. Although both give different results they are similar in efficiency and they both are environment-friendly.
So, as a customer, it might be that you would prefer to buy solar panels instead of solar water heating system. Producing electricity for the whole house instead of paying the electricity bill can be a great save of your money. But instead of banking all your trust on solar panels, you can also try using the solar water heater. Here are some reasons why solar water heater can be a better choice than solar panels.
For A Simpler Life
Solar panels have a lot more complications. The cost and maintenance for solar panels are much more. You will need to keep controlling it for your usage and give much more attention to it. Solar water heater, on the other hand, is easy to use. Once you install it, you can simply forget about it. It will keep producing hot water on its own throughout the day as long as sunlight is available. You won’t need to keep checking on it and the maintenance required for it is quite minimum.
An Elegant Solution
The technology and engineering used in solar water heater system are much more elegant and simple than solar panels. While solar panels can be feasible and suitable for most commercial purposes, a solar water heater is much more suitable for domestic purposes. Instead of turning sunlight to electricity and then to heat energy in order to get hot water, solar water heater shortens the process and directly turns the solar energy to heat energy.
Availability Of Roof Space
The availability of roof space is a major factor in installing any solar-powered technology. While solar panels tend to take up a lot of space, the solar water heater doesn’t take up much space at all. Whether you live in a big house or a small one, the solar water heater can be easily installed anywhere as long as sunlight is available.
Therefore, choosing a solar water heater can be a better solution for a lot of people to make their life simpler.
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How To Protect The Collectors Of Your Solar Water Heating System?
Every part of a solar water heating system is essential and that includes the collectors. The collectors of a solar water heating system are known to collect the sunlight or solar energy to turn it into heat energy. So, if these collectors are not maintained properly, the whole solar water heating system will stop working. One of the problems that occur with a solar water heating system is that on the hot days these collectors tend to overheat.
On a hot summer day, the collectors absorb solar energy more than normal and the solar water heater generates enormous amounts of heat. But the demand for hot water decreases on a hot day, especially for domestic purposes. This gives birth to a condition known as stagnation.
Stagnation is the situation which occurs when the water storage tank heats up to maximum temperature very early in the day. In turn, the movements through the solar collector stops and thus the fluid present in the system starts to get hotter and hotter. This results in a high pressure due to the high temperature that can damage the system in long run. It usually happens due to the contraction and expansion of the system due to heating and cooling.
Also, when the anti-freeze gets overheated every day, it can become acidic which will then react with all the other elements and becomes corrosive. This corrosive element if circulates throughout the system, it will break down all the components in the long run.
In order to keep your solar water heating system running in the long run, you will need to give your solar collectors some overheating protection. The easiest way to do that is to cover your panels or collectors. If your system has accessible flat plate panels, cover them with sheets of plywood. But this is mostly possible if it is installed on the ground. The plywood sheets should fit the panel exactly so that not only it covers it wholly but it also doesn’t damage the panels due to wind.
If your solar water heating system consists of an evacuated solar tube, you can use a customized shade screen to cover them during the hot days. Make sure this shade screen is made with good material that won’t damage your system in any way but can also prevent the collectors from overheating.
Therefore, if you have a solar water heating system in your home, you should take care of your system and prevent overheating.
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4 Factors That Can Convince A Customer To Buy A Solar Water Heater
Even though the demand for domestic solar water heaters have increased a lot than it was five years ago, many are still hesitant to buy one for their homes. Due to the high price of this technology, it is not always the first choice for everyone. Even though it saves money and it is eco-friendly, not everyone wants to commit to such options. So, how to convince common people to use domestic solar water heater for their homes? Although it is the decision of the people, there are still some factors that will convince you to buy one.
Discussions With You, The Customer
There has been an increase in the number of people showing interest in solar technology over the last few years. Also, with Prime Minister emphasising on ‘Atmanirbhar’ and solar power, this interest in people have increased ten-fold in this year. Discussing the pros and cons of a domestic solar water heater or solar power in general with the customer is our job. Telling them about the incentives and rebates or the advantages they will be gaining is a way to convince them.
Governmental Intervention
As the Indian government is emphasising on the usage of solar power, there are several benefits they also provide to the common people. Not many people might be aware of it but various states offer a subsidy for using renewable energy. Getting subsidy is a great reason to buy a domestic solar water heater, especially when the electric and gas water heaters only seems to increase your expenditure
Increasing Public Awareness
People need to be more aware of all these systems. Even if some houses use solar panels, the domestic solar water heater is still not much in use. Many are not aware of how these systems work or how it can benefit them economically and environmentally. Many are still now not even environmentally aware. If you get a better understanding of all these factors, you will be able to invest in it without any hesitation.
Discounts and Special Deals
This is one thing that most customers are unable to ignore. Government providing incentives are not always enough. To make sure that solar power reaches in every household, the issue of price needs to be addressed. Offering special deals and discounts are one way to convince the customer to invest in a domestic solar water heater. Offering special deals depending on the time of the year, especially in winter can motivate the customer to buy one.
Finally, whether you invest in a domestic solar water heater or not is up to you but while buying a water heater, do make an informed decision after considering all these factors.
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