From the summer of 1999 till the summer of 2000 I worked as a maintenance mechanic in a small kibbutz in Israel. Most of my time that summer was spent unfreezing air conditioners and fixing the solar collectors that were used to heat the water for the hotel, the houses of the inhabitants and the various bungalows the hotel rented out.

We had three different system which essentially all worked the same. The sun heated pipes on the roof to near boiling, some with the help of parabolic mirrors others by using thin black tubes and the heating caused the water to circulate, the hottest water filling the boilers for the showers and the coldest water rising to be reheated.

Temperatures reached, in this very old system, were very high and I scalded myself repeatedly trying to repair the hoses that kept exploding because of overdue buildup of steam. I tried desperately to find the right valves for the system, but was left to come up with makeshift solutions, because of budget restraints.

Despite this, from early March till late October, the sun was all that was needed to supply hot water for the showers in the entire village. I both hated more…

www.greenpowerscience.com Boosting the power of a solar panel by using a Fresnel Lens and doubling the sunlight reaching the panel.

You already know that switching to solar energy can have a big effect on the environment, but you might be wondering just how big an effect. After all, can one person or one family switching to solar energy for heat and electricity really make that much of a difference on the environment?

Yes! One person or one family can save 20,000 tons of greenhouse gas from polluting the environment just by using solar energy to heat your hot water and heat your home. 20,000 tons is a lot of greenhouse gases! And that’s just if one home just switches to solar energy. Imagine the decrease in greenhouse gases that could happen if 20,000 people per year switched to using solar energy to heat their hot water and heat their home. Add to that the effects of reducing energy consumption by 50% if you use solar energy for electricity and suddenly the impact on the environment is enormous.

In addition to reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that you put out switching to solar energy has a big impact on the environment because you will be reducing the amount of fossil fuels that you are using. Fossil fuels are more…

Solar energy has many more uses than powering our calculators, and is becoming an increasingly popular option for those choosing renewable energy sources on small or large scales.

One of the easiest home applications for solar power is water heating. For solar water heating, a panel is installed on the roof of the house, which collects and transfers solar energy in the form of heat to a specially installed water tank in the house. The solar water tank is attached in tandem with the conventional water heater, so that if the sun has been shining, the solar water passes straight through to the shower. If however, it’s been cloudy, and the solar water isn’t hot enough, then the conventional water heater can supplement the heating.

The benefits of solar water heating are many, but topping the list are affordability (basic units can be bought that only operate in above-freezing temperatures), and ease of installation, as no changes need to be made to the home’s grid connection. Moreover, these units can supply upwards of one half of a family’s hot water needs.

For people wanting more extensive solar coverage, photovoltaic (PV) cells, and roof tiles are becoming widely more…

Hot Water Heaters have been around since their invention in the 1930s and are found in nearly every home that has a working water supply. They are uncomplicated devices, consisting primarily of a water storage tank and a means of heating the water within it. Naturally, there are also temperature control mechanisms, as well as inlet and outlet lines and important safety devices.

Water heaters come in three different varieties: electric, gas, and solar. Electric and gas water heaters rely on an external source of energy, i.e. electricity or gas, to heat the water. Solar water heaters, on the other hand, only rely on upon exposure to the sun’s radiant energy to heat water. With the cost of man made energy rising continuously and in short supply, solar water heaters have become a feasible alternative. Another alternative water heater, that uses less energy than conventional heaters, is on-demand, or point-of use water heaters. These are also known as tankless water heaters. Whatever their design may be, water heaters must be able to supply enough hot water to meet the household or business hot water need.

The outside, or shell, of a hot water heater consists of a non-corrosive metal shell and more…

In most homes today, hot water heaters come in two different types, gas or electric. Which one is used depends largely upon the availability and price of natural gas or propane, which can be more economical than electricity. Some homes are adapting to solar hot water heaters, but overall, electric and gas hot water heaters are far more common.

The difference between gas and electric hot water heaters is relatively basic. One uses a supply of natural gas or propane, which is piped directly into the home or delivered by a service company, and the other uses household electricity from the grid. The price difference between the two commodities is usually the deciding factor in making a decision about which type of hot water heater to use. Since they are approximately the same size, they are usually interchangeable with each other, wherever they are installed.

Gas and electrical hook ups should be completed only by qualified technicians or licensed plumbers. It’s always a good idea to check the local building code for any installation requirements that you have to follow. This includes the proper connection of the T&PR valve and relief tube, which relives a heater of overheated water if the temperature more…

This vid shows the various steps in planning and having a company (Real Goods Carlson) install photovoltaic solar electric power in my rear yard in San Diego; definitely more challenging than a roof installation. My rationale for this: reduce my carbon footprint, buy / own my energy (like I do my house), help address CA’s energy shortfall and take advantage of the state and US government incentives for early adopters to save on the installation.

With increasing climatic condition change and prolonged drought conditions in Ausralia, many people are trying to save water and energy on the dryest inhabited continent on earth.

The buildings in which we live, work and play, protect us from the elements but also shape the environment around us. The construction and operation of buildings requires a huge input of resources. The location of buildings and what resources are used affects the ecosystem in a number of ways. As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent people are looking for ways that can significantly decrease this impact and make their homes and offices healthier to live and work in.

Some of the biggest long-term challenges facing our nation are securing sustainable water and power suppliers for our future and reducing the production of greenhouse gases to limit the impact of climate change.

We live on the driest inhabited continent on earth, yet are one of the highest per capita consumers of water. Melbourne is experiencing the lowest level of water supply in many years. Yet we each consume, on average, 400 litres of water every day.

Many people assume that more…