Make your Home Green

Advice & products for your Home

Hey there! Thanks for dropping by Theme Preview! Take a look around
and grab the RSS feed to stay updated. See you around!

Archive for September 2nd, 2010

Solar Power Water Heating



solar power water heating

Solar Powered Water Fountains

Why Solar Power?

With the high cost of fossil fuels rising everyday, alternative energy sources are always being sought. Solar power is nothing new but finding different ways to apply this “free” energy has become more popular. Large solar panels have always been available as a source for heating swimming pools and even homes. In very much the same fashion, smaller solar panels are now being used to energize both outdoor indoor water fountains. Fountains are features that run non-stop and so they require a constant energy supply. It is definitely more cost effective if you choose to use solar energy over traditional electricity on equipment and machinery that never stops running.

What is Solar Power?

Solar powered water fountains operate on sunlight that is collected by the small solar panels. The sunlight is converted into electricity that powers the water fountain just as if it were plugged into an electrical socket. Powered by Solar Cells, the fountains obtain energy directly by a pump system or by using a battery. Just like the swimming pool solar panels, some water fountains have wires attached to smaller panels that are then positioned in an area that offers maximum solar collection. If you do not like the look of wires (although they can easily be hidden), solar powered fountains are also sold with the panels built directly into the system.

What Types of Solar Powered Fountains Can You Buy?

There are a wide variety of solar powered fountains available. As the demand increases steadily, you may now find essentially any classic fountain design with a solar power option. Large stone basins with elaborate statuary figures, water pouring from an amphora, multi-tiered fountains, natural rock fountains, and geometric shaped fountains all are available using solar technology. Check with your local supplier or online for pricing. The price range varies as you can purchase a very simple inexpensive fountain for under $30.00 or special order an elaborate stone fountain costing thousands of dollars.

Solar powered water fountains are available in both indoor and outdoor styles. You need only ensure that the placement of your fountain can access sunlight easily. Solar powered water fountains have become a huge success in part to their remarkable portability. They are also easy to install but the hardest part is transporting the fountain from the store to its location in your home or in your garden. Or, if you prefer, a wall fountain. For those who like to run their fountains 24 hours a day, it would be wise to buy a small battery pack. The battery packs ensure that your solar fountain will not only continue pumping throughout the evening but also during heavily clouded days. Solar fountains with the option of running full time are priced a little more so you need to decide whether the extra expense it worth the money.

Solar powered water fountains are definitely a trend worth looking into as new solar option fountain creations are being sold more frequently. It is an overall cost effective way to enjoy the soothing sounds of trickling water and add aesthetic beauty to your indoor or outdoor surroundings.

About the Author

Elizabeth Jean writes water fountain and related articles for
Garden-Fountains.com
, the #1 destination on the internet for wall fountains, garden fountains, and
Distinctive Water Features
.

Solar equipment instalation. Solar power Water Heater. DIY solar energy panels. Solar kits


Grundfos 59896155 1/25 Horsepower SuperBrute Recirculator Pump


Grundfos 59896155 1/25 Horsepower SuperBrute Recirculator Pump


$70.22


Grundfos UP15-42F Circulator Pump (59896155) is for Closed systems with Maximum liquid temperature 230 F.Grundfos UP15-42F Features Built-in motor protection for longer life and better performance. Suitable for a wide range of applications, including radiant heating, hydronic heating, fan coil heating, solar and other system types. Whisper-quiet operation for sound sensitive installations…

HeatTrak HCM24-3 24-Inch by 36-Inch Outdoor Snow and Ice Melting Electric Heated Door Mat


HeatTrak HCM24-3 24-Inch by 36-Inch Outdoor Snow and Ice Melting Electric Heated Door Mat


$85.00


HeatTrak Heated Entrance Mat The HeatTrak Heated Entrance Mat is a safe and reliable heated outdoor mat that melts snow and ice so that your guests or…

Intermatic WH40 Electric Water Heater Timer, Grey


Intermatic WH40 Electric Water Heater Timer, Grey


$48.99


- External override switch – May be able to save if “time of day” rates are used in your area – Heavy duty 40 amp rating – Easy to install – Easy to program – Supply hot water only when you need it – 10,000 watts, 40 amps, 250 volts, 60Hz capacity…

Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Swimming Pools, Spas & more


Do It Yourself Solar Panels for Swimming Pools, Spas & more


$34.95


Solar Panel Instructional DVD & Plans for water heating. A simple step-by-step, DIY, easy to follow solar panel construction DVD. No special tools required. Sleek design, professional look and ease of fabrication. Heating system fully integrates into your existing pool piping network. 3500 watts (12,000BTU) of free solar power per panel. 10+degrees F increase in water temperature in one day. Engin…



 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$78.95


New

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$78.95


New

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


2008 Solar Energy Technology Report-Current Department of Energy Achievements in Solar Electricity, Thermal Space Heating, Hot Water, Power Production (Ringbound)


$52.47


Used

 2009 Consumer's Guide to Solar Power: Financing Solar Energy Systems, Heating Your Water With the Sun, Photovoltaics for Farms and Ranches, Government Guides (Ringbound Book and Cd-Rom Set)


2009 Consumer’s Guide to Solar Power: Financing Solar Energy Systems, Heating Your Water With the Sun, Photovoltaics for Farms and Ranches, Government Guides (Ringbound Book and Cd-Rom Set)


$80.95


New

 21st Century Guide to Solar Power and Photovoltaics: Green Domestic Power from the Sun - Practical Information about Home Electricity, Water Heating, Panel and Cells, Solar Energy Financing


21st Century Guide to Solar Power and Photovoltaics: Green Domestic Power from the Sun – Practical Information about Home Electricity, Water Heating, Panel and Cells, Solar Energy Financing


$9.99


Progressive Management,NOOK Book (eBook), English-language edition,Pub by Management, Progressive

 A Solar Buyer's Guide for the Home and Office: Navigating the Maze of Solar Options, Incentives, and Installers


A Solar Buyer’s Guide for the Home and Office: Navigating the Maze of Solar Options, Incentives, and Installers


$14.95


Solar power, once a fringe effort limited to DIY enthusiasts, is now fast becoming mainstream. Many home and business owners are curious about solar electric and solar thermal systems, and wonder how to go about getting a clean energy generation system of their own. The vast majority will hire a professional installer to do the job. But what should they be asking of these installers? What system makes the most sense for their home or office: solar electric, solar hot water, solar heating, or some combination of these?A Solar Buyer’s Guide for the Home and Office explains the options so that property owners can make the right choices both for their energy needs and their financial security. Understanding how solar power systems work will enable readers to be informed customers when dealing with professional installers-the book also provides advice on how to select a qualified installer and understand the expanding variety of tax credits and other incentives that are popping up around the country.The market for solar systems has been growing at an exponential rate and strong tax credits ensure continued growth even in a sluggish economy. Many of those who would like to catch this undeniable wave of the future are held back by widespread confusion. A Solar Buyer’s Guide for the Home and Office clears the air, allowing property owners to move forward with confidence to make their homes and offices more comfortable, environmentally sound, and secure against wild swings in energy prices.

 Alternative Energy Demystified


Alternative Energy Demystified


$21.95


There’s no better time — or easier way — to LEARN about ALTERNATIVE ENERGYThinking about heating your home with solar power but don’t know how it really works? Wondering what makes hybrid cars run? Alternative Energy Demystified shines the light on the various energy sources and technologies available today.The book begins by covering a wide range of heat sources, including wood, corn, coal, oil, gas, electricity, and solar heat. Propulsion methods are discussed next, including gasoline, methane, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, fuel cells, and more. Electricity from fossil fuels, water, wind, atoms, and other sources is also covered. Featuring end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam, this illuminating guide explains the technical basics of many different forms of energy — some that may surprise you!This self-paced guide gives you:A thorough overview of the various sources of energy To-the-point explanations and detailed illustrations A quiz at the end of each chapter to reinforce learning and pinpoint weaknesses A final exam at the end of the book A time-saving approach to performing better on an exam or at work!Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, Alternative Energy Demystified is your shortcut to a working knowledge of this timely topic.Stan Gibilisco is one of McGraw-Hill’s most prolific and popular authors. His clear, reader-friendly writing style makes his books accessible to a wide audience, and his experience as an electronics engineer, researcher, and mathematician makes him an ideal editor for reference books and tutorials. Stan has authored several titles for the McGraw-Hill Demystified library of home-schooling and self-teaching volumes, along with more than 30 other books and dozens of magazine articles. His work has been published in several languages.

 Alternative Energy, including: Solar Energy, Fusion Power, Soil Salinity, Geothermal Energy, Solar Updraft Tower, Solar Water Heating, Alternative Fuel, Industrial Biotechnology, Selective Surface, Wind Farm, Infinite Energy (magazine), Passive House


Alternative Energy, including: Solar Energy, Fusion Power, Soil Salinity, Geothermal Energy, Solar Updraft Tower, Solar Water Heating, Alternative Fuel, Industrial Biotechnology, Selective Surface, Wind Farm, Infinite Energy (magazine), Passive House


$20.1


Hephaestus Books,Paperback, English-language edition,Pub by Hephaestus Books

 Alternative Energy: Solar Energy, Soil Salinity, Methane Clathrate, Fusion Power, Geothermal Power, Windpump, Solar Water Heating, Wind Farm


Alternative Energy: Solar Energy, Soil Salinity, Methane Clathrate, Fusion Power, Geothermal Power, Windpump, Solar Water Heating, Wind Farm


$44.45


Books LLC (Editor),Paperback, English-language edition,Pub by General Books LLC

 An Investigation of Pv Powered Brushless DC Motors for Solar Pumping - An Autonomous and Elegant Integration of Electric Motor and Pump for Use with


An Investigation of Pv Powered Brushless DC Motors for Solar Pumping – An Autonomous and Elegant Integration of Electric Motor and Pump for Use with


$76


Typical solar domestic hot water systems use a liquid working fluid to transfer heat from the solar collectors to the hot water storage tank. This book presents the results of a detailed investigation of a unique design and integration of electric motor and pump to circulate the liquid working fluid. The motor’s energy source is electricity that is generated from the sun by a photovoltaic module, creating an autonomous heating system. The design under review is a brushless DC motor that utilizes the magnet of a “mag-drive” pump as its rotor. This motor and pump technology, and integrated design results in both increased component utilization and increased reliability. The power switching devices of the motor perform commutation and maintain the photovoltaic module at the maximum power point. The pump magnet acts as the magnetic coupling and the motor rotor. Increased reliability is achieved through the use of solid state power electronics for commutation and the replacement of a dynamic pump seal with a static O-ring seal. This investigation reviews each major component’s characteristics under a variety of conditions to identify appropriate design choices and areas for improvement.

 Artificial Ecosystems


Artificial Ecosystems


$14.23


Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher’s book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Biosphere 2 is a 3.15-acre (12,700 m) structure originally built to be an artificial, materially-closed ecological system in Oracle, Arizona (USA) by Space Biosphere Ventures, a joint venture whose principal officers were John P. Allen, inventor and Executive Director, and Margret Augustine, CEO. Constructed between 1987 and 1991, it was built by John Ophus. It also explored the possible use of closed biospheres in space colonization, and allowed the study and manipulation of a biosphere without harming Earth’s. The name comes from Earths biosphere, Biosphere 1, Earth’s life system and the only biosphere currently known. Funding for the project came primarily from the joint ventures financial partner, Ed Bass’ Decisions Investment, and cost $200 million from 1985 to 2007, including land, support research greenhouses, test module and staff facilities. At a size comparable to two and a half football fields, it remains the largest closed system ever created. The sealed nature of the structure allowed scientists to monitor the continually changing chemistry of the air, water and soil contained within. Health of the human crew was monitored by a medical doctor inside and an outside medical team. Biosphere 2 contained representative biomes: a 1,900 square meter rainforest, an 850 square meter ocean with a coral reef, a 450 square meter mangrove wetlands, a 1,300 square meter savannah grassland, a 1,400 square meter fog desert, a 2,500 square meter agricultural system, a human habitat, and a below-ground level technical infrastructure. Heating and cooling water circulated through independent piping systems and passive solar input through the glass space frame panels covering most of the facility, and electrical power was supplied into Biosphere 2 fr… More:

 Encyclopedia of Energy Technology and the Environment, 4 Volume Set


Encyclopedia of Energy Technology and the Environment, 4 Volume Set


$69.55


Used – This award-winning, four-volume set examines the impact of energy production technologies on the environment. In 235 articles, the A-to-Z work covers such topics as acid rain, air pollution, aircraft fuel, building systems coal combustion, computer applications for energy efficient systems, risk assessment, solar heating, waste management planning, water power, and more. This first in the Wiley Encyclopedia Series in Environmental Science, this valuable resource features extensive illust

 Essential C++ for Engineers and Scientists


Essential C++ for Engineers and Scientists


$119


Essential C++ for Engineers and Scientists zeros in on the key elements of good programming and C++, using a multitude of interesting and appropriate engineering and scientific examples. This book covers the features of C++ needed for writing engineering programs, including many features of object-oriented programming. Early on, the book makes some simplifying assumptions that allow the use of C++ topics without lengthy explanation, and then later discusses the intricacies of the features. Readers will come away with the confidence needed to solve problems with C++.This book covers the essential features of C++, including control structures, one-dimensional and multidimensional arrays, and file manipulation. It contains over 80 engineering and scientific examples and programming projects drawn from interesting areas such as solar heating, environmentally sound power production, water conservation, automated manufacturing, and pipeline and power grid modeling. The new edition includes material on member operators and more coverage of member functions, as well as expanded coverage of files. Two new case studies demonstrate full algorithm development. All code has been updated to comply with ANSI C++ Standard. An appendix on C is also included for readers who want to use this language.This book is especially appropriate for engineers (but also for scientists, mathematicians, etc.) with no prior programming experience looking for an introduction to C++, focusing on the features of the language that can be applied to their industry.