Solar water heaters, also called solar domestic hot water systems can be a very cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use is free.

Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don’t.
Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank.

Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

Three types of solar collectors are used for residential applications:

Flat-plate collector
Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate collectors typically used for solar pool heating have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.

Integral collector-storage systems
Also known as ICS or batch systems, they feature one or more black tanks or tubes in an insulated, glazed box. Cold water first passes through the solar collector, which preheats the water. The water then continues on to the conventional backup water heater, providing a reliable source of hot water. They should be installed only in mild-freeze climates because the outdoor pipes could freeze in severe, cold weather.

Evacuated-tube solar collectors
They feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin’s coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiative heat loss. These collectors are used more frequently for U.S. commercial applications.

There are two types of active solar water heating systems available:

Direct circulation systems
Pumps circulate household water through the collectors and into the home. They work well in climates where it rarely freezes.

Indirect circulation systems
Pumps circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. They are popular in climates prone to freezing temperatures.

Hot water ‘free’ from the sun. That’s using our environmental assets to our own benefit and you can’t get better than that !

There are a few different ways to get fit while being eco friendly and they all help in different ways. One thing you can do is simply to replace short car journeys with cycling or running where ever possible. This cuts down on your carbon footprint and gets you fit at the same time so you can get fit the eco way. Around 20 Minutes of cycling can burn 100 calories and can raise your metabolic rate meaning you take the pounds off, and keep them off.

Another idea is to exercise for charity. There are many cycling and running events our there to help various causes so get involved in them more rather than signing up to a gym. If you do sign up to a gym, don’t drive to it! Try to find a gym closer to home and run or cycle in to it to cut down on pollution and get fit the eco way on route. If you can’t get to one close to home, organise a car sharing trip with friends or colleagues or take public transport.

You could also consider eco-running if you do normally participate in running regularly. Take a couple of carrier bags with you on your run and where ever you see trash that shouldn’t be there such as cans or bottles, pop them in your bag as you jog past and throw them in the next bin you see. This not only keeps you fit and works out your legs it’ll work out other areas of your body too and actively helps the environment and your local area.

When it gets to the time when you have to change your exercise gear such as clothes or trainers, find some eco friendly clothing or purchase clothing from a local charity shop.

Having more eco friendly homes is not just about the way in which people live inside them. It is also about what technology is used within the home itself, and encouraging the use of this technology wherever possible when building new homes, expanding old ones or simply adapting your home to a new eco friendly standard.

There are some great technological advances that really make a difference for eco friendly homes. Installing solar panels for instance can be a great way of reducing your electricity bill. More often than not the solar panels you encounter will be hot water panels. These heat the water directly around the system and then pump it into your hot water tank for use. These can however be costly and cost can go into the thousands.

For a more available alternative why not check your house insulation? There is a large range of housing insulation available that can dramatically reduce not only your heating bill but also your carbon footprint as well making an excellent first step towards eco friendly homes.

Switch your normal bulbs for energy saving ones! This technology got off to a rough start as the bulbs had problems with both price and the time it takes them to reach full brightness. This is no longer the case, they are still more expensive then regular bulbs but they last much longer and will save you money in the space of just one year. The bulbs available today react speedily and reach full capacity quicker then the original energy saving bulbs.

Make your self a compost heap at the back of the garden. Getting into a regular routine disposing of your kitchen waste to the compost heap will provide you with nutrient rich soil for growing your own home grown fruit and vegetables.

Don’t throw away those used plastic shopping bags! There are many household items we throw away every day we could easily re-use instead and help conserve the environment. Here are my top 5 ways to Re-Use Household Items and having a happier eco friendly household.

Shopping Bags
Store any used shopping bags you get while out and about shopping for a variety of uses such as small bin liners for waste paper baskets, or for when you just need to carry something over to the neighbour. You never know when an old plastic bag may come in handy.

Old Greeting Cards
Cut out pictures and shapes from cards to use for arts and crafts with your children. Make them into gift tags, bookmarks or paper chains. If you don’t have want to do this, or don’t have children you can give them to schools, play groups or art centres for children to make collages and other crafts. This is the most popular of our 5 ways to re-use household items.

Glass Jars
Reuse glass jars for storing dried food stuffs in rather than using open packets that have a tendency to spill out. Or store them for making homemade jams and marmalade. You can also use them for holding water when painting.

Old or Chipped Mugs
Mugs that no longer have a use for drinks can be reused as pen holders, paint brush holders or even as pots for small indoor plants on your windowsill.

Yoghurt Containers
Use yoghurt pots as plant pots by cutting a hole in the bottom, placing a large pebble in the bottom and then filling with soil ready for a plant. You can cut the bottom out and use them to protect small plants in the garden in harsher weather.

Old Salad Bowls
These are to be used to photograph an adorable baby. Do you need any more reason?

When it’s time to do some seasonal cleaning you can often find items that are no longer of any use to you but may be exactly what someone else is looking for.

You may come across all manner of things that you haven’t used in a long time. If this is the case, unwanted cutlery, dinnerware, saucepans can be put aside for charity outlets or, if you are up to it, you can list them for sale on eBay.

Now is the time to go through your furnishings. Make an inventory of furniture items that are outdated and need replacing. Maybe you feel the need for a change in decor - adding new colors and complimentary soft furnishings. You may have spotted an item of furniture that you feel would look great in your sitting room. Upgrade other tired items of furniture. If you plan to offload some pieces of furniture to make way for new furniture donít take it to the local tip if it is in reasonable condition and either ring a local charity outlet to come and pick it up or, if they are small furniture items that you can handle with ease, personally take it in to your local charity store outlet.

Go through your wardrobes and if you have not worn an article of clothing for 12 months, it is obvious you arenít going to wear it. Maybe you will find some items of clothing that just don’t appeal to you anymore, or you have lost or gained weight and they don’t fit you anymore. Gather them aside and bag them up. Go through every wardrobe in the house and get rid of tired clothing that is not used anymore. Even clean worn underwear can be bagged and handed to your nearest Opportunity Shop where they can be sold off as rags.

Go through your linen cupboard and put aside tired bathroom towels, bed linens, and even blankets, which the moths have got to minimally, can be sold off as Pet Bedding. Why would you take anything to the dump when a worthwhile charity could make some money on it?

Old magazines that you have neglected to throw out you may like to take to a nearby doctor’s surgery or nursing home where someone will benefit by reading them.

Children’s toy boxes can be gone through whilst they are at school, to avoid any dramas of toys being removed because, they are sure to kick up a fuss about any toy being taken away from them, even though it has parts missing or they have just outgrown them. Unwanted toys can be taken to your nearest Children’s Hospital where they will be sure of being appreciated.

Again, it is all about recycling. You would have heard that saying ‘One person’s trash is another person’s treasure’.

Maybe you could arrange with some friends to have a community garage sale.

The conservation of water both around and within the home has never been more important and there are many ways we can reduce our consumption of water.

Only use your washing machine when you have enough soiled clothes to make up a full load. When buying a washing machine look for the star rating energy efficiency sticker. Buy a washing machine that has a water saver i.e. a pump that allows you to recycle your washing water and apart from saving on water you will be saving on laundry detergent as well.

Recycle grey water to water your garden or lawn.

If you have a fish tank you will know how important it is to change 1/3rd of the water on a regular basis to keep the flora of your fish tank healthy. Be sure to use the discarded water to good use because it contains nutrients that are beneficial to both potted and garden tanks.

Install an energy efficient showerhead and faucet aerators. There are now available 4 minute shower timers.

When you brush your teeth don’t leave the tap running and fill a tumbler with enough water to rinse out your mouth.

Make sure your garden hose has an adjustable jet feature and preferably brass for longevity over the plastic ones. When washing your car use a bucket and a sponge. When rinsing your car make a point of using a hose with a fine jet and turn off the tap after rinsing your car. Donít just throw the running hose on the ground whilst you are washing your car. The environment would benefit if you could go to a car wash where water is recycled.

When planting trees or shrubs in your garden, install a length of black poly-pipe beside the roots, so that it extends marginally above ground level, to allow you easy access, before you fill in the hole. This will enable you to apply water to the roots of shrubs and plants, where it is needed and will prevent water run-off.

There are now available - crystal water beads that you can place within your pot plants to maximize water content and prevent pot plants from drying out.

Install a water tank to save precious rainwater from just running away.

The conservation of water has become a major issue with governments in relation to climate change. You too can do your bit in conserving water and if you have young children and practice active water conservation - they in turn will do the same. Children learn by example, so be a responsible water conservationist - because without sufficient water - our planet will cease to exist and, if our planet cannot sustain us, we too will cease to exist.