Published May 14, 2008
by iris_author
Solar water heaters have been around for many decades now, but it has only been in the last few years that the technology has begun to escape the domain of specialized international development projects and alternative energy conventions.
Cost effective in southern climes where they are becoming increasingly popular in rural areas, solar water heaters are also coming into vogue in the north, where financial incentives in some jurisdictions are subsidizing the high start up costs that accrue due to the additional technical requirements for winter weather. When the savings in zero emissions and zero energy consumption are factored in, the technology becomes a vital weapon in the fight against climate change.
Recently, China has joined Israel and Spain as one of the countries where this technology is wildly popular. Indeed, the price of basic models in China has dropped considerably, going for about a fifth of the price in the West. China's advance is also seen in the improved technology that allows heaters to continue to function under adverse weather conditions. However, even this affordability has its competitors as pictured to the right with the beer bottle powered contraption invented by a carpenter in China' rural hinterland.
In the video clip below, the New Scientist visits the Chinese coastal city of Rizhao where solar heaters are being used to supplement electrical heaters:
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If you'd like more information on solar water heating systems, the Canadian government maintains a resource page that may be of help for the Canadian context.
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