Solar Window Heater

Those who need more heat in their homes or only in some rooms should know that an eco-friendly device has been invented for helping them in this matter. Some people have one or two rooms facing south but they still feel chilly inside them. This can happen if that room has a small window that does not allow sufficient sun light to come in and warm the room.

The eco-friendly device we mentioned previously uses the sun for warming the chilly rooms. This device can only be installed in the rooms that are facing south as they can work only by using the sunlight as a source of energy. This device is known as a solar window heater. Its size is can vary from window to window and it is framed in clear pine for paining. You might imagine this device as a box that has a panel made from aluminum (this is the collector) behind a sheet of thin wood on the inside and a sheet of air tight Plexiglas on the outside, so that it can trap the collected heat. Inside the box there can be found two baffles that are made to look like a maze. This will allow the air to be heated continuously as it goes inside the box through the fan.

You should know that the aluminum collector panel has to be finished in flat black so that the sun absorption is made at maximum capacity. During the sunny days the panel can reach temperatures of 140 or even 170 degrees. Nowadays you can find on the market a new solar window heater model made from copper instead of aluminum. This solar window heater is also finished in flat black for the same previous reasons we mentioned.

Inside the panel there usually is a thermostat switch. In the sunny days when the temperature raises a lot if the temperature of the heated air reaches 120 degrees then the thermostat switch will automatically turn the fan on. In the moment the heated air reaches the temperature of 90 degrees then the fan will be turned automatically off.

You might think that it is costing to have an automatic fan opener installed on the solar window heater. Well, we have made some calculations and here are our conclusions: you will have to pay for the activity of the automatic fan opener about 3$ per year! So, don’t get cheap and ask for an automatic fan opener for your solar window heater as it will worth it.

Buying a solar window heater is somewhere about 100$ but if you want you can make it yourself with only 50$ you pay for the materials. There are a lot of guides on the internet that can teach you how to do this, step by step, so do consider having a solar window heater installed in your house as you will save a lot of money for warming up your rooms by avoiding the classic ways of house heating.

Solar Cooling

When talking about solar cooling most of the people that hear this will probably laugh and ask themselves how can the sun cool anything? Well, this is quite possible. Thanks to a new technology people can now heat their homes during winter and cool their houses during summer by using the energy offered by the sun. A lot of money can be saved by using such ecological technologies.

Such a magic object that can do both of these tasks is the solar panel. There are a few methods that can be used for cooling a house. The first is an easy one that is based on a coolant that has its main function of absorbing and dissipating heat from the house. Such a cooler can be a pool built on the rooftop of the home. It will absorb the excessive heat from inside the home and will evaporate it because the pool is exposed to the sun.

Another solar cooling method is using a solar collector that is shaded during the day. Such a solar collector is a solar panel. Normally its function is to absorb heat from the sun and warm the house with the energy produced through a complicated scientific process. But if we shade the solar panel during the day, he will only absorb enough solar heat to warm the house during the night when the panel will be exposed to the cool night air. As the solar panel has to be shaded a good solution is installing a retractable awning or overhand extension. During winter the system can be reversed and the solar panel will not be used as a solar cooling any more but will be used for heating the house.

Solar cooling is done most efficiently during the hottest summer days of the year as during those days the sun offers a lot of heat for the solar panel’s photovoltaic cells and a lot of energy can be produced. You can connect your air conditioning system to the solar panel and cool your house with no cost as enough energy will be produced for a good functioning of the air conditioner. This way you will no longer have to worry about the electricity bills you have to pay for a cooled house.

It seems Romans used solar cooling for their homes too. They used a running water system to cool down the exterior walls of the house. As the sun became more and more heating the water would have evaporated this way dissipating the heat within the house. Such a system can be well applied to our homes too, either on walls, wither on rooftops.

Using solar cooling systems and solar heating panels is a good thing. You protect nature and you also save your budget for spending it on family activities for example. If we become less dependent to the fossil fuels we might have a chance of protecting the environment that is already suffocated by some of our industrial activities.

Solar Collector

Are you already thinking that winter is coming and your electricity bills will get you to bankruptcy? Are you in search of a cheap method for warming up your house? We have the answer to all your questions here: try using a solar collector.

The solar collector is an eco-friendly device used nowadays more and more by homeowners to heat rooms and water with no cost. A solar collector is a device that absorbs, collects and transforms the solar energy into power for heating up rooms, warming water or providing light during the night. The key element of the solar collector is the absorber. An absorber is normally made up of several narrow metal strips. A heat carrying pipe is connected to these metal stripes and allows a heat carrier fluid flow right trough it. Sometimes the absorber is flat-plat. In this case the medium will flow between two sheets that are sandwiched together.

here are many types of solar collectors: the glazed flat plat collector, the unglazed flat plat collector, the liquid based collectors, the air based collector and many more.

The glazed flat plat collector is one of the solar collector types that work as an active solar heating system. They mainly consist of an insulated metal box with a cover made of plastic or glass (this is the glazing) and an absorbing plate that is dark colored. The dark plate is used for absorbing the solar radiation that it is then transferred to a fluid that circulates in the tubes of the solar collector. His is the device that uses liquids but there are air based collectors that use air instead of the liquid for transporting the solar energy.

Experts advise us to use glazed collectors for heating up domestic and commercial water and eventually indoor pools. The unglazed collectors are mainly designed for heating the water from outdoor pools and for drying crops.

These types of flat collectors can be installed anywhere but they are mainly placed on the roofs and in the roof itself.

In choosing the right solar collector we must all think about the material we are going to heat with the solar collector. As an example you should know that an uncovered solar collector is not recommended to be used for producing process heat. We must also take in consideration the exposure to storms, the space we can provide for installing a solar collector and the amount of the radiation on that spot. When buying a solar collector we must buy components that are all of the same high quality and capacity or else we will not receive the expected power from the solar collector.

When deciding to have a solar collector installed on our property it is best to consult before with a specialist and see what he recommends in your specific case. As your needs might be different than the needs of your neighbor or friend don’t buy the same solar collector they have bought, buy the one that specialists say suit your needs best.

Solar Power

Solar Power

It is very important to understand what the solar power is and how it works, in order to collect and give utility to this energy in the most efficient way. Sunlight is turned into electricity by the solar cells also known as: photovoltaic or photoelectric cells. For example: in a sunny climate one can produce solar power to run a 100w light bulb from one single square meter of solar panel. Solar power may be used to heat water in your home (through glass panels situated on your roof) and eventually to use less gas to heat your entire home. Battery chargers, hand-held calculators, and solar powered garden lights may use successfully solar power.

The only disadvantage of the solar power is that it might not work at night. Among the advantages of the solar energy are: no costs and there are no fuels, waste, or pollution expelled. Solar energy may be very useful in small villages where is difficult to draw energy from elsewhere. Solar furnaces are used to concentrate energy absorbed with mirrors strategically placed.

In the United Kingdom solar power is usually used for the purpose of small or low-powered devices, because the climate is not adequately bright and sunny to provide a large quantity of solar energy. In such a place you would need a huge area to place solar panels for an appropriate amount of energy.

Uses of solar power

Solar power is the energy released by the sun. Solar power is gaining sympathy as a safe and popular alternative source of energy. It may successfully replace our fossil fuel reserves because they are decreasing and they have a negative environmental impact when burned down to produce energy, another reason is the higher and higher price at energy. The energy generated by the sunlight (solar power) is free and harmless to the environment.

Solar power is widely used in remote locations where you do not have conventional sources of power and for Recreational Vehicles (RV) and luxury boats, but it may also be used in your home for example for gardening lighting. One of the disadvantages in using solar power is: the large size of solar panels, but those can be replaced with solar photovoltaic roof shingles or tiles that look almost the same with normal roof tiles and provide the electrical energy to use in your home to heat water, the house, your pool and for your everyday needs. In some areas water pumps may be powered with solar energy.

Although, watermills were used in this aim, nowadays the tendency is to replace them with energy from the sun known as solar power. If you want to purchase an installation of solar power devices you may be offered government grants, but if you have no possibility of buying all those devices you may directly buy solar power from the grid. Nowadays solar power is highly recommended by specialists because it helps protecting the environment and helps you lowering your electricity bills that tend to be higher and higher.

Solar Pool Heating

Solar Pool Heating

· Pool covers are the most cost effective measure to reduce heat loss, water evaporation, and chemical use.

· The amount of collector area required is 50 to 100% of the square footage of your pool. The amount varies depending on collector efficiency, site considerations (orientation, wind) and owners preferences.

· Ideally the collectors should face south and be tilted between 20 and 32 degrees.

· Indoor pools, used year round, require glazed, flat plate collectors, which should slope between 35 and 45 degrees.

· Roof top vent pipes etc. will interfere with the installation of some types of collectors.

· Due to poor orientation, or lack of rooftop space, pool collectors are sometimes "ground mounted" on a frame constructed near the pool.

· Most brands of pool collectors must drain completely when not in operation, to prevent damage due to freezing conditions.

· All outside plumbing must drain back to the pool when the system is off.

Manual, seasonal drains, are sometimes required.

· Paint all exposed PVC plumbing, to protect it from damage due to solar energy.

· An additional booster pump may be required if your existing pump is undersized for the system.

· Manual operation, or a simple 24 hour timer maybe substituted for expensive automatic controls.

· Always isolate the solar system when backflushing your filter.

Solar and Efficiency for Swimming Pools

Solar heating of swimming pools is one of the most economically practical uses of solar energy. A solar system allows you to extend your swimming season, gives you more control over water temperatures and for many installations there is no increase in operating costs.

First Things First - Reducing Energy Losses

The most practical and economic step in extending you swimming season is the use of a pool cover. As much as 70% of all the heat gained by a pool is lost through evaporation and when you include losses from radiation and convection the idea of heating a pool without a cover can be compared to heating a home with all the doors and windows open. Although applying and removing a cover can be inconvenient, the cover not only helps extend your swimming season it also keeps the pool cleaner and reduces chemical use.

A transparent cover also allows passive solar heat gain during the day. Prices for a plastic cover range from $0.30 to $0 .50 per square foot and last from 2 to 5 years

How the Solar System Works

The plumbing of the solar system is plumbed into the existing filter system. During the day while the filter is operating the water is sent through the collectors before returning to the pool. An automatic system adds a controller and sensors to operate a valve sending the water directly back to the pool or through the collectors to be heated.

In a more basic system the homeowner sets the valve manually to run through the collectors while a timer turns the filter system on during those hours the collectors will receive direct sunshine.

System Sizing

There are a number of factors to consider in sizing the collector area and the first is the actual pool surface area. Starting with a minimum area equal to 50% of the pools square footage system design is further affected by collector orientation, wind conditions, shading of the pool, local climate and length of swimming season desired. 100% coverage is not uncommon.

Orientation

Ideally the collectors should face south and be tilted to latitude minus 10 to 15 degrees. Increase collector area to 75% if collectors are laid flat. Increase to 75% if collectors face west. Other orientations are not recommended.

Although roof installations are most common, a frame can be constructed for "ground mount" for most solar systems when a roof installation is problematic due to inadequate space or aesthetic considerations. In areas subject to winter freezing, the collectors and plumbing should be installed to allow all water to drain when the system is off.

Temperature

Pool systems heat a large amount of water each day and an efficient design returns the water to the pool after picking up 2 to 5 degrees F.

Cost

Average system costs range from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on collector area and installation costs.

Collectors

Typical pool collectors are plastic panels which use large headers on top and bottom connected by a large number of small tubes. The collectors are strapped to the roof at both ends and across the flat area of the collector.

Choosing a Contractor

Contractor should be licensed and insured and in most cases the installation will require a plumbing permit.

Call the installers most recent customers.

Check warranties.

Check your homeowners insurance for system coverage.

Information Sources

Department of Energy - Energy Effeciency and Renewable Energy

Gives a nice summary of the technology and how to apply them, as well as many links.

EERE Solar Pool Heaters

RETScreen International (Canada)

Free software to easily evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for three basic applications: domestic hot water, industrial process heat and swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), ranging in size from small residential systems to large scale commercial, institutional and industrial systems.

Download from web:

Solar Pool Heating

Solar Pool Heating

· Pool covers are the most cost effective measure to reduce heat loss, water evaporation, and chemical use.

· The amount of collector area required is 50 to 100% of the square footage of your pool. The amount varies depending on collector efficiency, site considerations (orientation, wind) and owners preferences.

· Ideally the collectors should face south and be tilted between 20 and 32 degrees.

· Indoor pools, used year round, require glazed, flat plate collectors, which should slope between 35 and 45 degrees.

· Roof top vent pipes etc. will interfere with the installation of some types of collectors.

· Due to poor orientation, or lack of rooftop space, pool collectors are sometimes "ground mounted" on a frame constructed near the pool.

· Most brands of pool collectors must drain completely when not in operation, to prevent damage due to freezing conditions.

· All outside plumbing must drain back to the pool when the system is off.

Manual, seasonal drains, are sometimes required.

· Paint all exposed PVC plumbing, to protect it from damage due to solar energy.

· An additional booster pump may be required if your existing pump is undersized for the system.

· Manual operation, or a simple 24 hour timer maybe substituted for expensive automatic controls.

· Always isolate the solar system when backflushing your filter.

Solar and Efficiency for Swimming Pools

Solar heating of swimming pools is one of the most economically practical uses of solar energy. A solar system allows you to extend your swimming season, gives you more control over water temperatures and for many installations there is no increase in operating costs.

First Things First - Reducing Energy Losses

The most practical and economic step in extending you swimming season is the use of a pool cover. As much as 70% of all the heat gained by a pool is lost through evaporation and when you include losses from radiation and convection the idea of heating a pool without a cover can be compared to heating a home with all the doors and windows open. Although applying and removing a cover can be inconvenient, the cover not only helps extend your swimming season it also keeps the pool cleaner and reduces chemical use.

A transparent cover also allows passive solar heat gain during the day. Prices for a plastic cover range from $0.30 to $0 .50 per square foot and last from 2 to 5 years

How the Solar System Works

The plumbing of the solar system is plumbed into the existing filter system. During the day while the filter is operating the water is sent through the collectors before returning to the pool. An automatic system adds a controller and sensors to operate a valve sending the water directly back to the pool or through the collectors to be heated.

In a more basic system the homeowner sets the valve manually to run through the collectors while a timer turns the filter system on during those hours the collectors will receive direct sunshine.

System Sizing

There are a number of factors to consider in sizing the collector area and the first is the actual pool surface area. Starting with a minimum area equal to 50% of the pools square footage system design is further affected by collector orientation, wind conditions, shading of the pool, local climate and length of swimming season desired. 100% coverage is not uncommon.

Orientation

Ideally the collectors should face south and be tilted to latitude minus 10 to 15 degrees. Increase collector area to 75% if collectors are laid flat. Increase to 75% if collectors face west. Other orientations are not recommended.

Although roof installations are most common, a frame can be constructed for "ground mount" for most solar systems when a roof installation is problematic due to inadequate space or aesthetic considerations. In areas subject to winter freezing, the collectors and plumbing should be installed to allow all water to drain when the system is off.

Temperature

Pool systems heat a large amount of water each day and an efficient design returns the water to the pool after picking up 2 to 5 degrees F.

Cost

Average system costs range from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on collector area and installation costs.

Collectors

Typical pool collectors are plastic panels which use large headers on top and bottom connected by a large number of small tubes. The collectors are strapped to the roof at both ends and across the flat area of the collector.

Choosing a Contractor

Contractor should be licensed and insured and in most cases the installation will require a plumbing permit.

Call the installers most recent customers.

Check warranties.

Check your homeowners insurance for system coverage.

Information Sources

Department of Energy - Energy Effeciency and Renewable Energy

Gives a nice summary of the technology and how to apply them, as well as many links.

EERE Solar Pool Heaters

RETScreen International (Canada)

Free software to easily evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for three basic applications: domestic hot water, industrial process heat and swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), ranging in size from small residential systems to large scale commercial, institutional and industrial systems.

Download from web:

2 disc set from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC)

Toll free 1-800-DOE-EREC

e-mail: doe.erec@nciinc.com

Fact sheets

EREC PO Box 3048 Merrifield VA. 22116-0121

Florida Solar Energy Center

You can call (321) 638-1719, fax (321) 638-1010, or e-mail solarinfo@fsec.ucf.edu
or snailmail

Florida Solar Energy Center
1679 Clearlake Road
Cocoa, FL 32922-5703
407/638-1000 fax: 407/638-1010

Pamphlets available by mail - call for costs
Collector Thermal Performance Ratings (publication FSEC-GP-16)

Design and Installation Manual (publication FSEC-IN-21-82)

System Sizing (publication FSEC GP-13)

SOLAR HOT WATER

SOLAR HOT WATER
AND
HYDRONIC HEATING SYSTEM

The heart of this system is a Thermomax solar hot water heating unit (made in Great Britain) which has been installed on the south facing roof section of the greenhouse. Here nine of 30 tubes have been set in place and connected to a manifold above where the water actually circulates:

Thermomax "Evacuated Heat Pipe Solar Collectors" (tubes) operate quite differently than other collectors available on the market. They are much more sophisticated; they have much higher heat output; and they are much more expensive.

These solar collectors consist of a heat pipe (actually a "heat diode") inside a vacuum sealed tube, as shown below:

How A Termomax Works: Each tube contains a sealed copper pipe (heat pipe). The pipe is then attached to a black copper fin that fills the tube (absorber plate). Protruding from the top of each tube is a metal tip attached to the sealed pipe (condenser). These tubes are mounted, the condensers up, into a heat exchanger (manifold). As the sun shines on the black surface of the fin, alcohol in the heat pipe is heated and hot vapor rises to the top of the pipe and collects in each condenser. Water flowing through the manifold picks up the heat from the tubes.

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THE WHOLE SYSTEM

Hot water from the Thermomax unit is circulated in the main manifold for the hydronic heating system (see below). It supplies both domestic hot water and hot water for radiant heating system in the new straw bale house (and formerly for heating our mobile home). No propane gas is needed to supplement this system.

The radiant heating system uses special hot water plastic (PEX) tubing which has been installed under the adobe brick floor of our new straw bale house. In our mobile home the PEX was attached to the underneath surface of the floor boards in the spaces between the floor joists. See our Radiant Heating Installations page for the details about how this was done.

This system was designed in consultation with:

Rod Hyatt
"In Hot Water Heat & Power"
Box 807
Eden, UT 84310
(801/745-2009)
rod@lightheat.com

Here is a picture of the "manifold" which connects all the "PEX" hot water tubing together as well as the five small 12 volt pumps which circulate the water. Also shown is the hot water storage tank and the 12 volt battery system used to power the circulating pumps.

The circulating manifold is built from 1 3/4" copper tubing, five shut off valves, five circulating pumps, and numerous fittings. The manifold connects the hot water pipes in the floor of the straw bale house, the loop up to the Thermomax to bring hot water down from the roof, and the loop to the hot water storage tank and back. It was built by Rod Hyatt of Eden, Utah as mentioned above. It has been mounted on a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood in one corner of the greenhouse and has been insulated with special foam insulation made for hot water pipes.

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM

PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM
at Solar Haven

We had planned to have a "utility entirety" system utilizing both electricity from the utility company and from our PV system. However,the local electric company wanted $5,000 to run the power in to us. That's after WE dug a four foot deep trench a quarter of a mile long for the cable. We said "no, thank you."

We are now "off the grid" -- relying totally on our own system of solar panels, batteries, and inverter to generate electricity. The system works fine and, frankly, it's a good feeling to be independent and to know we are helping our planet, albeit in a very small way, by not contributing to the pollution from burning coal and natural gas used to produce conventional electricity.

From the power generated by our twelve solar panels (shown above), stored in twelve batteries, and converted to 110 AC household current with an inverter, we can run all of our city gadgets (though not all at once):

• lights
• stereo receiver, tape deck, CD and DVD players
• TV and VCR
• computer, printer, and scanner
• coffee pot and coffee bean grinder
• microwave oven
• toaster oven
• vacuum cleaner
• small refrigerator
• 1/2 horse power pump to bring water to our house from the storage tank
• power tools
• concrete mixer to build the foundations for the greenhouse and straw bale house and mix earthen plaster and lime plaster for the house
• and other things...
  
  
  

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"The amount of sunshine energy that hits the surface of the Earth
every minute is greater than the total amount of energy that the world's
human population consumes in a year!"

Source: "Home Power Magazine" -- a must have magazine!
(visit Home Power's web site)

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PV SYSTEM BUDGET:

Kyocera 120 Watt PV Panels (8, new) - $4,750
(7.10 amps @ 16.9 volts, 960 watts total)

Solec 150 Watt PV Panels (4, used) - $2,050

Combiner Box and Breakers for Panels - $125

"Trace" Power Panel and SW-4048 Inverter - $3,790
(48 volt, 4000 watt DC-AC inverter)

Concorde "Absorbent Glass Matt" Sealed Photovoltaic Batteries (12) - $1,920
(105 amp hour storage capacity per battery)

"Two Seas" Top-of-Pole Mounting Rack for Solar Panels - $465

Cables for Batteries, Panels, and Inverter - $240

Shipping from "Northern Arizona Wind and Sun" in Phoenix - $250

Total Cost of System - $13,500

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Installing the PV system:

New Storage Room
for the batteries, inverter, and charge controller.

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BACK-UP SYSTEM

On cloudy days when the sun does not charge our batteries, we have a wind generator to charge our batteries. On those days when we have neither wind nor sun (very rare in the Arizona desert), we have a 2,800 watt Makita gasoline generator to provide our electricity.

The generator is wired to our inverter so that it provides both power to our house and charges up our batteries at the same time. We have used the generator mostly when one of us is "bad" and leaves something on in the house or uses their computer too many hours in the day for the power we have available and when we get a bad spell of cloudy weather.

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SEPARATE 12 VOLT - DIRECT CURRENT SYSTEM

Since appliances, motors, and electronic devices all run more efficiently on direct current when compared with their AC counterparts, we have installed a separate 12 VDC system for the things we have which run with DC current. This system consists of one 40 watt solar panel and a large capacity, deep-cycle storage battery to provide direct DC power. The system currently supplies power for three of the five DC pumps which circulate water in our hydronic heating system and a large DC exhaust fan for the greenhouse. The pumps only use 10 watts each, but each pump is capable of moving an amazing three gallons of water a minute. The fan only uses 16 watts, less than half the wattage necessary to run an AC fan of the same size.

Click here for a detailed diagram of this system which also includes a charge controller, on/off switches and fuses, a 12 volt timer, and a battery desulfator.

Solar Battery

DC BATTERY

Batteries are the reservoir in a solar electric system. Right choice of batteries ensure proper performance and maximized battery life. Solar batteries offer longer life and better protection from abuse than low cost automotive batteries. If you have a large system and want years of worry-free performance, use our Solar Series batteries - they are high capacity and offer excellent cycle life.

We have a line of advanced GEL sealed batteries that will provide to the user a long life product when used in cycling applications. This is made possible because These Battery uses the Advanced GEL (patent pending) design which combines the best features of AGM and GEL construction into one battery life.

Cast-on strap design for better consistancy and better life

Cycle Life vs. Depth of Discharge

15% DOD	2200 cycles
25% DOD	1700 cycles
50% DOD	900 cycles
80% DOD	600 cycles

Features

• Shock absorbent polypropylene plastic Resistant to extreme temperatures and vibration.
• Heat sealed jar & cover assembly Eliminates the risk of both acid and electrical leaks.
• Maintenance free construction design.
• Advanced GEL design. Provides deep cycle capability throughout the life of the battery.
• Oversized internal components. Insures minimal voltage drop and more power availability.
• Industrial grade battery plates. Out lasts wet lead acid batteries of similar caliber.
• Each cell comes with a safety release mechanism to prevent venting under normal operating conditions.
• Multiple operating positions (except upside down).
• 100% recyclable materials.

Options

• Battery cables and harnesses.
• Battery boxes.
• Others models available.

General Specifications

Click to see the Warranty sheet

Battery Model	Volts	Ampere Hours			Dimensions (inches/mm)				Weight
		C/8	C/20	C/100	Length	Width	Height (case)	Top of Terminal	lbs/kg
PSG-1240	12	28	33	36	7.71/196	5.18/132	6.18/157	7.19/183	26.8/12.2
PSG-1260	12	46	55	58	9.00/229	5.43/138	8.31/211	9.50/241	38.9/17.6
PSG-1285	12	66	76	88	10.2/259	6.57/169	8.11/206	9.30/236	60.7/27.5
PSG-12105	12	78	91	105	12.0/305	6.57/169	8.20/208	9.39/239	72.0/32.7
PSG-12120	12	91	110	122	13.5/343	6.76/172	8.38/213	9.13/232	81.8/37.2
PSG-12165	12	128	142	165	13.5/343	6.76/172	10.7/272	10.9/277	101/45.8
PSG-12255	12	200	220	255	21.0/533	8.50/216	8.88/226	10.0/254	178/80.8
PSG-6255	6	193	220	255	10.7/272	7.38/187	10.5/267	10.9/277	78/35.4

Battery Model	Terminal Type
PSG-1240	"L" Type
PSG-1260	1/4" Studs
PSG-1285	1/4" Studs
PSG-12105	1/4" Studs
PSG-12120	1/4" Studs
PSG-12165	1/4" C.I.
PSG-12255	SAE
PSG-6255	5/16" C.I.

No transport restrictions Surface transport

• Classified as non-hazardous material as relates to DOT-CFR Title 49 part 171-189
• Marine transport. Classified as non-hazardous material as per IMDG amendment 27
• Air transport. Complies with IATA / ICAO, special provision A67.

Solar Water Purification Project

Solar Water Purification Project

In 1995, EPSEA received funding through the State of Texas, State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), for a solar demonstration project. EPSEA's project demonstrated the feasibility of using solar energy to purify water. The target audience (end users) are the people who reside in colonias along the Texas/Mexico Border. A colonia is an unincorporated settlement, lacking a safe water supply and waste water treatment. EPSEA's work in solar water purification continued in colonias in Dona Ana County, New Mexico through a collaborative effort with the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) at New Mexico State University. In 2000, EPSEA was able to install stills in Juarez, Mexico through a grant from "Border Pact". EPSEA has since received funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue it's work in solar water distillation.

EPSEA has presented papers and hosted workshops at the American Solar Energy Society's (ASES) national conferences and the Mexico National Solar Energy Conferences.

The problems faced by many colonia residents include contaminated water, as well as water with very high salt content. The sources of contamination include septic systems, industrial pollution, and run off of fertilizers and pesticides. These problems are seen on both sides of the border and like the resulting sickness and diseases, know no borders. These problems are not confined to only colonias, but it is the conditions that exist in colonias which allows for the proliferation of sickness and disease. The causes of these problems can be traced to pollution, poverty, ignorance and greed.

The Marcos family, Juarez, Mexico

Solar Solutions

EPSEA's demonstration project is only a small example of the potential role for solar energy in water treatment, and disease prevention. Solar distillation is a proven technology for water disinfection. Systems can be sized for one person, up to community sized systems. They have no moving parts, relying only on the sun for energy, and should last 20 years or more. Larger disinfecting systems which generate chlorine and other gases can be operated in remote locations, using solar energy. It is hoped that through the success of our local project, these technologies will be replicated in other regions currently facing similar conditions.

click to see full photo (77k)

The heart of EPSEA's project is a basin solar still. EPSEA's research resulted in a basin still, with emphasis on ease of replication and readily available materials. The still utilizes standard patio replacement glass (34"X76"), and during the summer months produces over 3 gallons/day. Winter production is about 1/2 that amount. The still has no moving parts, uses only solar energy to operate, and is self cleaning.

Project Update

The El Paso Solar Energy Association's (EPSEA) solar water distiller projects (under an EPA grant for TX & NM, and Borderpact/Conahec for Mexico are progressing successfully. Only two more stills need to ben installed in the colonia areas of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to complete the Borderpact project. The EPA project is just beginning Phase II which includes public community meetings and further education via energy fairs, etc., and a hands-on stills construction workshop that will be taught by Mike Cormier at the Water Festival in Columbus, NM in March. Applications are already being accepted by EPSEA from potential still recipients in the Luna, Dona Ana, and El Paso Counties of southern NM and west TX.

A selection process will be used to decide who will receive a still. A cost-share amount of $50-$100 per still (small or large, respectively) will be paid by the recipients who are chosen. A sponsorship and payment plan program is available for individuals who cannot afford the cost-share amount. A recent fundraising breakfast was held at St. Pius Church by the St. Pius Colonia Ministry to aid in achieving funds for such sponsorships.

Border Pact Presentation - PDF Document (327k)

For more information about these projects contact us at 915-772-SOLR email: webmaster@epsea.org

Final Update

Having completed this project, we presented a final paper to the Solar World Summit for the International Solar Energy Society in Orlando, Florida in 2005.

OPERATION

Solar energy is allowed into the collector to heat the water. The water evaporates only to condense on the underside of the glass. When water evaporates, only the water vapor rises, leaving contaminants behind. The gentle slope of the glass directs the condensate to a collection trough, which in turn delivers the water to the collection bottle.

EPSEA Still Cutaway (39k)

The still is filled each day with twice as much water as was produced. The still is fitted with overflow outlets, which allows the excess water to flush the still every day. A major advantage of the basin still is that it does not require a pressurized water supply. Colonia residents often have their drinking water delivered by truck and it is then stored in 55 gallon drums. Still recipients report that the water tastes very good and their children now drink more water than before.

Construction Cost

EPSEA material costs, with bulk purchasing, are approximately $200 per still. The cost of materials to build a single still should be less than $300. Only basic tools are required.

STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION

STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION
By: Catherine Wanek

Could it be that the house of the future was invented a century ago? In the 1890s, pioneers of the sand hills of Nebraska found themselves building a new life on a treeless prairie, and from necessity began building their homes from bales of straw. Now modern day pioneers are choosing straw bale construction for its many advantages -for people and the planet.

Straw bales offer excellent insulation. At R 2.7 per inch, an eighteen-inch wide bale equals R-48. One California study indicated that such a "super-insulated" straw bale home could save as much as 75% of heating and cooling costs! This translates to direct dollar savings for the homeowner, and a corresponding reduction in the use of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions.

Construction costs can also be reduced when building with straw bales. They are cheap to buy and easy to build with. Stacked like huge bricks, straw bale wall systems can be erected quickly without much building experience and few power tools. In a "barn-raising" type party, it's common for all the straw bale walls in a modest size structure to be erected in a single day.

Building with bales can also cut down on cutting down trees by reducing lumber used in typical "stick frame" construction. Straw is available wherever grain crops are grown, and is annually renewable. In fact, it's considered an agricultural waste product, and in many parts of the world is simply burned in the fields. The millions of tons which go up in smoke every year cause a great deal of air pollution. It makes sense to bale this nuisance, and turn it into an energy-efficient resource.

Those concerned with indoor air quality also appreciate straw bale buildings for their "breathability." A non-toxic product itself, bales allow a gradual transfer of air through the wall, bringing fresh air into your living environment, especially when combined with a natural plaster. And you can forget about neighborhood noise, too. Straw bales are so sound proof, one Nebraska pioneer family was found playing cards in their kitchen, oblivious to the roar of a tornado which had just blown through the town.

Two types of bale wall systems are commonly built. In a "post and beam" building, a wood, steel, or concrete framework Is erected and bales are placed in the walls as insulation. Bale systems can also bear the weight of the roof, as evidenced by the historic Nebraska homes which were all load-bearing. In this case, a top-plate is laid above the bale wall and secured to the foundation by metal rods and/or strapping. The roof is then attached to the top plate. In either system, the bale courses are stacked in a "running bond," and pinned with rebar, wood, or bamboo stakes. For added strength, chicken wire is commonly wrapped inside and out, and sewn tight to the bales. Then an earth plaster or cement stucco is applied as a finish. However, bales will also hold plaster without wire mesh.

Under the watchful eye of instructor Peter Fust, an EPSEA workshop student restrings bale to make 2 half bales.

click here for 2 more photos- total 89K

Common questions about straw bale homes include concerns about fire, moisture, and insects. While individual stalks of straw will burn, when condensed into bales, they actually resist combustion, due to lack of oxygen. It's like trying to burn a phone book. At a certified laboratory in New Mexico, a plastered straw bale wall system easily passed a two-hour fire test, which is required for commercial construction. Liquid moisture is a problem in bale walls, as it is in any wall system. But with a proper foundation, roof, and finish plaster, straw bale buildings can last indefinitely, as nearly century-old homes in Nebraska prove. Anecdotal evidence indicates no problem with bugs.

Building codes have been developed for both "post and beam" and load-bearing straw bale construction. In New Mexico, Pima County, AZ, and several counties in California, getting a building permit for a straw bale house is almost routine. Farmers Insurance Group will insure a bale home at preferred rates and other companies are following suit. And straw bale houses are gaining acceptance with Fannie Mae and HUD.

To contact Catherine Wanek:

Black Range Films
Star Rt. 2, Box 119 Kingston, NM 88042
505-895-5652.
E mail: blackrange@zianet.com.

Black Range Films has released its third video in a series on "Building With Straw Bale". Their latest production Straw Bale Code Testing will assist anyone, including code officials in dealing with the permitting process.