Show Hot water solar systems work surprising well yourself it solar hot water systems have performed surprisingly well from Preston Ida to St St George George- This is in spite of unusual weather patterns with more cloud cover and rainfall that have prevailed over the state during the last 12 months according to Dr Wayne B Ringer extension energy specialist Utah State University Dr Ringer referred to the solar units built by homeowners in workshops spon- spon sponsored sponsored by Extension Service He said These units are providing from 50 to 75 percent of the energy needed for consumable hot water That means a considerable w tv each homeowner The amount of savings to the family depends on the cost of fuel available for heating water the location In the state and how well the system is balanced to the amount of hot water the family uses and other variables Dr Ringer has one of these solar domestic hot water systems in his own home It is one of built during exten- exten extension extension sion workshops held over the state and installed by the homeowners within a year two period In use a year The system system with four solar collectors Ringer built for his own home has been In use for nearly a year Though located in River Heights Cache Valley in Northern Nor Nor- Northern thern Utah it has performed very well The freeze protection designed into the system proved adequate during low air temperatures last winter Throughout the spring and summer harvesting the suns sun's energy in the form of hot water was both profitable and ex- ex exciting exciting citing During a seven day period in mid mid- September our gas water heater turn turn- turned turned ed on just twice for a few minutes as the water temperature dropped below degrees Ringer said He attributed that to rain and cloud cover Other days the solar system generously provided all the hot water us ed by the family Orientation classes Dr Ringer Is offering free orientation classes on how the solar hot water systems work Where enough interest is manifest he follows up offering a builders workshop There homeowners are supplied kits of materials at cost and Instructed in building their own solar collectors He says new design innovations have become available since previous workshops A more efficient black chrome selective coating copper plate can substantially reduce radiation losses from the solar collector absorber plate Also larger collectors may be built and solar collecting systems can be used for heating spas and hot tubs These and other developments are discussed In the orientation class Persons interested in having a solar hot water class conducted locally are encouraged to contact their county extension office |