From the category archives:

Hot Water Systems

Irish Firm Claims World’s Most Efficient Solar Heater

February 6, 2009

An Irish company, Surface Power, has launched what could be the most efficient solar hot water panel ever produced. The company says it plans to distribute its product internationally. The new solar panel was independently certified by TUV Rhineland. Their tests verified that when compared to other solar panels, Surface Power’s solar panel was in [...]

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90% Of Israeli Homes Have Solar Water Heaters

July 3, 2008

I recently noted that Hawaii has enacted a law that requires all new homes to install solar water heaters. Eventually, Hawaii may have as many water heaters as Israel, where 90% of homes have solar water heaters installed. When viewed from above, the Jerusalem often glitters with the shine of the thousands of solar heaters [...]

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Proximity: A Very Green Hotel In North Carolina

April 30, 2008

The Proximity Hotel is proof that a hotel can be very green without sacrificing the comfort of its guests. The hotel is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it achieved a Gold LEED certification this year from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Proximity uses 36.5% less energy and 30% less water than a conventional [...]

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Solar Water Heating: Book Review

September 22, 2006

Solar Water Heating is the first book I’ve seen that focuses solely on solar water heating. It’s a technique that’s been practiced since ancient times, but until now there’s been strangely few resources on the topic for a North American audience. The author, Bob Ramlow, examines state-of-the-art solar heating systems. He covers not only solar [...]

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Tankless Water Heater Uses Microwaves: Vulcanus Mark 4

March 11, 2006

A Canadian company, Pulsar Advanced Technologies, claims to have produced a water heater that uses microwave technology to heat water instantaneously. The company says: “The Vulcanus MK4 can heat water from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can source multiple applications at once: showers, dishwasher, sink usages and more. The Vulcanus [...]

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Endless Hot Water: Takagi Heaters

November 15, 2005

Takagi water heaters do not have tanks, instead they heat water instanteously using a gas burner. They are efficient and powerful — even the smallest heater, the Takagi T-KJr., can produces 180 gallons of hot water in an hour, but weighs only 30 pounds and is 20 inches high. They run on propane or natural [...]

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Solar Water Heating Simplified

June 4, 2005

Solar water heating works efficiently even in cloudy areas. Home Power Magazine recently ran an article that gives a simple overview of solar water heating systems (well, relatively simple).
In the article, they examine various popular systems that have proven themselves reliable.

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Solar Tubes: Very Efficient Heating

January 22, 2005

Apricus makes a unique solar hot water heater which is 30-40% more efficient than flat plate solar systems.
The secret to the performance is the use of cylindrical evacuated glass tubes to absorb the heat from the sun. Because the tubes are cylindrical, there is always a surface area that is perpendicular to the sun.

The tubes [...]

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Aquastar 125HX

September 28, 2004

Aquastar tankless water heaters cut energy costs, because the heat the water as it is needed. These heaters are designed
so that all parts are replaceable.
Alexander Rose, who has used and reviewed this heaters says:
There is a whole Aquastar line from large ones for multi shower households, to the smaller ones like mine. Some [...]

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AquaStar 240FX

July 28, 2004

Notes from Manufacturer:
The AquaStar 240FX (Natural Gas or Propane)
can supply 2 major hot water outlets at the same time at a rate of up to
5 gallons per minute. Can be vented vertically or horizontally to the outside.
High efficiency rating of 83% and an
Energy Factor of .84.
Purchase from: TanklessWater.Com

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Ariston Point-Of-Use Hot Water Heater

July 28, 2004

Designed and made in Italy, Ariston hot water heaters have a lot going for them. They plug in directly under the sink or wherever you want hot water. They produce hot water instantly — you don’t have to wait for the water to get hot (80 billion gallons of water is wasted annually in the [...]

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