Solar Water Heating--Revised & Expanded Edition. Bob Ramlow
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a High-Mass System
Appendix A - WIRE SIZING CHART
Appendix B - METRIC CONVERSIONS
Advance Praise for
Solar Water Heating
Solar Water Heating answers the what? why? and how? of solar thermal water heating system design and installation. Employing down-to-earth language and clear illustrations, this book succeeds in demystifying solar thermal in a way no other book has done. I take great pleasure in recommending this book to everyone I can. Information is power and this book is loaded with it.
— MIKE HELFMAN, president, Bubbling Springs Solar
Bob’s book will be required reading for all of our new installation personnel since it provides a complete and comprehensive history, guide and information about the type of work we do every day. It is nice for our new people to get a solid overview of the many types of technologies and strategies for using solar hot water.
— RICHARD LANE, Managing Partner, Solar Mining Company
Bob Ramlow’s Solar Water Heating is a practical solar encyclopedia for anyone interested in installing a solar energy system or in starting a solar energy company. The folksy writing is clear and the numerous diagrams make this book a great resource for everyone from the novice just getting started to the existing solar professional looking to pick up some of Bob Ramlow’s many useful observations from a long career installing and maintaining solar energy systems.
— DON WICHERT, Director, Renewable Energy Programs,
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation
It’s high time someone wrote a comprehensive but accessible overview of solar heating, which is one of the most cost-effective steps that we can take to wean from fossil fuels. Bob Ramlow is a rare combination of plumber, engineer, and public educator who has learned with his own hands. Whether you wish to do it yourself or simply be an informed consumer, start with SolarWater Heating!
— WINDY DANKOFF, solar industry pioneer and educator since 1975,
and founder of Dankoff Solar Products
BOOKS FOR WISER LIVING RECOMMENDED BY MOTHER EARTH NEWS
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
MOST AUTHORS PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR FAMILIES, and for good reason. My family have supported me over the years, have encouraged me to fulfill my desire to pursue a socially responsible career and have all contributed to this project. I pay special tribute to my wife, Marguerite, who is my companion on this path.
It was Dr. George Becker who showed me his solar heating system back in 1971. A light went on in my head that day that has not been extinguished. It was Stephen Morris who encouraged me to start writing about solar power and planted the seeds for this book many years ago. And it was the good judgment of my daughter Chamomile to marry Benjamin Nusz, who has diligently worked with me on this project. His enthusiastic help has made this project happen.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the plumbers and solar installers who taught me long ago that there is no substitute for quality. Without the groundwork they laid, I would not be here today, putting the finishing touches on this text.
For the Earth,
Bob Ramlow
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the pleasure to work alongside Bob. He has been a constant mentor, and I must first thank him for his generosity and dedication. It is a rare opportunity to be able to partner with someone with so much genuine knowledge, and it is one that I am glad to not have missed.
I am especially grateful for the support provided by my family. To my love, Chamomile, and to my sons, Miles and Xavi, I am lucky to have you.
I would like to acknowledge our editor, Audrey Dorsch, and everyone at New Society, particularly Ingrid, Sue, and Jean. Thank you for your persistence and patience.
Finally, I must recognize in advance the hard work that is yet to be put forth by the next generation of solar installers. As I wrote, I had you in mind all along. I hope you return the favor by installing many, many successful solar water heating systems.
Sunny regards,
Benjamin Nusz
INTRODUCTION
EVERY DAY, WE ARE BARRAGED WITH INFORMATION about global warming, global pollution, wars over energy resources, species depletion ... the list goes on and on. Tragically, most people — and certainly most governments — are doing very little about it.
This book tells some of the things we can do. First it talks about using technologies we already have to lower our energy consumption. Then it details renewable energy options for replacing fossil fuels and nuclear energy sources. It shows that as individuals we can change the world!
Most North Americans don’t think about our energy consumption very much. We don’t think about the energy used to create our society or the energy required to produce the products we consume. We get our heating fuels automatically delivered to our homes. Our electrical energy flows to us through silent wires that are everywhere. It’s all very easy and painless. Sure, we think about our energy consumption when we pay our bills once a month, or we think about it when we refuel our vehicles at the gas station, but in most cases we just accept these costs as inevitable. Our society uses a lot of energy; we want as much as we can get; and we want it cheap.
The United States consumes more energy per capita than any other country in the world. Other developed countries with similar lifestyles, and with equal gross national products, consume up to 50 percent less energy. We obviously have the technology today to use a lot less energy than we do. Some experts say that we can reduce our consumption by up to 75 percent today. They surmise that if we would put our greatest minds to the problem, we could do even more.
Lowering our energy consumption and using renewable energy would accomplish several