Solar water heating
Practical Action
The installation was found to consistently heat water to 40-50˚C throughout the day with the
existing gas geysers being used when required to increase the water temperature to the
thermostatically controlled levels defined by the users.
Whilst the author notes that the installation was successful, the section describing the lessons
learned is particularly informative as it provides reasons for the problems incurred and how
they were overcome.
Another interesting point to note from the project in Pakistan is that the author highlights the
matter that the cost of the system was not far different from the cost of a ready-made
installation; the reason that a self-build system was chosen being that those who built it would
then have the skills and knowledge to maintain it themselves. This in itself is an important
point to consider when introducing a new technology to a less widely educated area.
(Thermosyphon solar water heater system for a hospital laundry, 2011)
Alternative Applications of Solar Energy
Several alternative applications to manipulate and harness solar energy have been developed
and implemented in developing countries. Further information on these developments is
described in the technical brief “Solar Thermal Energy”. Insert link…..
Links and Publications
1. Solar Heating Design and Installation Guide, The Association of Plumbing and Heating
Contractors, the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, the Council for
Registered Gas Installers, the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council, the Heating
and Ventilating Contractor’s Association, the Institute of Domestic Heating and
Environmental Engineers, the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, the Oil
Firing Technical Association, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers
Federation, the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers Association, 2007
2. 2010 Survey of Energy Resources, World Energy Council, Solar Energy.
http://www.worldenergy.org/publications/3040.asp, Accessed 5th July 2011
3. Solar Hot Water for SCAD’s school for handicapped children, Marios Cleovoulou’s
Website, http://www.cleovoulou.com/scadswh.htm, 1997, Accessed 20th August 2011
4. How to make a solar water heater from plastic bottles,
http://www.theecologist.org/how_to_make_a_difference/climate_change_and_energy/4
77574/how_to_make_a_solar_water_heater_from_plastic_bottles.html, 6th May 2010,
Accessed 7th August 2011
5. Community Action to Address Climate Change, The GEF Small Grants Programme,
November 2003, http://sgp.undp.org/download/SGPCaseStudiesBook.complete.pdf,
Accessed 7th August 2011
6. Creating a credit market for solar thermal: the PROSOL project in Tunisia, Emanuela
Menichetti, United Nations Environment Programme – Division of Technology,
Industry and Economic (UNEP-DITIE),
http://www.medrec.org/en/download/estec2007_Conference_PROSOL.pdf, Accessed
15th August 2011
7. Green Economy, Developing Countries Success Stories, United Nations Environment
Programme, 2010, http://www.unep.org/pdf/GreenEconomy_SuccessStories.pdf,
Accessed 20th July 2011
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