Summertime Solar Projects You Can Do Yourself – Part 2
One of the largest operating expenses in a home is electricity use. With the rising cost of electricity, many home owners and businesses alike are turning to renewable resources as a means of cutting down costs. Solar power has become one of the leading generation sources over the past 5-10 years. A high volume of electricity can be harvested from the sun’s rays on a bright, sunny day and stored for use on those gloomy days. The return on investment is quite substantial for many home solar projects with the cost of materials paying for itself in a short period of time. Here we have listed some DIY projects that can have you saving your pennies, thanks to the sun, in no time!
Solar Water Heater
We don’t usually need warm water for use outdoors, but it can come in handy for small, pop-up pools, washing dirty hands and feet off before going in the house, or to keep a fish pond warm during early spring and fall. Create an outdoor water heater for around $100 using recycled components such as a salvaged electric water heater, plywood box, window glass or plastic sheets, pipe and insulation. Place an old water tank inside the plywood box. Cover the top of the box with a glass panel or heavy plastic sheeting. An incoming water hose feeds into the bottom of the tank while an outgoing hose and tap flow from the top of the tank. Heat from the sun will be trapped inside the box warming the water inside the water tank.
A second form of outdoor water heater makes use of a salvaged refrigerator grate used as a heating element. Build a frame box from recycled wood and line the inside with a waterproof black plastic sheet. Secure the refrigerator element at the top of the water line. Cover the box with a clear, plastic panel. The sun’s rays will be drawn to the black plastic and heat up the metal grate which acts as a boiler. This form of heater is capable of heating water from 70oF to 170oF in a matter of a couple hours. Both DIY water heater styles require a bit of yard space but can come in handy by giving you warm water outdoors.
Solar Pool Heater
Heating water for outdoor use is one thing, but what if you need to heat an entire pool? DIY pool heaters offer varying efficiencies depending on the type and size of the pool. The easiest pool heater can be built in approximately one hour and, depending on the strength of sunlight, has even been known to heat a hot tub! Using a large, square sheet of plywood as a mounting base, secure black pvc piping using tie-wraps in a tight coil shape. Leave an extension of the piping uncoiled at each end to act as your intake and output water spouts. Attach one intake end into the pool’s water inlet and the other outlet end at the pool edge for water to flow into the pool. Since the black pipe will attract the sun’s rays, water will flow through the pipe being heated along the way. To increase the heat output, surround the pool heater with a wooden frame painted black and a clear plastic cover to trap heat inside the box. Make sure you keep the pool heater at ground level or just slightly elevated on a shed rooftop as the pool’s inlet force will not be able to pump water to great heights. Prepare to enjoy a luxurious swim in a heated pool without breaking the bank!
Build a Greenhouse
If you ever took a science class (and stayed awake through it) then you’ll know that photosynthesis is a key process in the growth of plants using sunshine to process water and nutrients. Many avid gardeners use greenhouses, not only to protect plants from harmful weather elements, but to maximize the use of light and heat to grow plants. Greenhouses are perfect for starting seedling growth in the spring prior to summer gardening. So put your handyman skills to work and build a greenhouse! To create a small, back porch greenhouse, build a wooden box frame out of wood planks or boards. Create a top hinged door using an old window, salvaged piece of glass, or heavy plastic. The sun will shine through the glass or plastic being attracted to dark soil inside, and trap heat in the box. If the heat is too much, just open the lid to air out your mini-garden. If you have a budding green thumb and want a professional style greenhouse, a large-scale, walk-in-style might be more up your ally. Build a wood frame using two-by-fours and then use sturdy pvc pipe bent in a hoop shape to create an arched roof over your structure. Cover the entire structure with clear plastic sheeting which will fill your greenhouse with light and trap the heat inside. Depending on what materials you have lying around or can salvage and the size of greenhouse, this type of project could cost anywhere from $25 to $150.
