solar powered car cooler

January 5, 2010 by SolarInfo
Filed under solar power energy

What makes Auckland solar water heating so green? - Fight global warming with solar

Solar hot water in Auckland: why is it such a great way to go green?

To put it simply: climate change. It’s the single biggest environmental challenge we face today, and the energy we consume to drive our cars, power the jets that whisk us away on holiday, heat our homes, run all of our electronic gadgets, power our factories, along with many, many other energy-guzzling activities, is at the heart of the problem.

But when we look more closely, not all energy is created equal; some is definitely more ‘green’ and less harmful to the environment than others, and solar gets full marks for being environmentally friendly. Here’s why:

The biggest contributors to climate change are fossil fuels, because these are the forms of energy that emit carbon dioxide (CO2 - the most prevalent greenhouse gas) and other greenhouse gases. When we burn oil, natural gas, or coal, CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that warms the earth’s atmosphere. Coal has the highest rate of greenhouse gas emissions of these fossils fuels, followed by oil and then natural gas, but all are major contributors to the greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere that are causing global warming.

This is in part because of just how much fossil fuel energy the world consumes. As of 2005, oil accounted for 37% of total energy consumption, followed by coal at 25% and gas at 23%. And to put things in a bigger picture, in recent years we’ve become proper energy hogs; of all the energy produced since the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century, we have consumed half of that in just the last two decades!

And in the last couple of years, we’re really starting to see the effects of climate change that result from all these greenhouse gas emissions that are entering the atmosphere at breakneck speed. Severe weather events such as droughts, floods, and even extreme cold snaps such as the one that’s gripped Britain this year, have all been predicted by climate change models that link these changes in the weather with higher atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.

We need to do something, and we need to do it NOW. The big question is: what can any of us do about this enormous problem?

There’s nothing like climate change to get people into ‘overwhelm’ mode, since the problem seems so big and complex. But there’s one simple and affordable thing you can do to make a big reduction to your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions: switch to solar hot water.

Many hot water cylinders are powered by electricity, and a lot of electricity in New Zealand is still produced by power plants that burn coal, diesel, or gas. In contrast, the greenhouse gas emissions produced by solar water heating are. . . ZERO! That’s because solar hot water operates by capturing heat directly from the sun, without any other fuel being burned or used. All of this put together means that whatever steps we can all take to reduce our electricity consumption is a step against global warming. This is significant because in most homes hot water accounts for about 30% of your power bill.

Now, you may be wondering if Auckland’s climate is suitable for using solar water heating. On average in New Zealand, solar can provide about 50-75% of your hot water needs, so while you will need a ‘boost’ from electricity or gas from time to time, going solar will help you make a big reduction in your power bills and consumption of fossil fuels. And given that Germany, with its much cooler climate, is leading the world in adopting solar technologies, it’s pretty clear that Auckland has more than enough sun to make solar hot water worthwhile.

The New Zealand Government certainly thinks so! The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) provides a $1,000 rebate on qualifying solar water heating systems, making the switch to solar just that much more affordable.

There's lots more valuable information available in the free report that's listed below, for example tips on how to find out if solar is right for you, how much you can expect to save on your power bills, how much a solar water system costs, and how to find the best installer or contractor to suit your unique needs.

So take action now: download the free report to get the information you need, and help New Zealand become a leader in battling climate change.
About the Author

Daniel Caldwell writes about solar hot water and other eco-friendly technologies. If you live in Auckland and are considering going solar, download his free report on Solar Hot Water in Auckland at
http://www.aucklandsolarhotwater.co.nz
. This report will give you the information you need to step on the path to going solar.

And if you'd like to see a video on how solar can SAVE YOU MONEY, visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nv0w9e3E_8
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Solar Powered Car Cooler