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Energy & Green Practices

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Publication Review

Title: The Integral Passive Solar Water Heater Book
Author: David A. Baindridge, 1981
File: Free Book, PDF 8 MB, 104 pages
Audience: Written for architects, designer, builders and homeowners with a basic understanding of solar issues. Good for both professionals and do-it-yourselfers with an interest in alternative energy.

Review
Everything you've ever wanted to know about integrated passive solar water heaters or IPSWHs as opposed to active systems. The editors at Buildwise.org enjoyed the detailed history of solar water heaters. But this book is also an extensive manual on how to design and build solar water heaters.

Issues covered include:

  • Introduction - defining passive solar water heaters, classification of types
  • A History of IPSWHs - U.S. history of first solar water heaters and first commercial solar water heaters, with descriptions, original ads and technical drawings. Refinements and performance of early solar water heaters. Follows the solar water heater to Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand. Recent history since 1970's oil crisis. Very interesting for technology history buffs
  • Basic Design Principles - radiation, available solar energy in various parts of U.S., emmitance, absorption, reflection, transmissivity, reflector types, conduction, convection
  • IPSWH Design - placement, performance related to slope and orientation, color, heat retention, glazing layers, shutters, shades, insulation, reflectors, sizing, hot water needs, backup system, construction, concepts for virtually free solar water heaters, concepts for advanced solar water heaters
  • Operating an IPSWH - reflector adjustment, open lids, conservation or staging of hot water use
  • Backup Heating - wood stoves and heaters, gas, electric, flash heaters
  • IPSWHs in Action - many good examples of solar water heaters in various climates in action, complete with drawings/pictures, descriptions and data. This section eludes to the enormous variety possible.
  • Building Your Own - step by step guide to designing and building your own solar water heater including safety considerations
  • Commercial IPSWH's - list of commercially available units, including the sun shower
  • Market Potential for IPSWHs - market priorities, challenges
  • Staring an IPSWH Business - installer/scratch builder, contractor/installer/builder, manufacturer
  • The Future is for IPSWHs - energy costs keep rising
  • Appendix 1: Captain Solar's Economy Solar Site Evaluation - 2 methods of step by step solar site analysis
  • Appendix 2: Resources
  • Appendix 3: Recycled Tanks - what to use and what not to use
  • Appendix 4: Performance Predictions - tables showing possible water temperatures for various configurations
  • Appendix 5: Feedback and Bio of Author

Detail drawings include:

  • historic photo of solar water heaters in 1900 Los Angeles
  • lets just say there are many photos, diagrams, detail drawings and other graphic aids that illustrate most issues discussed and show how various types of systems are constructed and how they work.

 

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