How are solar hot water systems different than Photovoltaic (PV)/Solar Electrical systems?
PV systems use the energy in sunlight to generate electrical charges, which are then stored and used to power the appliances and electrical devices in your home or business. Solar hot water systems instead capture the sun’s energy to generate heat. “Closed loop” systems, which are preferred in climates like North Carolina where freezing temperatures are common, utilize flat panel solar collectors and a non-toxic heat transfer fluid to collect heat. A heat exchanger is used to transfer the heat, then a system of valves, pumps, and controllers circulate the heat transfer fluid throughout the collector, thereby heating water in the storage tank. The heated water is then useful for everything from washing laundry to heating a pool. Also, compared to PV systems, solar hot water systems are much more efficient. Case in point: Most PV panels have an efficiency of 14 to 20%. Solar hot water systems, on the other hand, are up to three times more efficient than PV cells! That means solar hot wat
