Q: Based on our water bills, my family uses lots of water and much of it is probably hot water. Is there a simple solar hot water system design that I could build myself? A: Heating water can account ...

It took a while to decode the email I received from Carroll Hampleman (you can see why below), but his home made water heater is worth the bother. Mirrors are arranged to reflect and concentrate the ...

Dear Jim: We have teenage daughters who take long showers. Our water heating costs are sky high. We are on a tight budget, but want to use some solar water heating. Is there a do-it-yourself system we ...

Jeff Somers is a freelancer who has been writing about writing, books, personal finance, and home maintenance since 2012. When not writing, Jeff spends his free time fixing up his old house. He has ...

Heating water is one of the most energy-consuming and costly household tasks. According to the Department of Energy, it makes up roughly 18% of a standard home's monthly energy budget. And if you use ...

About 20% of a home’s energy use goes toward water heating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. If you’re looking to save on energy for financial or environmental reasons, you might consider ...

With proper design and careful installation, a solar water-heating system can provide a large percentage of a home’s hot water for many years with little maintenance. Yes, a solar hot-water heater can ...

Solar water heaters can be expensive, but they can get you a tax credit and help you save money on energy. Chi Odogwu is a digital consultant, professor, and writer with over a decade of experience in ...

The days are getting longer, and I’m thinking I ought to make use of those extra rays to help the environment. The big decision seems to be between a solar electric system and a solar water heater.