[GSBN] China solar hot water

[David Elfstrom]

Somewhat off-topic relative to straw bale, but you can compare the 
relative efficiency of solar hot water collectors via Natural Resources 
Canada's ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat performance factor tables, here:

http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ECOENERGY-ECOENERGIE/heat-chauffage/v2008/collectors-capteurs-eng.cfm

The Performance Factor is a relative adjustment for performance, so for 
a particular method of collector 0.56 would mean 56% of the performance 
of one that has 1.00. This is under specific test criteria, outlined 
elsewhere on that web site.

Relevant to this discussion is a comparison of the evacuated tube 
performance.

Most European products have performance factors in the 0.75 to 0.85 
range. The Chinese evac tubes range from two brands at the lowest on the 
list of 0.39, to one Chinese brand that rates highest in the list at 1.07.

The long and short of it is to do your research, and you don't always 
get what you pay for.

David


billc at greenbuilder.com wrote:
> We were impressed by the number of solar hot water systems we saw when 
> we were there in 2000.
>
> I've also seen a number of importers of chinese solar hot water 
> systems (especially evacuated tube) spring up on the scene in recent 
> years.
>
-- 

David Elfstrom, P.Eng, LEED® AP
President & Sustainability Engineer

Elfstrom Engineering Professional Corporation
#421-437 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M6R 3B9
mobile 647-235-8872
fax 647-436-7832
david at elfstromengineering.com
www.elfstromengineering.com