DIY Solar Pool Pump Project

by Rick Kehret

Why:
I'm compelled to do everything I can to reduce my family's environmental footprint.  As I see it I have an obligation to my children, and all the children on the planet to do MUCH more than we have been to ensure they have a decent future.  I'm also concerned about the way we produce and use energy in this country, and the tragic lack of long term planning for sustainability at all levels of government.  It's nice if projects like this have an financial “payback” but it was honestly a distant third in my personal reasons for doing this.

Photo courtesy Sun Light & Power

Since ancient times humans have been taking advantage of the sun’s ability to heat water. According to the California Energy Commission (CEC) website, solar-heated water systems were common in Southern California at the turn of the 20th century. In Israel all homes are required to have solar hot water systems. Throughout the world solar water heaters are using the sun’s energy to provide environmentally friendly heat for household water, swimming pools, spas, and even for space heating.

For the Northern Hemisphere

Solar architecture has a long history of use. Some of the earliest buildings in the Southwest that took advantage of the sun were the Indian cliff dwellings, which in many cases faced south. This allowed the low winter sun to enter and heat the mud and stone walls of the apartments inside. During the summer the cave roof shaded the dwelling from the direct rays of the sun.

We include a sampling of the many hundreds of worthy books on solar design, electricity, politics, and cooking. These descriptions are taken from publisher descriptions and reader reviews. The American Solar Energy Society has a great print catalog of solar resources at http://www.ases.org