Chinese solar water heater would be good here

USA Energy Efficiency is backwards. Maine has the right thought process but wrong approach to conserve energy.

China offers numerous cost-effective solutions, especially in solar thermal (hot water). The Chinese make a solar water heater for the masses. It lasts 25 years, costs less than $1,000, and anyone can install it.

I have run this system for two years without any operational problems, with almost all energy supplied by the sun. My electrical cost to operate this system all year long is less than $50 for 100 percent automatic operation. It has ¡°intelligent controllers¡± to use electricity only on your requirement. Very nice, given Smart Meters.

I searched relevant government websites for this solar thermal system, but it does not exist. The resources only mention two relevant systems (Batch and Thermosiphon). In reading the drawbacks to these systems, I noticed that the Chinese had eliminated the drawbacks by combining the two systems and superinsulating the tank.

These have been in use for 25 years, there are now 90 million worldwide, but less than 1,000 in the United States. China reports that that this system has reduced the need to build 10 large nuclear plants. Each compact solar heater used equals removing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by one midsized auto.

No money in installing, no money in service, seems all just to simple and cheap, but they work beyond comparison.

No jobs, just savings. Make more or spend less; that is the rule of the day

Bruce E. Clark

Clinton