Universidade Estadual Paulista, Pró-Reitoria de Extensão Universitária
Abstract
Solar heaters are an appropriate technology for tropical and subtropical climate to warm bath water through the energy from the sunlight. The development of conventional solar heaters is in the market and its acceptance is still low due to high cost. However, low-cost solar heaters have been developed in recent years for the care of a potential consumer demand, which in addition to using a renewable energy provides significant reductions in energy consumption. Environmental issue has highlighted towards current world problems. Our project proposal is to promote the construction of solar water heater based on the technique developed in Santa Catarina by José Alcino Alano, 2004 NGO Super Ecology prize winner, sponsored by Super Interessante magazine. They are built by using recyclable materials such as PET bottles and long life milk cartons reducing costs and using "junk" in order to produce thermal energy. This equipment has been patented with the intention that there would be exploited by companies for profit, and its design is of public domain. The objective of this study is to analyze the profile of potential users of solar water heaters at low cost. Thus, lectures and practical activities for rural and local low-income communities were performed in order to show how to build effective heating systems with recyclable materials and install them in the houses and show its economic feasibility as well as thermal comfort afforded and benefits to environment generated by the system, providing a free guide to building the system.</p
