It is a fact solar power has great potential, it can solve the high energy bills and reduce pollution rates big time. There are many great projects and “how to”‘s which are easy and beneficial to do and there are a few which are a complete waste of money. I have created a short lists which projects are not really worth investing in so you can avoid throwing money out through the window. These items are the ones which we can ignore for the time being, maybe you can revisit them after the technology has evolved.
First one on the list is: Choosing Solar swimming pool heater than a solar cover
The main negative for solar heated swimming pool is that it costs too much and you won’t see any return on your investment. The material which this gadget is made of will be destroyed by sunlight and chlorine. So its life expectancy is pretty short. Also it will break sooner or later thus leaking all over the place. And because it is not no your roof it will be really hard to maintain it. The solar cover works way better than the heater and it costs only a fraction. And if you are really a nature lover you would much more appreciate a cold swim to wake you up in the morning.
Second one on the list is: Being cheap on water heater systems
Solar water heating systems are nice, but they do not work in most climates and the pipes will most likely burst if the temperature drops below freezing point. A collector of this size has to be mounted by at least 5-6 men. And usually takes at least a full hour to get it out from the safety packaging. And of course UPS does not deliver big packages like this so you have to rent a truck to carry it out to your house. If god forbid something breaks the whole fiasco has to be redone. Take it off the roof, package it up, and send it away. It always pays to do the homework.
And lastly: Going cheap where ever you can
You should know this the quality of the material what you use equals the money you have paid for. The cheaper you go the more headaches you will be having. Actually it is way better to give more money on the front end and having no worries on later dates.