Photo by V. Miller
Nov. 9, 2005
A Solar Water Heater
Building a Solar Water Heater from a 1967 Pontiac Radiator
Garrett Yazzie, 14, Pinon, Ariz.
Science Channel "Space Camp" Award, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2005
Project background: In Garrett's remote town, most people have only basic water and house heaters. They cut firewood from the forest or haul coal from a mine. Because few have electricity, Garrett wanted to explore using the alternative form of energy, solar heat.
Tactics and results: Garrett made a solar heater from a radiator pried from a 1967 Pontiac and 64 aluminum cans spray-painted black. He measured the temperature of the air leaving the back of the heater and the water inside the radiator. In just an hour, the water temperature increased from 20°C to 94°C—almost boiling and hot enough that Garrett could see steam.
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| Photo by V. Miller |
Garrett has done further work to combine this heater with a window heater to heat a room.
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