Hot Water

Nansen Yu and Myra Wong of Cornell University install evacuated tube collectors for heating water on their team's house. A metal tube with fins inside the glass tubes collects the sun's heat, transferring it to water that passes through the tubes, thereby heating the water. The tubes use an internal vacuum to prevent heat loss.
Solar Decathlon 2007
(100 points)
This contest demonstrates that solar hot water systems can supply all the hot water that households use daily for bathing, laundry, and dishwashing. Teams score points in the Hot Water contest by successfully completing "shower tests" over 4 days of the competition. They aim to deliver 15 gallons of hot water (110°F/43.3°C) in 10 minutes or less.