Las Vegas Company Helps Others Heat Their Pools Efficiently

While most people think of solar pool heating as the wave of the future, they may be more than surprised to discover it has been around Las Vegas for a long time.

Solar energy applications have helped builders market homes, but consumers are not educated enough about them, said the owner of a Las Vegas based firm that manufactures a variety of products that use the sun's energy. However solar energy is gaining popularity across the country as more people are realizing solar's environmental and financial benefits.

"One problem I have to overcome is the concept that solar pool heating systems are expensive," said Ranen Ghatak, an engineer who designed and patented a number of solar devices. His company, United Solar Energy, one of the fastest growing solar companies in Nevada is located at 6285 So. Mojave, Suite B. "I think that people should inquire about the cost rather than live with the idea it is very expensive," he said.

Ghatak, a native of India who received his engineering education in Germany, has been honored for his energy conservation equipment by the state of Nevada, President Bush and the U.S. Senate. He has been doing solar research in Nevada since 1977.

The hot water units, designed by Mr Ghatak, used both as commercial and residential systems are designed for high thermal efficiency, yet selected to compliment the architectural environment in which the units will be installed. Each system is a single integrated stainless steel unit complete and ready to go and requires only two connections cold water in, and hot water out. This system has no pumps or compressors, sensors, mechanical devices or motorized valves. Additionally, there are no electrical, electronic or mechanical moving parts, which means there is virtually nothing in the system to wear out or break down.

Although he sees solar energy usage as a major player in third world countries where there are few other sources of power, there are limits to its use in American homes, according to his own studies, and those he said he has culled from other sources.

"If you heated your pool with solar energy, there would be no bill for the eight or nine warmer months," he said. "This is a great savings over gas or electric, particularly for something that can be considered a luxury. For most pool owners, solar heating extends their pool swimming season 2 1/2 to 3 months longer than they would swim otherwise in a year."

Unlike nuclear power, solar energy produces no lethal radiation or radioactive wastes. Its generation is not centralized and hence not open to sabotage or blackmail. Unlike oil, the sun doesn't blacken out beaches or darken our skies. Nor does it lend itself to foreign boycott or corporate intrigue. Unlike coal, the use of solar energy doesn't ravage our rural landscapes with strip mining or our urban atmospheres with soot and sulphureous fumes.

Universal solar heating and cooling could ease fuel shortages and environmental pollution substantially. Almost 15 percent of the energy consumed in the United States goes for home heating, cooling, and water heating. If the sun could provide two thirds of these needs, it would reduce the national consumption of non renewable fuels by 10 percent and world consumption by more than 3 percent. National and global pollution would drop by similar amounts.

In addition to the hot water systems and swimming pool heaters, he also makes a solar operated pump that brings well water into a home with electricity generated by the unit through a photovoltaic array.

Another product that recently started selling well is a portable solar oven. It uses a specially constructed mirror that contains twice as much silver as a conventional mirror, and a special type of glass that absorbs the sun's rays.

"As we advertise more and reach more people and they become better educated in the use of solar energy as an alternative utility, the market will increase even more." said Mr. Ghatak.