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Solar hot water in a cloud forest in Costa Rica? Well it sounds a bit strange until you understand the needs, seasons, experiences and the amazing strength of the tropical sun in Central America
Monteverde is in a coveted cloud forest that is a world ecology research and tourist destination. Subsequently, there are many first rate hotels and homes that cater to North Americans and Europeans who are used to hot water from the taps.
Monteverde sits on the edge of some of the wettest places in Central America. Right on the continental divide with about 100 inches of rain a year and a dry and wet season. December till April is the dry season, peak season for visitors, with mostly sunny days.
However, even in the rainy season, when there is actually less demand for hot water because of fewer tourists, it is sunny for several hours in the morning.
Tourism is now the largest industry in Costa Rica surpassing Coffee and Bananas
One of the larger and well established luxury hotels, the Monteverde Lodge, offers hot water to all its guests, not only in the rooms, but a Jacuzzi that is mostly heated using solar energy, direct thermal energy by using hot water panels on the roof. For backup, the Monteverde Lodge uses propane (LP) gas water heaters.
Solar Hot Water Panels on the roof (on the right side) of the Monteverde Lodge
Costa Rica has no natural gas or oil so most of the water that is heated is done with electricity or LP gas. LP gas is imported. The large hotels and some homes also use LP gas for water heating. Still, a costly way to heat hot water.
Domestic hot water is not used widely in Costa Rica. Much of the coastal area is quite hot and a cool shower is most welcome. In addition, most Costarican families do not use hot water in the houses as most North Americans do. Generally there is just one pipe throughout the house with a point-of-use water heater at the shower head. Cooking is done with bottled gas (LP or Propane) and often dish washing is done with cold water with some hot stove water added. The washing machine is usually fed only cold water and is used that way.
So the main use for solar hot water is in the hotels and for process heat where hot water up to 100oC is used. Several processes use steam heat and solar can and is used to preheat the input water before other fuels, mostly diesel, are applied.
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