A solar water heater out of recyled plastic bottles

A Brazilian innovator has developed a solar water heater out of plastic bottles. Jose Alamo,  a retired mechanic developed the solar heater recycling plastic bottles that were not being picked up in his town of Tubarao. Since 1992 when he first came up with his invention. Alano has been busy giving talks and workshops in schools and community centres on how to DIY your own solar heating pannel. The Ecologist recently showcased Alano's work. Since then over 7000 people in Brazil have bebefited from his inventions, from which he has refused to profit. In his own words as quoted in The Ecologist article.. 'I am a simple person, but I am very aware of my own responsibilities as a consumer. The recycled solar water heater was just my small contribution to the environment, and to improve the lives of people who need to save money. I registered the invention, so nobody else could copy and profit from it. Although the information on how to build it is in the public domain and anybody can access it, there are two restrictions: to its industrial production and to its use by politicians during electoral campaigns.'


There are leaflets with instructions on how to DIY the pannel (in portuguese) however it is worth looking at the leaflet and then seeing some of the instructions in English from The Ecologist article.