The latest announcement from one of the UK's national Gas energy suppliers declares that they will not be passing on wholesale price cuts this winter and prices are likely to rise instead! For many, it may really be time to seriously think about replacement energy sources, which are both cheaper, cleaner and environmentally friendly.One of the oldest forms of technology available harnesses the power of the sun! And today it is probably one of the most efficient methods to heat your water at home.Clarence Kemp patented the first commercially available solar hot water heater in 1891, and since then, improvements in design, storage, and components have made solar water heaters the perfect starting point for homeowners looking to create a more sustainable home.Already, over 50, 000 householders have converted to Solar Water heating and all of us are being encouraged to take greater responsibility for more efficient use of energy. Those training to become a plumber or are already are working as a plumber, knowing how to correctly install Solar Water heaters, is becoming an important part of your skillset as demand inevitably increases.Solar water heaters are typically described according to the type of collector and the circulation system.Batch collectors - also called Integrated Collector-Storage (ICS) systems - heat water in dark tanks or tubes within an insulated box, storing water until drawn. Water can remain in the collector for long periods of time if household demand is low, making it very hot. Batch collectors are incompatible with closed-loop circulation systems. Thus, they are generally not recommended for cold climates.Flat-plate collectors - typically consist of copper tubes fitted to flat absorber plates. The most common configuration is a series of parallel tubes connected at each end by two pipes, the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flat plate assembly is contained within an insulated box, and covered with tempered glass.Flat plate collectors are typically sized to contain 40 gallons of water. Two collectors provide roughly half of the hot water needed to serve a family of four.Evacuated tube collectors - are the most efficient collectors available. Each evacuated tube is similar to a thermos in principle. A glass or metal tube containing the water or heat transfer fluid is surrounded by a larger glass tube. The space between them is a vacuum, so very little heat is lost from the fluid.Able Skills is an approved CTIB training provider in the assessment and certification in Solar Domestic Hot Water, a 2 day course providing an entry level qualification for experienced domestic heating installers or plumbers - or for those with Plumbing City & Guilds NVQ level 2 - wishing to extend their work scope into solar heating.