Batch solar water heater (integrated collector-storage)

A dark tank inside a glazed, insulated box; simpler than a thermosiphon system, at some cost in overnight heat retention.

Cost
Low
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Intermediate
Lifespan
15-20 years, somewhat shorter than a thermosiphon system since the tank itself is the exposed collector
Embodied carbon
Low
Space / material use
Medium
Output timing
Weather/time-dependent
Skill to repair
Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

A south-facing roof or ground area for the integrated tank/box

Inputs

Outputs

Sources

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.