Hot water is a luxury not many Kenyans can afford. With more than 50% of the population living below the poverty line, heated showers can be a costly affair. Some people are used to the biting cold, even in the month of July where temperatures are so low, a hot cup of tea takes less than 2 minutes reach room temperature.

For those who can’t stand the cold, Clima Cento Green Tech Limited, an eco-friendly firm, has come up with a solution. The company recently showcased a set of solar powered tubes dubbed Heat Pipe Technology at the East Africa Housing and Construction Expo at the Sarit Center in Nairobi. While they may not be the only devices of their kind, the tubes, which cost KES 140,000, can be connected to a houses existing plumbing and provide hot water to every outlet in the vicinity. A smaller version of the machine can be connected to a hose pipe linking it to a source of water.

How does it Work?

The insulated tubes convert Ultra Violet Rays into heat energy in the presence of humidity. It takes 4 hours to heat the water but the device continues to keep it warm for a virtually infinite amount of time. As long as the machine is functioning, the water remains heated.

In case the weather is too cold, the device has a slot that allows the user to connect it to an electric power source. Even in unfavorable conditions, the tubes use 90% of solar energy to heat the water.

“It is a system which has never failed us,” said Gideon Mukonza one of the company's representatives.

Normal Heaters use at least 4.5 Kilowatts per hour. Larger models can consume up to 6 Kilowatts per hour. Instant shower heaters use 1.5 Kilowatts per hour. Heat Pipe Technology primarily uses solar power so it actually saves energy. Users can go for years without using electricity to heat water. Best of all, the device can survive a hailstorm so it barely needs any maintainance.

The firm has so far been able to heat swimming pools for the American Embassy and the Hillcrest School.