|
With a monthly electric bill hovering around U.S. $300, and almost 361 days of sunshine per year, solar hot water heating made sense for these two Florida homeowners.
All it took took to justify the one-time cost of going solar was a newspaper article showing that the average person pays nearly 20% of their monthly utility bill just to heat their water.  Unlike the bulky solar hot water heaters of the past, today's models are more efficient, cost less, and look like skylights on your roof.
The amount of hot water a solar energy heater produces is determined by your geographic location, where the solar collector is installed on your roof, the size of the collector, and the type of system that you choose. People living in tropical or sub-tropical climates can usually depend upon solar heating for 100% of their hot water needs. People who live in colder climates need a conventional water heater for backup.
 |
Passive Solar Water Heater |
The two basic solar hot water heater types are " passive" and "forced" circulation. Passive solar heaters use a water tank that is positioned above the collector. Forced systems uses pumps to move the heated water to a storage tank located inside the home.
Most solar energy collectors are made from a flat copper plates coated with black paint. When the sun's energy hits the plate, the heat is absorbed and transferred to the water as it flows through the tubes connected to the plate. The heated water moves into the thermally-lined storage tank where it is held until needed.
The more expensive "evacuated tube" collector uses a network of heat tubes containing both a pipe that holds a thermal liquid, and another pipe which carries the water. The solar energy heats the liquid which transfers the heat energy to the water. The water is then moved to an internal storage tank. Your solar hot water heater supplier can help you determine which type of solar hot water heater is best for your particular needs.
Justifying the cost of installing a solar hot water heater
You can expect to pay between U.S. $1,500 and $3,000 for a solar hot water heater plus up to U.S. $500 for installation. If your hot water heating costs run towards the average of 20% of your monthly utility bill, then it can take as long as 5 years to reach break-even. Some jurisdictions offer tax incentives for installing solar energy devices which can reduce the payoff time. Our Florida friends bought their system new on eBay. It only cost them U.S. $500 plus U.S. $75 for shipping. After paying $400 to have it installed, they are looking at a payoff in less than a year.
If your temperature rises every time you get your utility bill, maybe a solar hot water heater will cool you down!
|
