Heating of water is the biggest single source of an average home’s greenhouse gas emissions (excluding the family car). It’s also one of the biggest guzzlers of power, accounting for between 25% and 35% of home energy use.
Solar hot water systems are not expensive to install or run, which most people don’t realise.Essentially, two years from installation, a solar hot water system will start paying for itself.
A solar hot water system can save up to ninety per cent of the average home’s hot water energy needs.It can also save up to 3.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions from an average household per year.There are considerations such as location, direction of the roof and the actual system quality which will all affect the performance and efficiency, but the truth is that the sun can provide most of the energy requirements for a household’s hot water. Any shortfall can be provided from conventional gas or electric supplies.
Renewable energy is coming to the fore as electricity production becomes more and more expensive.The case for solar power becomes even more convincing when one considers what electricity generation is costing us, and the environment.
Solar hot water has been the subject of massive technological development in recent times.Systems can be ground or roof-mounted, and can be used in any weather from below freezing to harsh desert conditions.
Solar hot water can be installed anywhere, new buildings and old.It is a relatively simple process to replace an electric hot water system, and many governments around the world are encouraging and incentivising householders to do so.
For example, generous rebates from the Australian government are encouraging eligible property owners, landlords and tenants to replace electricity driven hot water systems with solar hot water.The Australian Government is currently offering a 600 rebate per eligible installation of solar hot water to help people reduce greenhouse gas emissions.It is currently estimated that the average family can slash up to 0 off their annual energy bill by switching to solar hot water.
Specialists in solar hot water, Perth-based Solar MyWorld, have seen an exponential increase in solar hot water systems since the introduction of the Government rebates.They say that increased environmental awareness is creating demand as people change their lifestyles to reduce carbon emissions.
A study commissioned by the Australian Government, ‘Energy Use in the Australian Residential Sector 1986-2020 projected a 56% increase in residential sector energy consumption from 1990 – 2020.Water heating was the only major energy use predicted to decline over the study period, predominantly due to Government and State energy programmes. Water heating energy use reached a peak in 2002 at 92.4 petajoules (PJ) and is expected to decline slowly to 8.5PJ by 2020.
Solar hot water is one of the most simple, yet most rewarding, lifestyle changes we can make. There are no downsides.It is both cost-effective and low maintenance and on top of that, is kind to the environment too.A good quality solar energy system that has been installed by properly qualified installers should last up to 25 years.Now, that’s a sizzling hot option!
