Solar Water Heating and Energy Savings
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating accounts for about 15 percent of the average household's energy use. As natural gas and electricity prices continue to rise, the costs of maintaining a constant hot water supply will increase as well. Homes and businesses that heat their water through solar collectors could end up saving as much as $250 to $500 per year depending on the type of system being replaced.
Today, most American homes and businesses use natural gas, electricity, or oil to provide them with hot water. The amount of energy required to meet our hot water needs is not insignificant. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), heating water today accounts for up to 14 percent of the average household's energy use, and nearly four percent of total U.S. energy consumption. With electricity and natural gas prices continuing to rise, the costs of having a constant supply of hot water can really add up.
Solar water heating (SWH) technologies are a simple, reliable, and cost-effective method of harnessing the sun's energy to provide for the energy needs of homes and businesses. Simply stated, SWH systems collect the energy from the sun to heat air or a fluid. The air or fluid then transfers solar heat directly or indirectly to your water supply.
Though these systems have been in use for centuries, with today's technological advances, SWH technologies can be operated efficiently and affordably in any climate. Systems are specifically designed for various climatic and geographical areas of the country. Regions with temperatures that fall below freezing require the use of an indirect or drain-back system, while warmer, sunnier climates can use a direct system, which directly heats the water to be used.
SWH systems also provide an important opportunity to reduce our nation's growing demand for energy from fossil fuels. By installing a SWH system, a typical household can meet 50 to 80 percent of their hot water needs.
Reduced demand for fossil fuels will improve the environment by reducing air and water pollution as well as the heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. And though they cost a little bit more up front to install, a SWH system will save consumers money in the long run as the fuel source (the sun's energy) will always be free.
Currently there are more than 300,000 SWH units installed across the United States (excluding swimming pool applications). While the number of installations continues to grow by the thousands every year, there still exists an enormous untapped market with great potential for reducing a significant portion of our nation's energy use.