solar powered hot water

**forestdale** · 09-14-2005, 04:14 PM

We are having a new solar hot water tank installed today. Our old electric hot water tank was around 12 years old and just gave up. A new tank that would be the new version of our old one, would cost us around $2000, including installation. It would cost us $200 a year to operate and would last around 10 years. Our electricity here is generated by coal powered power plants so the green house gas emissions would be high for this type of appliance.

However, we've decided to install a solar tank. We've had solar hot water before and it works perfectly. The new unit is being installed today. The costs are: $3159 for a 2/3 person tank - we added the third person as we have a lot of visitors and we also run a dishwasher and I sometimes wash clothes in hot water. Installation is $1100.

. They are giving us a discount of $150, I think it's a seniors discount and we also get a government rebate of $672. The government give rebate incentives for all sorts of alternative power sources. In total the unit will cost $3437. It's guaranteed for 5 years, it should be fully operational for 23 years and it will cost us around $50 a year to operate. The operating costs vary as a booster kicks in if there is a prolonged period of cloudy weather which would be very unusual for here. The solar powered hot water will reduce our green house emissions by 30% which pleases me a lot.

Is anyone else here on solar or any other type of alternative power?

**homesteadmamma** · 09-14-2005, 05:08 PM

Here our hot water tank is heated by natural gas. I've never heard of a solar powered hot water tank.

How does it actually work? Here most water tanks are in the basement.

**forestdale** · 09-14-2005, 05:40 PM

CJ our tank will be mounted next to the solar panels on the roof. Here is the website of the company we are buying our system from - we are getting the 221L.

http://www.solahart.com.au/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=766

**QuilterMom** · 09-14-2005, 07:42 PM

My dh does all the solar water heating jobs for his company. He was trained in that when we lived on Maui and is the specialist in it for his employer here.

A few people in this area have solar hot water heating. I think even more would have it if rebates were offered. We did heavily consider having one, but after last year's hurricanes we changed our minds. Dh had to go on many, many repair calls for the roof panels and sadly found that insurance companies did not pay hardly anything toward new replacement panels. People with damaged panels ended up having to dish out a lot of money out of pocket. Our panel would have to be located on a spot on our roof that would practically guarantee it would be damaged if any hurricanes struck here again. We are still on the fence about it though. Our electric company continues to raise rates every chance they get and it's gotten beyond ridiculous. Our bills this summer were the most they've ever been in the 8 years we've lived in this area. We still may go the solar route (I would love to as I believe that's the best thing for the environment in addition to saving us money).

**QuilterMom** · 09-14-2005, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by homesteadmamma
How does it actually work?

Here, the water heater is connected to a panel or system of panels that are mounted/affixed to the optimum spot on your roof. The panels absorb sunlight which then warms the water in the heater. If there is a long period of not enough sunlight, the heater is also hooked up to electric and the electric backup feature kicks in to warm the water.

That's my version. I'm sure dh could explain it a lot better. LOL

**QuilterMom** · 09-14-2005, 07:48 PM

Rhonda - I forgot to say that I

your decision on going solar!!!

**QuilterMom** · 09-14-2005, 08:35 PM

Me again. I just showed dh the link you posted and those are the systems he installed on Maui. He said they are a very good system. What you got has a storage tank attached to your roof panels. Here the storage tanks are on the bottom of the water heaters and it's just panels only on the roof.

**DaisyLady** · 09-15-2005, 07:59 AM

WTG Rhonda (and dh) for choosing the solar system...and the planet system.

I've been doing some investigating here in Canada about solar hot water systems. I have yet to actually talk to someone who uses one so I don't really know how viable it would be here in the Cold North.

**nodmicks** · 09-15-2005, 08:07 AM

Wow! That is really a great decision! I had no idea there even were solar powered water heaters. Very cool!

**britbunny** · 09-15-2005, 08:52 AM

Rhonda, I am seriously thinking about getting a solar panel for our house. It will be subject to planning permission but have done some research and would be good for our house as we are south facing. There are also quite a few grants available to help with the cost of installation which is good.

I think I would also get one just to heat water rather than as part of the central heating but I know of systems where excess energy can be sold back to utility suppliers to earn a bit of cash/ reduce bills further.

**jlxian** · 09-15-2005, 02:32 PM

Wonderful Rhonda!

I had read several months ago on another forum a suggestion that if everyone converted their hot water heaters to solar power it would be a HUGE reduction in consumption of energy (and also a reduction in greenhouse gases as you point out).

We bought a new 50 gal heater just this summer, which is heated with propane. We were pressed for time to get the new one and were not able to research the possibility of solar powered heaters. Hopefully we can retrofit it down the road, or add a supplemental heat source.

You're an inspiration Rhonda --- THANKS!

**forestdale** · 09-15-2005, 03:48 PM

I must say I'm very happy to see the support for solar power here. Kim, tell your DH we had three men here yesterday to install the unit. A Solarhart installer, an electrician and a plumber. Three men to do one job, hmmmmm.

Thankfully, our unit is fully covered on our home insurance.

The plumber told my DH that he has one in his own home and he's never paid hot water bills since he installed it. He has turned off the electricity to the unit and they have modified their hot water usage so that they always have hot water but they never need to boost the unit with electricity. You need to do that during prolonged cloudy weather. We're going to do the same. Instead of having morning showers, we'll have them at night when we know the tank is full of very hot water. In the morning, we'll do laundry and run the dishwasher, then the tank will refill and be heated by the sun during the day.

For those of you who are thinking of solar, here's a link to the unit they use here in cold and frosty areas. The panels are mounted on a north facing roof and the tank is on the ground. It may give you more information on which to base a decision.
http://www.solahart.com.au/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=746

Britbunny, we are hoping to install more solar panels. It depends on price really. I'll write more when I know more about it and the costs associated. I hope you get yours. Keep us updated if you do go ahead.

**QuilterMom** · 09-16-2005, 01:36 PM

Dh told me that the U.S. is going to start giving rebates for solar hot water heaters this coming January. It will be done via your tax return for 2006. One of his suppliers faxed him the info and I keep forgetting to have him bring it to me to read. I'll post the details as soon as I read all about it.

**forestdale** · 09-16-2005, 03:51 PM

Kim, that's great news. When there is a rebate it does encourage people to intall solar. Your government should be commended for its forward thinking.