Tips for purchasing a solar hot water system

When choosing to go solar for your water heating needs, there are a number of factors you will need to consider to help you make the best decision. Installing these systems is a big investment for homeowners, and you want to be sure you are making the most of your investment. Before you purchase your new solar hot water system, follow these tips.

Decide if your site is right for solar

• Does your roof receive direct sunlight during peak hours year- round?
• Does your roof face south?
• Is your roof in good condition

Decide what type of solar hot water system meets your needs

• Learn how solar hot water systems work to determine which type is right for your needs
• Consider how you will protect the system during freezing temperatures
• Determine the capacity you will require

Contact a solar hot water system contractor

• Ask to receive an estimate for your home’s new solar hot water system
• Check your solar hot water system contractor’s references
• Find out about local permitting requirements and ask if the contractor will take care of obtaining them

Learn about rebates and incentives

• To take advantage of the federal tax credit, make sure the solar hot water system you’ve chosen qualifies
• Check with your state and local utility providers to see if they offer additional incentives for homeowners who install solar hot water systems

Consider future maintenance requirements

• Learn what steps need to be taken to properly maintain your solar hot water system
• Ask your solar hot water system contractor if they provide maintenance services
• Ask your solar hot water system contractor how often the system should be inspected and if inspections are necessary to comply with product warranties
• Learn about weatherization steps that may be necessary for your new solar hot water system

Solar hot water heater systems for American homes

American households consume a great deal of energy. In fact, the amount of energy consumed for water heating purposes is more than what is used to power a home’s lighting, appliances, and gadgets combined! Approximately 8 percent of homes in the United States replace their water heaters each year- if you’re due for a new water heater, you should consider a solar hot water heater system.

Conventional water heating methods burn fossil fuels, whether directly or during the production of the electricity used for power. Residential water heating in the United States creates 173 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year! Every home and every fossil fuel burning appliance inside has a great impact on our environment, whether you realize it or not.

Switching to a solar hot water heater system can greatly reduce your home’s environmental impact. If more American homeowners switched to solar hot water when replacing their current water heater, a significant reduction in the collective household carbon emissions would be seen. Not only would homeowners benefit by becoming more environmentally friendly, they would also be rewarded with much lower energy bills.

The United States is a great place for solar hot water heater systems. Our country receives a great deal of sunlight exposure, which would greatly reduce dependence on fossil fuel water heating if solar hot water heater systems were in play in American homes. Of course, your home site and other factors will play in to whether or not solar water heating is a good option for your particular home.

Solar hot water heater systems are an affordable solar option, with a much lower price tag than solar electricity systems. Most homeowners find that the energy savings these systems provide greatly offset the installation costs and make for a valuable investment. Many states and local programs offer incentives for homeowners who install solar hot water heater systems, along with federal tax credits.

All about solar thermal

Many business owners are aware that solar energy can be used to provide electricity for a variety of business needs, but did you know that you can also use solar energy to heat water for all types of applications? This use of solar energy is called solar thermal, and the sun’s energy is used to heat water or another type of fluid, not generate electricity.

The benefits of a solar thermal system are countless. They benefit businesses by:

• Reducing utility bills- Solar thermal systems help homes and businesses cut the amount of electricity or other heating fuel necessary to heat water. They can save you up to 70 percent off your water heating expenses, and in some applications, may even be able to provide all the energy necessary for water heating.
• Reducing carbon footprint- When solar thermal heating is used, fossil fuels are not. Solar thermal reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by your business’s operations. Solar thermal can make your business more environmentally friendly and show the public that you are doing your part to reduce your environmental impact.
• Complying with sustainability mandates- Today’s business owners are faced with more requirements designed to promote the use of renewable technologies in the workplace. By installing solar thermal systems, a business can make way towards meeting these requirements while making smart equipment investments which are sure to generate a high return for your money.

Solar thermal systems are used in a number of commercial applications. Businesses today are using solar thermal systems in the following ways:

• To provide for the workplace’s general hot water heating needs
• To heat swimming pools and hot tubs
• For radiant space heating

To see if solar thermal technology can benefit your business, contact Smith Sustainable Design for consultation. Our team of experts is experienced in designing and installing commercial solar thermal systems for a variety of business applications.

Solar hot water systems create energy efficient homes

Most homes in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania spend approximately 12 to 18 percent of their energy use on hot water. Whether you use electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil, there is a more affordable and efficient way to provide for all your home’s hot water needs. Solar hot water systems use free energy from the sun to heat your water!

With a solar hot water system, your home will heat hot water using natural energy that comes from the sun. Depending on the size of your solar hot water heater system, you may not require the help of a backup conventional hot water heater. Relying 100 percent on your solar hot water heater can shave 12 to 18 percent off your total energy budget each year!

Reducing your hot water demand is another way to save energy whether you’ll be installing a solar hot water system or not. Look for ways you can use less hot water around the home to further reduce your energy use.

• Take shorter showers
• Choose efficient water-using appliances when replacing or upgrading
• Lower the temperature on your conventional hot water heater
• Insulate your hot water storage tanks

Solar hot water systems differ from the solar panel systems used to produce electricity for your home. A solar collector is placed on the roof or other prime location to collect the sun’s energy for use to heat water. Insulated storage takes hold the hot water produced by the system. This equipment has come a long way since the 1970s, when it first became popular for use in America’s homes.

Solar hot water systems offer decades of service. Lifetime expectancy for these systems is 20 to 30 years! As with all your home systems, routine maintenance is necessary, but it will benefit you in the long run by helping extend system life and keep your system operating effectively.

When you choose to have a solar hot water system installed at your home, make sure you are also choosing a quality contractor to do the work. Contact Smith Sustainable Design for quality solar hot water systems and expert installation.