Why Solar Heated Water?

Why should you consider solar hot water?

In these environmentally-conscious times, concepts like using solar thermal products to heat your household water come up a lot, but many people don't actually know how they really differ from using other systems, or why using them is actually a good choice for many homeowners.

The most commonly used methods to heat household water are electricity and natural gas that heat the water by passing it through a tank or pipe with a heating element, or in the case of gas powered heaters, a tank with a gas burner in the bottom that transfers heat to the water through a chimney that rises through the tank. While effective, both methods consume a good deal of energy, and end up costing homeowners 15 to 30 percent of their energy budget.

A solar thermal heater works by collecting the energy from sunlight via a panel that works like a greenhouse--the sunlight goes in, and is trapped by the glazing on top of the panel. The energy is used to heat water in a series of tubes called either open or closed loop systems. >From there, the water stored until it is needed.

Knowing how both systems work, it is easy to see that using solar hot water is not only more environmentally friendly than other methods, but are also easier on your wallet. Sunlight is a naturally occurring and naturally recurring resource, which makes it ideal for home use. By using solar hot water, many houses actually produce more energy than they use, which is great for the environment. Since heating household water consumes such a large part of a home's energy, using solar thermal products is especially effective in reducing a home's carbon footprint.

While a solar thermal heater does require a one-time installation cost, many last up to forty years, and they are extremely efficient, which goes a long way to lower utility bills. In fact, many homeowners report that their solar thermal products more than pay for themselves in a few years because of the lowered utility costs. Additionally, the value of a house increases when a solar thermal panel is installed.

Because of their many benefits, solar thermal products are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. Besides being efficient and effective, using solar hot water not only gives you the satisfaction of being a globally conscious homeowner, but also cuts out a significant portion of your utility bills.