Solar hot water heaters make good sense

So you want to save money and help the environment? When you install one of the range of contemporary solar hot water heaters, you can get a rebate for doing it and save money in the long term.

In the average home, hot water represents around 30% of the energy bill. So, if you want to save money, installing solar hot water heaters is certainly the way to go. You may even be able to recoup some of the cost if you qualify for the Government's solar hot water heaters rebate. While all solar hot water heaters will save money and reduce greenhouse emissions, there are different types available, which work at different efficiencies and in different conditions.

John Payne, Director of Enviro Friendly Products in Canberra, explains that there are now more options than the traditional flat-plate systems that have been the standard for the last 40 years. "Evacuated tubes are a new and more efficient form of on-the-roof solar hot water heaters," he says. "And a combination of flat plates and evacuated tubes is best where there's a clear, north-facing roof."

If installing something on your roof is not possible, John reveals that heat-pump solar hot water heaters are also available, which work like a reverse-cycle air-conditioner and take the place of your existing hot water unit. "Orientation is no problem; they can be facing any direction, or even under a deck," he says.

While both solar hot water heaters are effective, on-the-roof systems often need an electric or gas booster as a back-up for when the sunlight is inadequate, while heat pumps can produce hot water 24/7.

The money saved by using solar hot water heaters will depend on the amount of energy currently being used to heat the water in your home, but savings of hundreds of dollars a quarter are not uncommon. And as energy prices continue to skyrocket, so will the savings.

In terms of installation, John reveals that gas-boosted roof solar hot water heaters are the most expensive to set up, with electric-boost equivalents a bit less and heat pumps costing the least to install. A nice incentive to make the switch is the current solar hot water rebate program on offer. Anyone who installs solar hot water heaters to replace electric hot water service is entitled to a federal government rebate. This rebate is means tested, but if you qualify, it's worth $1000.

Some states also offer additional solar rebates. NSW, for example, has rebates that range from $600 to $1200, depending on the system. If you are lucky enough to qualify for all rebates, you could end up paying less than you would for an old-fashioned, inefficient, electric hot water system.

John believes there is no down side when it comes to solar water heating. "It saves the customer money and saves the planet!" he enthuses. "Buying a solar hot water system is probably the single biggest thing you can do to cut your energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions."

For more information on making the switch to a solar hot water heaters, speak to an expert today: