GET RUNNING HOT WATER, NOT HIGH RUNNING COSTS

Heating of water is the biggest single source of an average home’s greenhouse gas emissions (excluding the family car).It is also one of the largest consumers of power, using up around 25 to 35% of home energy.
What most people don’t realise is how inexpensive a solar hot water system is to install and to run.Fact is, within 2 years of installation, a solar hot water system will generally start paying for itself, so the savings start in earnest.
Up to 90% of an average household’s hot water requirements can be saved by installing a solar hot water system.It can also save up to 3.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions from an average household annually.There are considerations such as location, direction of the roof and the actual system quality which will all affect the performance and efficiency, but the truth is that the sun can provide most of the energy requirements for a household’s hot water. Any shortfall can be provided from conventional gas or electric supplies.
Electricity is becoming increasingly expensive and the search for appropriate renewable energy sources is gathering intensity.The case for solar power becomes even more convincing when one considers what electricity generation is costing us, and the environment.
There have been significant technological developments in solar hot water systems in recent times. Consumers now have a choice between roof or ground-mounted systems, which are suitable for any weather conditions from below freezing to the harshest desert heat.
Solar hot water isn’t only the domain of a new building.It is a relatively simple process to replace an electric hot water system, and many governments around the world are encouraging and incentivising householders to do so.
For example, generous rebates from the Australian government are encouraging eligible property owners, landlords and tenants to replace electricity driven hot water systems with solar hot water.The Australian Government is currently offering a 600 rebate per eligible installation of solar hot water to help people reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   Current calculations estimate the average family will save up to 0 off their energy bill each year if they install a solar system.
Perth solar hot water company, Solar MyWorld, have experienced a huge increase in demand for their systems since Government announced the rebates.The company says people are making lifestyle adjustments to meet growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, and they have seen a consequent increase in demand.
A study, ‘Energy use in the Australian Residential Sector 1986-2020′ which was commissioned by the Australian Government, projected that residential energy consumption from 1990 to 2020 would increase by 56%. However, water heating was the only major energy use predicted to decline over the study period, mainly as a result of Government and State energy programmes.Water heating energy use reached a peak in 2002 at 92.4 petajoules (PJ) and is anticipated to decline slowly to 8.5PJ by 2020.
Solar hot water is one of the simplest lifestyle changes that people can make. There are no reasons not to go this route.It is not only kind to the environment, but is also cost-effective and low on maintenance.Plus, a solar hot water system that has been correctly installed using quality parts should last at least a quarter of a century. Now that’s a hot option!

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