Solar Hot Water—It’s So Hot, it’s Cool

Published by Hubert Den Draak under Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Products




Some folks see the world in terms of ‘guy things’ and ‘chick things’. You know—men like rugged, practical stuff, and women prefer sensitive, impractical stuff.

I wasn’t so convinced of this notion until my wife and I built the Nolalu Eco Centre, and I now must admit to seeing strong evidence in support of la différence. Case in point: our male visitors usually make a bee line for the high-tech solar and wind power stuff, whereas most women are more interested in our considerably lower-tech solar domestic hot water system. So which is the more practical sex here?

Sorry guys: it’s the ladies. Sure, those big, shiny solar panels and all the paraphernalia are pretty cool, not to mention the more Freudian implications of men’s obsession with all things tall and erect (we’re talking wind towers here). But as far as common sense is concerned: nothing beats the efficiency and reliability of a solar hot water system.

About 14% of the average North American home’s energy bill goes to heating water for showers, baths, doing dishes, laundry, etc. Only heating the house takes more energy.

So what can the sun do to meet our hot water needs? As it turns out, a lot. A good solar thermal hot water system can take care of 40-70% of your hot water energy needs, depending on the system and amount of sun hours you get. Solar thermal is a proven technology that has been around for a long time, is very low maintenance, affordable, and retrograde-friendly to nearly any home with good southern exposure.

Let’s zero in on affordability. The average solar hot water system costs about $6,000 to $8,000 fully installed, and with the immediate savings will pay for itself in about seven years. That is not including any government incentives making it even more affordable. With a life expectancy 15-20 years, the system will allow you to enjoy many years of free hot water.

On top of that, each system is the equivalent of one less car on the road in terms of carbon emissions. That’s what being green is all about: good for your wallet and the planet.

When you start shopping for systems, you’ll notice there are two types available: the conventional flat plate systems that have been around for decades and the more recent technology of evacuated tubes. Both have their pros and cons, but as a rule of thumb: if you live in a climate with cold winters, consider investing in the slightly more expensive tubes. They’ll even produce hot water when it’s cloudy or cold, whereas flat plate panels need direct sunshine and above-freezing temperatures. The tube systems can also be used for in-floor heating.

After two northern Ontario winters with high-efficiency solar hot water tubes, we now know they produce about 70% of all our hot water needs, year round. In the summer months we even turn our propane heater off!

And every time energy prices go up, our modest investment pays for itself even faster. And, guys: those evacuated tubes look really high-tech cool—which make solar hot water both a ‘guy thing’ and a ‘chick thing’.



7 Responses to “Solar Hot Water—It’s So Hot, it’s Cool”

  1. jill trear says:

    That was a great article that I want to send on to someone. Funny, articulate, valuable. Thanks so much!

  2. Counselor Vino Layne says:

    Yep! It’s great to find out about the information, but even better when it reads so well.

  3. Nancy Spring says:

    So very coooool!!
    Nancy Spring

  4. eveacuated tubes are far more efficient than flat ones, especially in climates such as the UK where we don’t get that much sun

  5. Martha says:

    Reading this blog made me realize that it was not many months ago that I thought all solar panels were photovoltaic. Who knew? I wasn’t paying any attention and had no clue there was such a thing as solar hot water (solar thermal).

    For several years just recently, I had rented a sweet little cabaña with a swimming pool heated by solar thermal, and I still didn’t know. Whenever the owners mentioned the solar panels, I wondered for about two seconds why they weren’t the shiny ones, but then just dunked my head back into the water again and swam on. Hey, the pool was warm. What do I care? Thanks, Bill and Ann!

    Now I’m starting to wonder: am I alone? The market researcher in me decided to field the tiniest of surveys (most unscientific, too) to find out if I happen to be the last one to find out about PV vs. thermal.

    Turns out I’m in good company.

    Of 30 people on Twitter, Facebook, and a few friends who responded to my request, OVER HALF didn’t know the difference between PV and thermal. Adding people who said they ‘kinda’ knew the difference, two thirds weren’t really clear.

    Considering the fact that this sample is biased towards green Twitter and Facebook folks…and my green-leaning friends…I’m going to stick my neck out and say that well more than half of the people in the US don’t know either.

    This just points to the fact that we all have a lot to learn about alternative energy and how to use it. And fast, before this rock heats up too much!

  6. alireza says:

    Hello, I study about replice boiler and…in an a home with solar hot water. If you can please help me and guide me.
    thanks

  7. Peter Wray says:

    But, isn’t a big problem now just finding an installer who knows what he/she is doing with thermal panels. I can’t find anyone in the Columbus, Ohio region.

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