Saving Money Using Solar Hot Water

Most parts of Australia have abundant, all-year-long sunshine; it’s very possible and important to put that resource to good use. You could be saving money using solar hot water, so why not let solar power heat your household water. To do so it won’t cost much, it’ll save you money and at the same time it will reduce your carbon foot print, thereby helping the environment.

Accomplishing all of this is fairly simple; you’ll just need a solar unit installed on your roof, normally facing the north side to maximize the unit’s exposure to the sun. The water heats as it passes through the solar panels. The warmed water then runs back to a collector, housed either on the roof with the heating unit or on the ground, depending on the type of home you live in. The warmed water waits in the collector for your use. In the event of prolonged cloud cover or other adverse weather, your solar water heater has an electric or gas powered auxiliary power heater included, so you’ll never have to worry about running out of hot water.

The government of Australia states that the heating of water is the number one use of energy in a household. It’s estimated between 20% – 28% of a home’s energy consumption is related to heating water. Depending on your location, a solar hot water heater can supply between 50% – 90% of your hot water needs. This cuts down substantially on the amount of energy – gas or electric – needed to heat your water.

Of equal importance to most, you’re going to save money using solar hot water, which all adds up in the end. Estimates vary depending on your location, family size and current energy consumption patterns, but it’s thought that the average Australian family of four can cut around $900 a year from their energy bill by switching to solar hot water.

Solar system installations are eligible for REC/Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STC’s). These vouchers can be exchanged with sellers directly at the point of sale to reduce the cost of your purchase. The value of the certificate depends on your location; Australia is split into zones for this purpose. Check with Oceanside Services on 07 5520 7100 for more details on your certificate’s value and how much money you can save on a new solar hot water system.