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Why should I buy a solar hot water heating system? People decide to buy a solar hot water system for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the primary consideration is to save money on water heating bills by making an up-front investment. Other people want to include environmentally friendly technologies in their home, or to help reduce oil imports. Since adding solar hot water can increase hot water delivery capacity, other people may buy a solar hot water heater in order to meet the needs of a growing family. Businesses may invest in solar hot water to demonstrate their commitment to protecting Vermont's environment, or to limit uncertainty about future fuel costs. Is my home or business a good place for solar hot water? Solar hot water collectors need to receive direct sunshine to meet your needs efficiently and economically. This typically means having a mounting location on your site that is unshaded between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.. Although solar hot water is not as sensitive as solar electric (PV) systems to partial shading, you should still carefully consider the sun's path in the winter and summer as well as shading from trees, chimneys, other buildings when evaluating your available solar resource. Solar professionals have tools and methods available to quickly determine your site's solar resource.
How big should my solar hot water system be? Solar hot water professionals usually size systems by determining the total collector area and the storage volume required to meet 100% of your hot water demand during the summer months when the greatest solar gain is achievable. When there is less solar energy available (on a cloudy day or in the depth of winter) your system will use any available sunshine to meet a portion of your total hot water needs and then provide the balance with a conventional fuel backup. The advantage of having solar hot water systems plumbed to work seamlessly with conventional hot water systems is that you'll always have hot water, even if the sun isn't shining. An initial sizing guideline is that each adult uses approximately 20 gallons of hot water per day. This value can vary quite widely from house to house, depending on number of people, water conservation and usage habits. Solar hot water professionals can help you accurately define how much hot water you use, and they can often also help to identify money-saving opportunities for hot water savings.
A small solar hot water system (50 to 60 gallon storage) is generally sufficient for 1 to 3 people, while households of 3-4 persons or 4+ persons usually require systems with 80 to 120 gallons of storage. Collector size varies according to system design, but a general rule of thumb is to anticipate between 0.7 and 0.85 square feet of collector for each gallon of storage.
How much will my solar hot water heating system save me? The dollar savings produced by a solar hot water heating system are directly tied to hot water use, and avoided expenditures on conventional hot water fuels (natural gas, LPG, oil, or electricity). Thus, the economic benefits are higher for households high water heating costs (electricity) and with higher usage (households with three or more residents). Generally speaking a solar hot water system will save you 60% to 70% on your annual water heating bills. Depending upon your how much hot water you use, and your fuel costs, this usually amounts to between $100 and $400 per year. Click here if you would like to receive an analysis specific to your household's usage and fuel bills. How much will my solar hot water system cost? The total costs for a solar hot water system vary according to a number of factors. These include the type of system, the manufacturer, the installer, the size of the system, and whether the system is being included in a new construction project or installed as a retrofit to an existing house. The financing used for a solar hot water system also plays an important role in determining monthly costs. Click here for more information on financing for renewable energy systems. Approximate price ranges for closed loop, household sized, solar hot water systems are listed in the table below.
Are incentives available for solar hot water systems? Yes, in some cases. Currently in Vermont, two utilities (Citizens Utilities Company, and Burlington Electric Department) have programs to help reduce the initial costs of solar hot water systems, and to promote the growth of renewable energy use. Citizens Utility Company has recently launched the Solar Vt pilot program which offers eligible high use electric water heating customers direct and financing incentives for solar hot water. To qualify for the program Citizens customers must be current participants in one of the residential energy service programs for Citizens' high use customers, and pass electric hot water consumption criteria. Potential candidates can contact Citizens Utilities or the RERC toll-free hotline 1 (877) 888-7372 for the latest information on this program.
What are the environmental benefits from a solar hot water heater? Using the sun's clean renewable energy to heat water is good for the environment because it reduces several forms of air pollution and helps to reduce demand for new and often environmentally threatening supplies for fossil fuels. Most people in Vermont currently use fuel oil, electricity, propane, or natural gas to heat their hot water. The environmental impacts of using these fuels to heat water include global warming, acid rain, urban smog, and the production of nuclear waste. In Vermont, a new solar hot water heater will typically provide between 60 and 70 percent of a household's needs. By installing a solar water heater, a family of four, who currently use an electric water heater and consume an average of 80 gallons of hot water per day, will prevent 3,400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year. This represents a reduction in household greenhouse gas emissions of 20% or more for a typical household. Another way to look at it, is that an emissions reduction of this size is the equivalent of around 4,250 miles per year of pollution free driving (assuming your car gets 25 miles per gallon). Either way, the environmental contribution is significant (over 20 years it adds up to 34 tons of emissions prevented) helping to reduce the threats of global warming, and maintain the quality of Vermont's natural resources. Your actions make a difference!
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Investing
in A Solar Hot Water System 
