Solar Heating Systems Can Lower Utility Bills

Since alternative energy is a “burning” topic, interest is being pointed toward wind, water, and solar power.  While wind and water generated energy is limited to specific  geographic areas, solar energy is found everywhere.  The U.S. Department of Energy and its partners have been developing technologies to use the power of the sun to supply thermal energy for solar hot water, solar space heating, and solar pool heaters.   The efficiency and reliability of solar heating systems has increased, and they have become a great option for homes.

Solar Water Heaters have become readily available for consumers and have helped to drastically lower utility bills.  Hot water heaters are well known to be “energy hogs” and can use a large amount of electricity or gas to heat the water.  The best thing about solar energy….it’s a free fuel!  Solar Water Heaters will remove the original energy costs to generate hot water for your home.

 
 So How Do They Work?

Solar energy is utilized to heat your water as close as possible to your preset temperature. This saves most, if not all, of the energy that your electric/gas water heater would normally be using.  Solar Water Heating Systems involve a solar collector, which faces the sun to absorb the sun’s heat energy, and
a well-insulated storage tank.  In the Two-Tank System, the Solar Water Heater preheats water or antifreeze fluid in a separate tank then transfers that heat to the usable water in the conventional water heater tank.  In the One-Tank system, the
back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

 Are There Disadvantages To Solar Energy?

Solar energy is used for many purposes, including heating and electric products.  However, the one issue with solar technologies is the higher initial costs of the products.  It will most likely cost more for purchase and construction than another kind of heating system.  On the other hand, in most cases you will recover these costs by saving large amounts on fuel during the life of the product.

Darryl Dressler, Energy Efficiency Program Assistant