Solar Water Heating
Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 a year on utility bills? According to Keys Energy Services, the cost of energy is only going to rise in the Keys. Sadly, a large portion of this energy is wasted and along with it goes your hard-earned income. Simple things like a refrigerator door left open, a fan left running in an unoccupied room, or a faucet left running hot water while not in use, can considerably diminish the energy efficiency of your house. While there are easy short-term fixes to these problems, there are also several long-term solutions that can save both energy and money. One such way is through solar water heating.
Solar water heaters and ‘on demand’ water heaters are more expensive to purchase initially than traditional water heaters, but will cost less over the life of the heater and will significantly reduce the negative impact to the environment. Solar Today magazine reports that according to research at the University of Wisconsin Solar Energy Laboratory, a typical hot water heater generates as much carbon dioxide as the family car. During a 20 year period, one solar water heater can prevent over 50 tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. Using solar water heating to replace the traditional electric water heater would provide environmental benefits equivalent to doubling the fuel efficiency of the family car.
If you have an unobstructed, south-facing location on your property (such as a roof), you should consider installing a solar water heater.
Solar hot water heaters use the sun’s energy, as opposed to gas or electricity, to heat water. In Florida, three types of solar systems are used: pumped, integral collector storage, and thermo-siphon. The circulation system circulates potable water from the water storage tank through one or more collectors and back into the tank. The solar collector is the main component of a solar system. It is usually a metal box with insulation and a black absorber plate that collects solar radiation and heats the water. The circulating pump is regulated by an electronic controller, a common appliance timer, or a photovoltaic panel. Your monthly savings will depend on the amount of hot water you use, the size of your storage tank, and the cost of operation of your back-up system.
Typical hot water usage is 70 gallons per day. A solar water heater should reduce the hot water portion of your monthly bill by 50% and 85%. This is a savings of approximately $200 to $300 per year, for a family of four. Solar water heating systems can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the size of family to be served, size and type of solar system, and type of roof on which the collector is to be installed. For more information on solar hot water heaters, check out the Florida Solar Energy Center Web site.
Solar hot water heaters are especially effective in South Florida and they are relatively easy to install. If every home had a solar hot water heater our overall electrical demand, generated by fossil fuels, would be reduced thus helping to reverse the current global warming trend. This has just been made easier by a new tax incentive to purchase solar hot water heaters. The allowable tax credit will be 30% of the qualified solar system expenditures up to a maximum tax credit limitation of $2,000 for any equipment placed in service in 2006-2007.
More information on sustainable energy sources can be obtained from the University of Florida/IFAS/Monroe County Extension Office at 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-260, Key West, FL, 33040; phone 305/292-4501; e-mail or visit the following Web sites in addition to the one above: University of Florida Energy Extension Service or the Extension Web sites (http://keysglee.com or http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu). Our services are free and available to all without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.