Installing a solar hot water heater is probably the single most effective action you can take to reduce your power bills and help the environment. Hot water can account for 40% of home energy consumption.
SolarQuip recommends gas- or electricity-assisted solar hot water using evacuated tube technology as the most efficient system to provide instant hot water and save on power bills. With generous state government solar hot water rebates, it’s a smart choice for water heating and lowering your energy bills.
Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water Systems
Evacuated tube solar hot water heaters collect heat from the sun as it moves across the sky during the day. They are also the best way to reduce heat loss to the air, as collected heat cannot escape through the vacuum in each tube – each central heat pipe is insulated, and so performs most efficiently.
Flat panels may perform better in full, direct sun but lose heating ability quickly in cloudy or cool conditions, and at low sun angles (morning and early evening). We believe that evacuated tube systems are more reliable source of hot water for locations like Melbourne and Canberra.
The solar rebates available for hot water systems are different for gas-assisted and electricity-boosted heaters, but either provide tremendous savings over conventional storage hot water systems. Installation is straight-forward, and lower daily power costs result from the minimal boosting that may be required. An additional daily timer may assist by limiting any boosting until late afternoon, if solar heating has been insufficient, and many solar water heating system owners turn off their boosting completely on all but several mid-winter (grey) days.
Learn more about hot water heating from the government hot water fact sheet. (Note the CO2 emissions from gas-boosted solar hot water is 0.2 tonnes p.a. as opposed to about 3.5 tonnes for electric heaters, if your electricity is not “Greenchoice” (renewably sourced).)
Contact SolarQuip with a short summary of your needs and we’ll consider the best solution for your water heating. SolarQuip provide solar hot water services to homes in north east Melbourne and the Yarra Valley. For commercial solar hot water in other areas contact us to discuss your requirements.