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Household water heaters are found to be responsible for about 30% of
the total greenhouse gas emission, in an average household. However,
with each passing day, people are learning to be more conscious and many
households have begun to install solar water heaters in their homes.
Since solar water heaters produce no harmful greenhouse gases, they are
eco-friendly.
Moreover, installing a solar water heater will reduce your electricity
bill to a very large degree – after all, solar power is free! A solar
water heater can supply your daily hot water requirement efficiently.
Though the upfront cost of a solar water heater is much higher than an
electric or gas heater, the saving over time will be much more. Most
solar water heater will last you about 25 years or even more. How
does a solar water heater work?
If you install a solar water heater in your home, a solar panel, or
collector will be fitted to your room. This collector serves to collect
the heat from the sun and then uses it to heat the water that is stored
in the hot water cylinder. You will find two types of solar water
heating panels - evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors.
What are the benefits of solar water heaters?
A solar heater will help you to have warm water throughout the year,
though you may need to further heat the water with the help of a boiler,
during the winter season if the sun is not too strong.
In addition, as already stated, you will be able to cut your electricity
bill, because you are using free sunlight to heat your water – this
saves a lot of electricity
Most importantly however, you are being able to reduce your carbon
footprint in the environment, thus doing your bit to save the
environment.
How much does it cost you?
The average cost of a solar water heater in Australia will be between
$1,800 and $2,800, along with installation charges. This rate is what
you will have to pay after tax rebates. The government of Australia
offers huge rebate to people who are switching from electric heaters to
solar heater. According to the Department of Environment and Water
Resources your yearly savings if you have a solar hot water system in
your home can go up to about 600kg of CO2 emissions, depending of the
efficiency of the heater that you have installed.
You will be able to save electricity worth of $300 to $700 per year;
which means you can gain back what you spent within a few years. In
Australia, the program by Easy Being Green gives you the opportunity to
get a solar water heating system even free. You will however have to pay
the installation charges. |
