Solar Hot Water Systems for Homes in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT
Solar Hot Water Systems
Energy-Efficient / Economical / Environmentally-Friendly
The installation of rooftop solar water heaters is rapidly increasing worldwide, with China and Western Europe leading the way. In Austria and Germany, about 30% percent of the installed solar thermal capacity involves combination systems designed to heat hot water and the home’s interior space. Solar hot water and space heating systems are also more prevalent in the western United States, where renewable energy sources are more widely accepted than in the east.
If you have been considering building a green home or renovating your current home to be more energy-efficient, economical and environmentally-friendly, you will want to think about installing a solar hot water system.
Key Facts
An electric hot water heater consumes the most electricity in a typical home, as much as 20% of the electric bill.
Solar hot water (or solar thermal) and photovoltaic technology are not the same. Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity, while solar hot water systems capture the sun’s heat energy to produce hot water, which is typically stored in a tank.
You will be helping our region and country move towards clean energy production through renewable sources and away from dependence on fossil fuel and nuclear energy sources, which are nonrenewable and polluting.
Sources
U.S. Department of Energy, “Heat Your Water with the Sun: A Consumer’s Guide”
Mother Earth News, “Harnessing the Sun’s Energy for Water and Space Heating”
For additional information
U.S. Department of Energy “Solar Water Heaters”
U.S. Department of Energy Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
NYSERDA “Take the So Hot Challenge”
Joseph M. Contrada
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