Install Solar Hot Water
Sunlight converts cold water into hot water. No gasses are emitted and no one gets hurt. Life is rarely this simple!
The cost of energy is rising, the effect of pollution increasing.
'Water heating accounts for about 30 per cent of an average household's total greenhouse gas emissions and about the same proportion of total household energy use' (www.climatechange.gov.au).
Solar hot water systems are highly efficient in their use of solar energy (sunlight) to heat water. The efficiency of solar hot water heaters has increased so much over the past 30 years that solar powered hot water is possible year round for most Australian homes. On cloudy days, gas or electric boosters kick in to ensure you are never without hot water.
By installing an electric boosted solar hot water system or heat pump system, the average Australian household would cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 34 tonnes over a 20 year period. This jumps to a saving of over 100 tonnes over a 20 year period for a gas boosted system. It is a great way to reduce the threat of global warming.
In addition, by using the sun's energy to heat water you will reduce your household hot water bills by more than 60% each year, a saving of around $200-$300 each year for the average family (so thousands of dollars over the life of the system).
If you also get renewable electricity then all your hot water can be generated from nature, with no impact on our (or our kids') climate.
A solid, sound and responsible investment in energy efficiency, and guilt-free hot baths.
How to do it now!
There are three elements involved in installing a solar hot water system in Australia. These are:
- Finding the right solar hot water or heat pump system supplier/installer.
- Selecting the right solar hot water or heater pump system for your household.
- Applying for (and receiving) government rebates.
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Finding the right solar hot water or heat pump system supplier/installer.
- Will the supplier/installer facilitate the complete process (tank selection, install, rebates)? Their level of experience and the advice that they can offer can be the decisive factor in choosing the right solar hot water or heat pump system.
- What experience does the company have installing solar hot water or heat pump systems similar to yours? If you have a special need (eg: pool heating) ensure they have done such installations before.
- What warranty on the installation of the system does the supplier/installer provide? Ensure the supplier/installer will guarantee the quality of their installation.
- Ensure competing bids are in the same format. By ensuring that all of the bids you receive are made on the same basis, you'll be able to compare the bids easily.
- Get itemised quotes. This will allow you to evaluate the costs of labour, materials and so on.
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Selecting the right solar hot water or heat pump system for your household.
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Ensure the solar hot water system is the right size for your household. It is critical to choose a system with enough capacity. This will ensure you have sufficient free hot water when the system is operational.
Capacity (litres)
No# of people in household
150-220
1-2
220-300
3-4
300+
5+
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Decide between a split system, a close-coupled (tank-on-roof system or Thermosiphon) system or a heat-pump system. Solar hot water systems can store the heated water either on the roof or in a tank beside the house (like a traditional hot water system). The close-coupled system has fewer moving parts. However, this system may require the roof to be reinforced to bear the additional weight. The split system places the ugly tank out of sight, is generally easier to install and often attracts higher rebates. The split system is also slightly more efficient and, overall, tends to be the cheaper option. Heat pumps use mechanical processes to extract heat from the air and store the heat in water. Heat pumps are powered by electricity yet achieve far greater efficiency in heating water than traditional gas or electric hot water systems.
For more information on choosing a solar hot water system, check out the technical manual provided on the Australian Governments Your Home website.
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What is the warranty on the system? A warranty of ten years on the tank and collectors, and five or more on the parts and labour is advisable.
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What maintenance services are available for the system?
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How efficiently does the system convert sunlight into heated water? All accredited systems are tested for efficiency and compared to a standard electric hot water system. The more energy displaced, the more RECs are assigned to it. Therefore, the more Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) a system has, the more efficient it is (1 REC = 1 MWH of displaced energy over a ten year period). Evacuated-tubes can be more efficient in some circumstances (e.g. a European winter) but their total collection area is far less than a flat plate collector. Check with your supplier to ensure you get the most efficient and effective system to meet your needs.
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What is the cost of the system fully installed? The true cost of your solar hot water system can be calculated by subtracting from the installed cost of the system the rebates or RECs you are eligible to receive.
Some solar hot water providers in Australia include:
Company (web)
Phone
Split / Thermosiphon (on roof) / Heat pump
Evacuated tube or flat panel
1300 363 386
Split
Evacuated tube
1800 060 747
Split & Thermosiphon
Flat panel
1300 721 984
Split & Thermosiphon
Flat panel
1300 555 545
Split, Thermosiphon, Heat Pump
Flat panel
132 552
Split, Thermosiphon, Heat Pump
Flat panel
1300 133 782
Split
Evacuated tube
02 9281 5526
Split
Evacuated tube
132 949
Split, Thermosiphon, Heat Pump
Flat panel
1300 365 116
Split
Flat panel
1300 36 75 65
Split, Thermosiphon
Flat panel
1800 676 000
Split
Flat panel
1300 APRICUS
Split
Evacuated tube
02 9737 8810
Split
Flat panel
133 326
Split, Heat Pump
Flat panel
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Ensure the solar hot water system is the right size for your household. It is critical to choose a system with enough capacity. This will ensure you have sufficient free hot water when the system is operational.
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Applying for (and receiving) government rebates.
Does your solar hot water or heat pump system qualify for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or other Government rebates? Not all systems qualify for RECs or rebates. To get the RECs the system must be accredited by the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER). If a system does qualify for a rebate, the RECs can be offered as a point of sale discount or can be redeemed for cash through a RECs trader. If replacing a gas hot water system, then there are extra rebates of up to $1,500 available through various state government programs (see below). If replacing an electric hot water system, the Federal Government offers up to a $1,000 rebate to households whose income is less than $100,000 p.a.
Australian Government Rebates
Households across Australia that replace an existing electric storage hot water system with a solar hot water or heat pump system can apply for a rebate of $1,000 under the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme. The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme replaces the Solar Hot Water Rebate which ended on 19 February 2010.
For more information click here.
State Government Rebates
The following state government incentive schemes can offer further rebates.
- South Australia - In addition to the Federal Government REC program, South Australian households may be eligible for a further rebate of up to $500 from the South Australian Government. See if you’re eligible here.
Why this action is important?
In order for humans to live sustainably we must harness renewable, local and abundant energy sources such as sunlight. This action cuts a third of the energy use from the average house with a cost-effective investment in sound technology and generates long term returns (financial, environmental and intergenerational).