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  • #1

    Solar Water Heater

    We just listened to a pitch from One Energy about improving our homes efficiency. The big suggestions were radiant barriers in the roof, and a solar water heating system. Im a big fan off both of these things, but am not sure about their prices.

    The initial cost seems really high (about $16,500). There are a bunch of tax credits and rebates they help you get to offset the cost. They are also willing to knock off $3,000 if we provide them with referrals of 12 to 20 home owners, write a letter about our experience in 3 months, and allow them to put a sign in our yard for a year (we live on a pretty busy street). Final total cost after credits and rebates would be about $6,242.00.

    I think I could install the radiant barrier myself for pretty minimal cost. The Solar Water Heater is what has me really intrigued. We spend about $100 per month equalized on our gas bill, and I'm sure about 1/2 of that is used by our water heater. I think It could possibly cut our bill by 40% if done correctly.

    Anyone have any experience with Solar Water Heating system, or know an ball park cost for a indirect active system with an 80 gallon tank? I have been able to find a lot of info on the internet, but not much specific on costs.

    I'll probably end up getting another bid or two. Also, I'm told the company doing the work is licensed and insured, and the SWH system would have a 15 year warranty.
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  • #2
    I grew up in a house with one of these. We had two or three big solar panels on the roof. It worked fine but in Utah sometimes we'd have to get the snow off of them once or twice a year or else the hot water wouldn't last very long. It worked fine.

    I have no idea on pricing, but I will say that I spend probably $20 a month on gas for my water heaters (we have 2). I sincerely doubt you'd get your money back if it cost $6k to install.
    "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

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    • #3
      I'd consider a hybrid first.

      http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CDwQ8wIwAA

      That's what we're saving up to get next year.
      "Wuap's "problem" is that he is smart & principled & committed to a moral course of action. His actions are supposed to reflect his ethical code.
      The rest of us rarely bother to think about our actions." --Solon

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      • #4
        I've thought about prototyping something like this for our South Central house. It makes a lot of sense, but the price still seems pretty high for what it is. My prototype concept is a charcoal black manifold of pipes that pass through the focal line of a linear parabolic reflector. I'd put this on the roof of the house, and the parabolic reflectors would shade the roof, helping to significantly cool the house during the warmer season. These pipes would connect to a heat exchange manifold inside an otherwise standard water heater, so they would be filled with some highly conductive fluid that would never actually enter the water system. The manifolds would then be connected to an efficient pump with a solar switch, so the system wouldn't inadvertently cool the water in the absence of sunlight.

        Now, if I ever actually get around to building this thing, I will have a thread where I can post some photos.

        Good luck.

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        • #5
          I'd have to know what kind of water heating system it is (do you have a pool or jacuzzi? Are they keeping the water system in the roof, or running it into the ground, etc. It sounds like a ton of money.

          13 years is an awfully long time for a payback on investment, and that is under optimal conditions, and after pimping out your house for a year, and throwing another 20 homeowners to the wolves. All to save $40 per month.

          If the warranty is for 15 years, that means you have 2 years of "free solar" before you have to start paying for maintenance, which may be more than what you are saving. By your estimates, that is a whopping $960, discounted 14 years. Plus, you have to arrange for disposal costs probably much sooner than you think.

          If one of my friends referred me to a solar power company, I wouldn't appreciate it.

          Is the 15 year warranty provided by the installing company, or a third party warranty service company? If it by the installing company, I'd be cautious; a lot bigger solar companies have gone under a lot faster, and installers are usually the most transient in the solar industry.

          I'm not completely against it; but I'd think the total cost should be more like $6,000.

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