Clean Energy and Cost Savings
Solar thermal water heaters are not as well known as electricity-generating photovoltaic panels but are over three times more efficient at creating usable energy, cost much less to install and are more effective in partial shade.
Compare:
- Water heating accounts for the largest share of home energy use after heating and cooling. An average-sized solar water heating system can heat up to 80 percent of the average hot water used by a family of four.
- To generate 4.5 kilowatts of heat in direct sun requires only three 4' x 8' solar thermal panels , comprising a total area of 96 square feet . Producing an equivalent quantity of electricity requires 11 similarly-sized photovoltaic panels.
- A complete solar hot water system (including panels, a water storage tank , piping, a pump and control electronics) typically costs under $6,500 to install--less than 25% of the cost of photovoltaic systems.
- Solar hot water systems work better than many photovoltaic systems in partial shade, and are simpler and easier for most contractors to install.