What are the benefits of a solar hot water system?
How do I know if my site would be a good one for a solar hot water system? Here are some general criteria: • Uninterrupted roof area of about 7 feet x 5 feet — clear of shading • Southern exposure best, SE or SW will do • Sun for at least 6 hours per day • 2-tank system requires space for an additional solar water tank near current tank • Single tank systems utilize a solar storage tank with internal electric heating element • Roof must be in good condition, unless you are planning a pole mount, of course How much for a solar hot water system? Solar hot water systems range from about $8K for a simple domestic hot water system for a small family to $16K for a large home system with hot water use for space heating. What about solar hot water for hydronic space heating? Space heating is the biggest energy use in most homes. For a large family or a household with extraordinary hot water use, domestic water heating can also be a large energy use. A single solar water heating system can sup
