Many homeowners are making the switch to solar water heating systems. In Florida, solar energy is commonly used to heat pools and spas. Energy prices are continually rising and more homeowners are turning to solar water heating systems to heat their home’s water and even provide electricity. Businesses are also following the trend to save money on electrical costs with solar water heating systems and solar electric systems. Here are a few common questions homeowners ask our energy raters when deciding if solar water heating is right for their home:
Will a solar water heating system provide enough hot water for my family’s cleaning and bathing routine?
With a solar water heating system, you will actually have more hot water than before. A properly sized solar water heating system will eliminate the need to wait for the water to “heat up” between showers or loads of laundry. Solar water heating systems are installed in addition to your regular water heater so even on cloudy days, you will still have hot water. In order to maximize your savings, you should try to use the most hot water in the late morning and early afternoon. This is when the solar water heating system is operating the best. For example, rather than washing multiple laundry loads in one day, it would be best to do one per day. This will reduce the amount your regular water heater must operate and use the water from the solar water heating system for your household chores. Water heated by the sun can reach temperatures over 212º F ! The average temperature for household use is between 120º and 130º F.
How long does it take for a solar water heating system to pay for itself?
The payback period on a solar water heating system depends on the number of people living in your home. For a family of 4, the payback period is about 4 years. It may be more useful to think of a solar water heating system as an investment with an annual return. Without a solar water heating system, you pay your electric company to heat the water for your home. With a solar water heating system, you don’t pay to heat the water, rather you pay for the system. A solar water heating system is one of the best investment available today because it guarantees a return on investment.
Current Solar Rebates in Florida: FPL Solar Rebate & Federal Tax Credit
Right now, FPL is offering homeowners $1,000 for replacing your current water heating system with a solar water heating system. The Federal Government provides a solar tax credit equal to the 30% of the cost of the solar water heating system.
Contact the FL Green Team to learn more about solar water heating systems or to take advantage of the solar rebates!
The goal of the FL Green Team is to provide members of the Southwest Florida community with information to make their home more energy efficiency, comfortable and healthy through education, energy upgrades and innovative testing.