Hot water is the biggest user of energy in the home, it accounts for about 25% of total energy used and on average 40 per cent of your bill. Also by installing a solar hot water system, you can cut your household emissions by the equivalent of three to four tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, which is equivalent to taking one small car off the road. There's no doubt that solar hot water is the single best energy saving action you can take at home.
The benefits of solar hot water
The benefits of solar hot water far outweigh the upfront cost:
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Solar hot water systems can provide up to 90 per cent of your hot water for free using the sun’s energy. You will be effectively paying back your system with the saving you make on your bills.
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A solar hot water system can increase the value of your home.
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You will be reducing the amount of greenhouse gases your home produces without compromising your lifestyle
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Generous rebates from the Australian and State/Territory Governments provide a good incentive to make the switch to solar hot water now.
How it works
The three basic elements for solar hot water are
- A hot water storage tank
- Solar collectors
- A booster system for cloudy days
Depending on the position of the hot water tank a system is known as a Split System or a Thermosiphon System.
Split System
The hot water storage tank is at ground level or in roof cavity
A pump is used to move cold water into collector which is on roof
Water is heated and then transferred to the hot water storage tank
Source: Department of climate change
Thermosiphon System
The hot water storage tank is roof mounted
Cold water flows naturally into the collector, no need for a pump
Water is heated and then transferred to the hot water storage tank
Solar water heaters use a tank to store water that has been heated by the sun. The solar collector is made of materials that absorb the sun's heat very efficiently. The cold water travels through the collector and the heat in the collector heats up the water, which returns to the tank. Hot water floats to the top of the tank and colder water is taken from the bottom and returned to the solar collector. When you need hot water, it is taken from the top of the tank where the water is hottest.
Solar collector options
The two main types of solar collectors are flat plate panels and evacuated tube systems.
Flat Plate Panels
Flat plate collectors consist of a network of pipes in a glass-covered box with a black absorber plate on the bottom. The sun heats the absorber plate, which in turn heats water in the pipes.
Flat plate panels have been used for around 40 years and are commonly installed in Australia. They operate at maximum efficiency when the sun is directly overhead at midday.
Key points:
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Are suitable where tank roof mounting is required
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May require a special anti-freeze fluid for very low temperatures
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Are generally less expensive than evacuated tube systems
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Require cleaning to remove any dust, salt spray or sludge
Evacuated Tube Collectors
Evacuated tube collectors use an array of glass tubes that insulate in a similar way to a thermos flask where the heat energy is retained in the tube. The tubes consist of two layers of glass with a vacuum in between, which prevents heat from escaping and increases the efficiency of the system. Evacuated tubes can be more efficient than flat plate panels in some conditions, such as cold climates. This technology was invented in Australia in the late 1980s.
The evacuated tube systems are superior as they can extract the heat out of the air on a humid day and don't need direct sunlight. Due to their cyclindrical shape there's always one part of the tube perpendicular to the sun, allowing it to absorb more radiation - this is particularly useful when the sun is not at an optimum angle - such as when it's early in the morning or in the late afternoon.
Key points:
- Makes more efficient use of the sun's energy by passively tracking the sun
- Are lightweight and can be easily installed on the roof
- Are low maintenance and cleaned by falling rainwater
- Can withstand very low temperatures without the need for an anti-freeze fluid
- Individual tubes can be replaced if damaged.
We can help you find the right solar hot water solution
- We offer a range of quality flat panel and evacuated tube systems from reputable manufacturers.
- The systems we choose have undergone rigorous quality control to meet the highest international standards such as Australian standard AS2712, European quality and performance certification by SPF Switzerland (EN 12975: 2001), SRCC certification (entire USA), FSEC certification (Florida, CA - USA)
- Concerned with your roof space? We can provide various mounting options that don't even need your roof to be used.
- All our solar hot water systems have manufacturers warranty, giving you peace of mind for your investment
- We provide an installation workmanship warranty of 5 years on our solar hot water installation
Government rebates
There are incentives and rebates on offer from the Government to install solar hot water, click on the following links to find out more
What are my next steps to consider solar hot water?
Contact your local Green Solar Solutions branch or call us on 1300 805 405. You may also
submit an enquiry and one of our consultants will contact you to arrange a free, no-obligation, on-site visit.
We take care of the entire process including;
- Identifying the appropriate solar solution for your property
- Organising your Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) rebate
- Having our licensed installers perform the installation
