| When people talk about creating a solar panel home | | | | lot more quickly. |
| and installing hot water solar panels, there tends to be | | | | Note 1. The costs quoted are for installations |
| a number of myths or misconceptions that fog the | | | | undertaken by professional contractors. If you take the |
| issues. It reminds me of when I was a lad; I was | | | | DIY route, the total costs will be considerably cheaper, |
| always puzzled by signs outside farms that said,"Free | | | | but with the same benefits. |
| Range Eggs". I never understood why we couldn't | | | | Myth 2 - They are Trouble to Maintain. This statement |
| stop and help ourselves, after all, the sign clearly said | | | | could not be further from the truth. Moving parts are |
| "free". It took me many years to make the connection | | | | limited to a small electric pump, so there is very little to |
| between "free" and "range". It is the same when we | | | | go wrong. Solar energy is extremely low maintenance |
| talk about "free solar energy". It may be free, but you | | | | and proven to be very reliable. |
| have to spend a lot of money if you want to catch it! | | | | Myth 3 - You Need a Hot Climate. Sure, if you have a |
| Here are a few of the myths regarding hot water | | | | hot climate, thermal solar panels will work that much |
| solar panels: | | | | better and you could be looking at much higher savings |
| Myth 1 - They Never Pay for Themselves. When we | | | | than 60%. But solar systems will work effectively in |
| look at the economics and how much hot water solar | | | | temperate climates. Studies carried out in the UK on |
| systems cost, it is a common misconception that solar | | | | behalf of the Building Research Establishment in 2007 |
| energy is only for the rich, or members of Tree | | | | show hot water solar panels providing heat in every |
| Huggers Anonymous. This is phooey. A typical hot | | | | month of the year, and I can assure you the UK |
| water solar panels system should cost around $2500 | | | | winters have a tendency to be cold, damp and |
| to $4,000, if installed by professional contractors. | | | | overcast! |
| Savings will vary according to where you live and | | | | Myth 4 - Hot Water Solar Panels do Nothing for the |
| where the panels are positioned, but an average | | | | Environment. Well, it depends what you mean by |
| saving of 60% is a fair estimate. | | | | nothing. Referring again to the research carried out for |
| According to the Lawrence Berkeley National | | | | the Building Research Establishment, savings of 57% |
| Laboratory, 2009, the average annual energy bill in the | | | | equate to reducing CO2 emissions by 360kg per year |
| US for a single family home is approx $2,200 and of | | | | for gas heating or 620kg for electric heating. Looking |
| this amount, around 14% ($300) is spent on water | | | | at a 20 year period, that adds up to 7,200kg for gas |
| heating. This gives an average saving on heating hot | | | | and 12,400kg for electric. I think that is a significant |
| water of approximately $180 a year. If energy prices | | | | reduction and definitely not nothing! |
| rise in line with inflation, you would pay for your system | | | | I hope this has helped dispel some of the myths that |
| in 20 years or less. Of course, if energy prices outstrip | | | | may have prevented you from having your own solar |
| inflation, your hot water solar panels will be paid off a | | | | panel house and installing hot water solar panels. |