Do you think that you use as much water as the average California resident?
The average Californian home uses 360 gallons per day, and with the chronic drought and mandatory cutbacks statewide, California residents know that every drop counts.
One way to conserve water now is to have more efficient water heating.
A solar hot water system can greatly reduce the amount of water that you waste waiting for your shower, sink, etc. to “heat up”, and it drastically reduces the portion of your utility bill that relates to water heating, usually natural gas.
Although the basic technology has been around for a number of years, recent improvements make today’s solar hot water systems more efficient, reliable, and durable than those of the past.
HOW SOLAR WATER HEATING WORKS
- A closed loop system utilizes a propylene glycol liquid to protect against freezing and hard water. The sun warms liquid in the solar collector on the roof.
- The liquid is pumped down to the solar tank where the heat exchange transfers the heat to the domestic water.
- As you use hot water in your home, the hot water in the solar tank flows into existing water heater. Because the water is already hot, your water heater doesn’t have to work as hard.
- The solar station monitors the temperature of the liquid in the collectors on the roof compared to the water temperature in the solar tank and continues the transfer process until the desired temperature is reached.
- The solar hot water is ready for use in the home.A typical domestic solar hot water system uses two 4′ x 8′ flat plate “collectors” which are installed on the rooftop of a home or business (but can be located on the ground).These flow to a hot water heater, which is used as a storage tank and for back-up heat during the cold months of the year.
PG&E has substantial rebates available to their gas customers as well. Enough to bring your net cost down between $1,000 and $2,000!
Want to conserve water and learn more about how solar water heating can reduce your water usage and utility bills?
Give us a call at (916) 853-2700 or click here.
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