Four Advantages of Solar Energy
It's relatively easy to install outdoor solar lighting, which will help in a small way with your electricity bill. It's more complicated to have solar panels installed on your home's roof to heat your water but there are many advantages to doing so. According to Roger Huber, of Swiss Solar Tech Ltd. of Summerland, British Columbia, the biggest advantages are that once your system is paid for, your hot water is free and you will reduce your impact on the environment. Photovoltaic systems are also a solar energy option but costs of these systems are usually prohibitive.
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Helps the Environment
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Solar panels on the roof heat circulating glycol via the sun's rays on clear days. The glycol then heats water in a tank using a heat exchanger. Solar is a renewable energy. No gas or electricity is needed to heat your water so you reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Installing solar panels can reduce our household draw from the power grid and it shows our children that home-based, renewable power works.
Cost Savings
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Craig Henderson, of the Naramata Conservation Society, says that hot water heating can account for 30 to 35 percent of your power bill. Payback on installing a solar hot water system can range from six to 12 years, depending on area incentive programs, and return on investment is between five and 15 percent. In 2011, a two-panel solar hot water system sells for about $7,500.
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Easy Maintenance
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Once the solar panels are installed on your roof and connected to a special hot water tank, maintenance should be preformed annually and in 2011 costs between $50 and $100. The panels themselves have a lifespan of at least 30 years with some lasting 40 to 50 years.
Incentive Programs
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You may be able to receive grants of money, rebates and tax reductions from your local or federal government. You may have to have an energy audit of your home completed to qualify for a rebate or tax reduction.
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