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Written on the 8 December 2009 by Fleur Carter - Sustainability ConsultantSolar Hot Water savings can be significant. Most people are put off by the initial high cost of installing solar hot water but the savings are made very quickly especially with the fact that power has gone up 16% in the last 12 months and another increase is due soon.
To calculate the benefit to you of installing a solar hot water system you need to do some simple maths:
Solar Electric
Cost of system
- Renewable Energy Certificates 0
- Government Rebates (conditions apply) - $1600.00 0
+ cost of electricity over 10 years high user(see below) + $588.10 + $2985
= Total Cost of system
Cost of hot water over 10 years
Medium/High water user with Solar Hot Water - $588.10
Medium/High water user with Electric Storage Hot Water - $2985
Electric storage hot water High user Low user
Total KwH used per year with standard electric storage 2640kWh(2640 000 watts) 1896 kWh (1896 000 watts)
Total Cost for water heating for year based at 11.31 cents off peak $298.54 per year $214.43 per year
Total Greenhouse gas emitted 2.6 tonnes per year 1.8 tonnes per year
Solar hot water High user Low user
Total KwH used per year after solar installed (potential) 520kWh 376 kWh
Total cost for water heating for year based at 11.31 cents off peak $58.81 per year $42.52 per year
Total Greenhouse gas emitted .52 tonnes per year .37 tonnes pear year
If your system is over 10 years old, especially if it is inside you should start to get quotes to replace it with solar or a heat pump.
Another tip is that if you are a low user and convert to solar then you should get it put onto peak tariff. This is because you get charged a minimum to have off-peak connected which you won’t use enough power to cover the cost!
If you are thinking of replacing your hot water system then I can assist you by doing a FREE Professional Household Sustainability Assessment which is linked to the federal governments Green Loans Program. I have managed to get our households energy bills down to $59 per quarter so I know all of the tricks!
Please contact me on 0423 056 436 or fleur@livebettergreener.com for further information.