IS A SOLAR-THERMAL HOT WATER SYSTEM FOR YOU?

 
We Americans take our hot water for granted—we love our soaker tubs, and many of us just can’t start the day without a vigorous shower. But it’s not free. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, on average we spend about $308 per year, per household, just to have hot water ready at the twist of a faucet handle. But you could slash that figure in half, or more, with a solar-thermal system—a proven renewable-energy technology that enables the rays of the sun to heat your home’s hot-water supply.

THE FUEL IS FREE

Both solar-thermal systems and more costly solar-photovoltaic panels—which use the sun to generate electricity—can make a significant dent in your utility bill. But with a solar-thermal system, instead of generating energy, you’re saving it.

“When compared to solar-electric panels, it is a lower-cost option,” says Monique Hanis, a spokesperson for the Solar Industries Association. “A system for a home would run anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000, and that could take care of a good chunk of your hot-water needs.”

Those ballpark figures don’t include the across-the-board federal tax credit that knocks 30% off the cost of a system, plus there are additional state and local-government incentives that can trim set-up costs even more. (Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for relevant programs in your area.) Maintenance is minimal, and collectors should last for 20 years or more.

HOW SOLAR-THERMAL WORKS:

All solar-thermal systems feature glassed-covered boxes or sets of tubes that contain fluid-filled piping. The systems can be divided into two basic categories—direct and indirect.

In an indirect system, a pump continually circulates an antifreeze solution between the collector mounted on your roof and a heat-exchanger coil located inside your home’s hot-water tank. A pump circulates the antifreeze solution between the solar panel—where the sun heats it—and the coil, where it raises the temperature of the water in the tank.

The second type of solar-thermal system, called a direct system, circulates household water directly through the solar collector. This setup is only appropriate for regions, such as Hawaii and Florida, that don’t experience winter freeze-ups.

Either type of thermal collector is so efficient that it will produce hot water even on a cloudy day—though a snowfall will bury and temporarily disable a collector until warmer temperatures melt the snow off.

HOW MUCH YOU WILL NEED:

A solar contractor/installer will evaluate your property’s potential for capturing solar radiation throughout the year, but your house is likely a good candidate if one side of its roof faces south, without too much shading from tall trees and structures. A pair of 4-by-8-foot collectors will significantly reduce the cost of heating hot water for a family of four.

How much you’ll save depends on where you live. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has researched the degree to which a solar-thermal system can reduce a homeowner’s energy bill in various regions of the country. The lab expresses this savings via a rating known as a “solar fraction.”

Put simply, a solar fraction is the percentage of a home’s water-heating energy needs that could be met with a rooftop collector. For example, a solar fraction of 60% means that the solar-thermal hot water system would reduce the amount of energy a home used to heat hot water by 60%. In Harrisburg, Penn., Albany, NY, and Eugene, Ore., the solar fraction is 50%. In Fort Worth, Texas, and Tampa, Fla., it’s a whopping 75%.

RESEARCHING SOLAR-THERMAL COLLECTORS:

Last fall, the U.S. Department of Energy added solar-hot water systems to its EnergyStar program. You can browse approved solar water heaters on the Energy Star web site, and discuss which model best suits your needs with an installer. Bear in mind that solar-thermal collectors are not do-it-yourself projects. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certifies solar-thermal installers. As of late 2009, the group’s web site lists 97 professionals across the country who sell, install, and service the systems.

If you’re interested in saving energy and harnessing the free power of the sun, a solar-thermal water-heating system is an attractive option.

-----------------------------------

Article written by James Glave. James Glave is the author of “Almost Green: How I Saved 1/6th of a Billionth of the Planet.” He has been reporting on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development full-time since 2005.

HOME OWNERSHIP REALLY DOES MATTER

As a real estate professional, I know that America is a nation of homeowners—67% of American households are owner-occupied. And housing is a key driver of our economy, accounting for 15% of our Gross Domestic Product in general. Research shows that for every home purchased, $60,000 is pumped into the economy for furniture, home improvements and related items. Plus homeowners pay 80-90% of individual federal income taxes, contributing to federal programs that benefit all Americans.

Yet some of our politicians question the value of homeownership and whether it is worthy of the tax benefits currently available. Some media reports even contend that changing federal policies and eliminating tax incentives that support homeownership, such as the Mortgage Interest Deduction, might even be in the public’s best interest.

For more than 100 years, REALTORS® have championed homeownership as a fundamental part of the American Dream. Now more than ever, we must stand up for homeownership. And with the help of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (NAR’s) I have pledged to spread the word about the value of homeownership to my clients, community and elected officials.

“There are some, mostly in academic circles and in the media, who have been questioning the value of homeownership and the importance of incentives for homeowners,” says Pamela Geurds Kabati, vice president of Public Affairs and Consumer Media. “They ask whether we wouldn’t be better off as a nation of renters. As an industry, we have to stand up and say, ‘Absolutely not.’ We need our voice to be loud and clear to influence the court of public opinion and policymakers. Homeownership provides homeowners, their communities, and our country with so many benefits.”

HOME OWNERSHIP MATTERS:

Homeownership has a significant, positive impact on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation and overall quality of life. Owning a home is one of the best ways to build long-term wealth. In the past 12 years, a typical homeowner’s net worth has been 31-46 times that of a renter. Plus, most homeowners enjoy stable housing costs. In fact, studies show that fixed rate mortgage payments typically stay the same, while rent has increased at an average rate of approximately 3% per year in the last 10 years.

The National Association fo Realtors believe that homeowners contribute more to their communities by voting and volunteering more. They do not move as frequently as renters, bringing stability to neighborhoods, which helps reduce crime and support upkeep.

And it has been shown that homeowners enjoy a better quality of life. They tend to be happier and healthier, and feel a greater sense of control over their lives. They are free to redecorate, renovate and modify their homes as they wish. And their children tend to do better in school and stay in school longer, according to a recent white paper by NAR titled “The Social Benefits of Home Ownership.”

To learn more about why Home Ownership Matters, visit www.REALTOR.org/homeownership where you’ll find everything you need to keep you current on the debate, including articles, stats and data, blog posts, videos, and webinars.

NAR will continue to fight to preserve this important institution through advocacy and outreach to lawmakers, consumers and the media. NAR will continue to lobby policymakers in Washington, DC, and its consumer website, www.Houselogic.com, will help reinforce the benefits of homeownership.

So spread the word. Because homeownership really does matter.