Hi all solar power installers out there –how many times have you had conflicts with other contractors installing a solar hot water system on the roof and wished you could have done the whole job yourself? Are you seeing too much business slowdown as winter approaches? Purchases of thermal systems increase in the autumn, as PV sales tend to decrease. Now is the time to widen your horizons!
You already get inquiries regarding grid connect solar power and Solar Hot Water is often more economical, with a lower entry cost. The installed retail price of a typical residential solar water heater by the time rebates come off it can be as low as $2000 plus install. The retail price of PV grid-tied system to very significantly reduce a typical home’s electric bill is over $10,000 after rebates. Besides, a grid connect solar power system (PV system) requires some paperwork and metering changes with the local power supplier while solar thermal has no such requirement. So you are already undertaking the more difficult work and why not consider installing a Solar Hot Water system as well.
Thermal collectors make better use of limited roof space, gathering the equivalent of 600 watts per square meter, compared to 100 watts per square meter for PV. The cost of heating water can take up a ¼ of house holds energy bills. That’s approximately $400 per year for an electric tank systems . The cost of gas is not much less. A solar water heater properly sized will eliminate approximately 60 to 90% of that cost.
So in summary , why not consider selling a package of solar power creating electricity and solar power selling hot water in one offer to new home buyers, builders or renovators. The choice is simple. Energy Matters can design systems for all consumers in the PV and Solar Thermal area.
