Install solar hot water (thermal)
Why This is Green
We use hot water left and right in our homes—bathing, washing clothes, cleaning dishes, and heating. We use it so much that it can account for up to 25 percent of household energy use. One way to save money on this household drain is to install a solar hot water system on your roof. They heat water by capturing the sun’s thermal rays. They work even on cloudy days.
Close to 85 percent of the energy in the United States is produced from dirty energy sources that create CO2 as a byproduct. When you install clean energy technologies that produce very little or no CO2, you help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere when you use electricity, natural gas, or oil to heat your water. Installing a solar hot water system will not only reduce your demand on natural resources, it will save you money.
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How To
Solar hot water systems require less roof space--and are less expensive than--solar electric systems.
Contact a local solar contractor to discuss the feasibility and cost of an installation. Federal rebates valid through the end of 2016 can provide up to 30 percent back on the purchase price and installation cost of a new solar thermal installation. Your state may provide further incentives for installation.
Even if you install solar thermal, it’s crucial to use energy and water efficiently. Consider replacing older appliances with Energy Star appliances to help save these resources, take short showers, and wash laundry in cold water.
