It’s February and we are still getting plenty of hot water from our solar hot water system! When it comes solar hot water, sun=hot water. It doesn’t matter if it’s cold outside, when the sun is shining the hot water is flowing. I like to take advantage of these sunny winter days and throw a couple of extra loads of laundry in.
Even though we recommend a back up system for reliability and comfort, it’s kind of fun to strategically plan our hot water usage to maximize our energy savings.
Have you considered a solar hot water system?
Did you know they work in our cold New England climate?
According to the EPA, “Solar hot water can be a cost-effective way to manage domestic hot water expenses – especially if water is heated by electricity and there are teenagers in the house! Typically, they can produce 65-85 percent of domestic hot water needs with just the power of the sun.” (2016)
Our historic home was oriented with the roof sides facing East and West, so we decided to install our solar panels above the front door. We may move them to a less conspicuous place in the future, but for now, they are front and center!
Energy Advice for Owners of Older and Historic Homes (2016)
https://archive.epa.gov/region5/sustainable/web/html/energyadvice.html#heating