If one takes the family car out of the equation, water heating is the largest single source of an average home’s greenhouse gas emissions.It’s also power hungry, using up to 35% of a home’s energy. 
Solar hot water systems are not expensive to install or run, which most people don’t realise.Actually, the real savings start around two years from installation when the solar hot water system starts paying for itself.
A solar hot water system can save up to 90% of an average household’s hot water energy requirements.It can also save up to 3.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions from an average household per year.There are considerations such as location, direction of the roof and the actual system quality which will all affect the performance and efficiency, but the truth is that the sun can provide most of the energy requirements for a household’s hot water.Conventional gas or electricity supply will provide any shortfall in energy requirements.  
The cost of electricity is growing and there is greater emphasis on finding renewable energy sources.If we consider the impact that electricity generation is having on the environment, then the case for solar power is all the more compelling.
There have been significant technological developments in solar hot water systems in recent times.Systems can be ground or roof-mounted, and can be used in any weather from below freezing to harsh desert conditions.
Solar hot water can be installed anywhere, new buildings and old.  Replacing an electricity-driven hot water system is a simple process and one which is encouraged by many governments around the world.
For example, the Australian government is offering eligible property owners, landlords and tenants with generous rebates when they replace electric hot water systems with solar systems.The Australian Government is currently offering a 600 rebate per eligible installation of solar hot water to help people reduce greenhouse gas emissions.It is currently estimated that the average family can slash up to 0 off their annual energy bill by switching to solar hot water.  
Perth solar hot water company, Solar MyWorld, have experienced a huge increase in demand for their systems since Government announced the rebates.  The company says the heightened focus on the environment and growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions is translating into sales growth as people make lifestyle adjustments.  
A study, ‘Energy use in the Australian Residential Sector 1986-2020′ which was commissioned by the Australian Government, projected that residential energy consumption from 1990 to 2020 would increase by 56%.  However, water heating was the only major energy use predicted to decline over the study period, mainly as a result of Government and State energy programmes.   Water heating energy use reached a peak in 2002 at 92.4 petajoules (PJ) and is anticipated to slowly decline to 8.5PJ by 2020. 
Solar hot water is one of the simplest lifestyle changes that people can make. There are no downsides.It is both cost-effective and low maintenance and on top of that, is kind to the environment too.Plus, a solar hot water system that has been correctly installed using quality parts should last at least a quarter of a century.  Now that’s a hot option!

Tags: renewable energy, solar energy, solar hot water, solar hot water Perth, solar panels, solar power, solar power Perth, solar power WA