A useful summary of how to choose  a solar water heater that is right for your climate, water demand and wallet, is now available in an updated and unbiased article.(referenced below).

One of the key recommendations is to depend on a reputable local dealer/installer for advice about what systems and collectors work best in your area.

The Velux water heating system is the newest and best selection for Colorado in most instances.

Keep track of this blog to compare these systems to other energy alternatives.

You may not know, but the much publicized "economic bailout" plan included many additional diverse provisions.

Solar energy provisions in H.R.1424 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 includes long term extension for both business and residential Investment Tax Credits (ITC).

For residential customers, there is a 30% credit (up to $2000.) for SRCC certified solar water heating systems. The bill also allows individual taxpayers to use the credit to offset alternative minimum tax (AMT)  liability , and to carry unused credits forward to the next succeeding taxable year.

For businesses the 30% credit is also extended, available without the $2000.limitation. In addition, the new law allows alternative minimum tax (AMT)filers and public utilities to claim the business tax credit.

The Velux Water Heating Systems qualify for all applications!

Mr Taylor of Lakewood, CO is delighted to know that he will be reducing his energy consuption from polluting fossils fuels to getting some his free energy from the sun. 

As a retired engineer Mr. Taylor chose to do business with because of the features and quality of the Velux package, a brand he knows he can trust.

Two main features of the product were the intergrated roof collectors and the stainless steel flex tubing.

Contact Charlie to learn more about this exciting product.

Makers of gas-fired tankless water heaters tout their energy savings and operating benefits, but they are not all that attractive.

Consumer Reports tests indicate a 20 to 22% overall energy savings over conventional gas fired water heaters. However compared to total  installed costs, it can take 16 to 22 years to payback their costs.

This is  longer than the life expectancy of most units, longer than high efficiency tank unit paybacks, and longer than solar thermal system paybacks. 

In addition, high efficiency gas-fired water heaters were evaluated, and their savings were fairly low and paybacks also were in the 16 year range. By the way, electric tankless water heaters were not even tested as they cannot deliver hot water fast enough to replace conventional water heaters at cold/cool groundwater temperatures.

In addition, tests and operating experience indicate other negative issues : they are not instantaneous; water actually can run hot and cold; upfront costs including electrical outlets/upgraded gas pipe capacity/new ventilation hardware are higher than expected; they can need more care and maintenance; they do not eliminate or avoid future fuel cost increases.

See the entire unbiased test report, look up  Consumer Report , October 2008 issue, pages 28-29.

Remember, solar water heating systems produce FREE energy from the sun throughout their lifetime. The Velux Solar water heating systems can provide 60- 90% savings.

Residential renewable energy systems, both PV electric and Solar Water Heating, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, but homeowner's decisions on selecting technology are ususally based on energy cost savings and system payback.

Comparing Solar Water Heating to PV electric systems, we can summarize by comparing  efficiency, installed cost, and resultant cost per KWH.

 Residential Solar water heating systems (two collector/80 gallon) typically offer collector efficiency of 50 -70%; system efficiency of 35-50%; installed cost of $8000.; and resultant energy generating cost of $0.09 per KWH.

PV electric systems (grid tied-2 KW) offer module efficiency of 5-19%: system efficiency of 4-13%; installed cost of $20,000.; and resultant energy production cost of $ 0.27 per KWH.(three times more)

You need to note federal and local rebates and incentives can decrease these costs, so actual resultant costs can vary.

Bottom line is solar water heating remains your best renewable energy investment. Contact us to learn about the Velux system.

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In a previous blog article, we stated that equating the application of solar energy to water heating to increased gas mileage can provide some perspective on the benefits.

Recent data on Velux Solar water heaters indicate installations in Denver Colorado can reduce annual energy usage by an average of 79.1 % by utilizing the free energy fom the sun. Applying that savings pecentage to a 22 mpg vehicle, the result would be like getting 105 MPG !

By the way, much discussion has been heard on tankless water heaters as an attrctive energy technology. In fact, tankless heaters still use electricity or fossil fuels and only save the standby losses of existing water heaters, typically saving approximately 20% overall.

You can think of eliminating standby losses as shutting off your car when it's idling, but you still need gas to drive with the tankless system. Applying a 20% savings to your same 22 MPG vehicle equates to about 27 MPG.

Which would you prefer... 27 MPG or 105 MPG ?