Harness Free Energy From the Sun
The sun is the ultimate natural. free energy source. The roof top of an average home collects about 50 times as much solar energy as a household requires. No carbon emissions, no greenhouse gases. Solar energy can provide abundant heat, with increasing costs of electricity – and the growing environmental costs – switching to solar hotwater has never made more sense.
Why use solar hotwater?
Normally 40-50% of your powerbill is used for heating hotwater. Installing a solar hotwater system can save you up to 50% of your hotwater costs compare to standard electric cylinders in most homes. With this saving your investment can be repaid within 5years – even less if eligible for the government funded $1,000 subsidy grant.
Find out more about the ENERGYWISE™ Solar Hotwater Grant Apply for Solar Hotwater Funding
How solar hotwater systems works
A solar hot water system consists of three key parts:
- solar hot water collectors
- pump system
- the hot water tank
Save even more
You can reduce your hot water bills further. Try one or more of these energy-saving strategies:
- Reduce your hot water use – fix leaks, install low-flow fixtures, use energy efficient dishwashers and clothes washers
- Lower your water temperature
- Insulate your water heater tank, hot water pipes and hot water tank
- Install a drain-water heat recovery system
- Use off-peak electricity to generate hot water
Solar Water Heating - The Facts
Growing demand
Solar energy is becoming increasingly requested especially in new home builds.
Around 1.6% of home owners in New Zealand have now installed solar water heating systems, and currently there are around 2000 new solar water heating systems installed each year. This number is growing at around 30 – 40% annually
Can you use solar water heating anywhere in NZ?
Solar water heaters function well from Invercargill to the far north, although the solar contribution varies depending on your location and the time of year. Standard solar water heating systems can produce around 60% of your household’s water heating in summer and between 25 – 45% in winter.
How much money will I save?
In summer, it may be possible to heat all the water you need with solar energy. In winter, or on cold cloudy days, solar water heating will meet part of your hot water needs – you’ll also need some supplementary heating from your booster system.
The exact amount you save from solar water heating will depend on a wide range of factors including how much hot water you use, the solar water heating system you install, and the quality of the installation.
Generally recovering the costs of a solar water heating installation may take anywhere from 4 and 7 years. Once it has paid for itself, it’s like having a pay rise!
It’s been estimated that, for an average household, an effective system will:
- provide up to 60 % of annual hot water needs
- cut about 1800kWh from annual electricity use
- provide savings of at least $450-$700 a year (depending on the cost of your electricity or gas supply).
For motels, hotels, rest homes and other large users of hot water, installing solar water heating makes even better sense with payback periods as short as 3 to 4 years.
For More information simpy call us on 0800 738 763 or fill out our energy assessment form below
How much money will I save?
In summer, it may be possible to heat all the water you need with solar energy. In winter, or on cold cloudy days, solar water heating will meet part of your hot water needs – you’ll also need some supplementary heating from your booster system.
The exact amount you save from solar water heating will depend on a wide range of factors including how much hot water you use, the solar water heating system you install, and the quality of the installation.
Generally recovering the costs of a solar water heating installation may take anywhere from 4 and 7 years. Once it has paid for itself, it’s like having a pay rise!
It’s been estimated that, for an average household, an effective system will:
- provide up to 75 % of annual hot water needs
- cut about 2200kWh from annual electricity use
- provide savings of at least $450-$700 a year (depending on the cost of your electricity or gas supply).
For motels, hotels, rest homes and other large users of hot water, installing solar water heating makes even better sense with payback periods as short as 3 to 4 years.