Solar water for every home....

[macuu222]

I agree with Larry T. If you don't have five grand to spend on a solar heating system... just turn the hot water heater on for a couple hours a day for showers, dishwasher...etc and your electric bill is cut around 40%. Better yet...just put the heater on a timer and you don't even have to worry about turning it on and off.

[LeeE]

A timer, a tick a tick a tick a ticka, timer...

Works great.

[Bill]

I had a solar hot water system installed in May, but have not received my first electric bill.

The initial cost was $5450.00. Helco paid the Contractor $1000.00 which left a balance of $4450.00. We will receive a federal tax credit of $1335.00 and a State credit of $1557.00, leaving a balance of $1558.00.

The estimated monthly savings was $60.00, which at the old rate would take 31 months to pay back. We have turned off the electric breaker to the water heater, which holds 80 gallons and is currently at 160 degrees, so I think the savings will be greater, but we'll see.

Actually, our old water heater was 20+ years old and was going to have to be replaced eventually, which I estimated would cost about $400 if I did it myself. So now, the additional cost is only $1158.00, and the payback even quicker. I'll receive the tax credits in January.

Bill

[StillHope]

Thank you so much,Bill.You helped me to make a decision.
May be you can answer one more ? for me.
HELCO rebates require the electric booster.If I go with the gas one,would it be cheaper in the long run .I don't mean in 20 years)):

[Bill]

Hi Stillhope,

For the little bit of electric energy I expect to use, I felt that the 80 gallon electric water tank was the best route. The on-demand gas water heater would add additional cost for the labor and the cost of the unit, and you will still need a storage tank.

Will there be a time where we don't receive enough sun to heat the water? Probably, but we'll just have to see. The unit I have came with a timer to turn on the element, if needed, once or twice a day for a couple of hours, but like I said, I have the breaker to that turned off. Then there is the $1000 rebate that would go away.

Bill

[EightFingers]

Why would anyone have an electric water heater in Hawaii? Is propane hugely expensive also?

I think for under $1600 (after all those tax credits) the solar is a BARGAIN. It has now become a part of my house plan.

[Guest]

Hey guys, It is soooo cheap and easy to build you own solar water heater.

You can use stuff found at home depot and recycle an old used electric water heater.

There are various plans on the web.

DIY and recycle, you'll save energy, money, and the environment.

[lquade]

exactly, esnap! we went with propane with my hubby doing a do-it-yourself after the county is done with all the inspections... not gonna pay 5K for something that should cost hardly anything. once we took a 200ft coil of black water pipe and threw that up on the roof and that was enough HOT water for a shower.. and even a kids pool and was a no-brainer... if the county really wants people to go solar they need to make it a reasonable cost to all, not make you at the mercy of licensed solar contractors with no upper limits on what they can charge...

[nanasohana]

I think that a community do-it-yourself solar system workshop would be so helpful. Or small groups of neighbors who could come together and help each other by gathering materials, going to each others homes to put together and install a simple low cost solar hot water system would be so beneficial.

[lquade]

yes nancy like a good old fashioned barn raising... the black pipe was in poteau ok by the way.... even in the winter you have the sun... the next step is to build a wooden box to contain the coil of black pipe and then put a sheet of glass over the box to seal in more heat. you can also put some reflective aluminum sheet down, under the black coil of pipe... each of these steps increases the heat factor of the water inside the pipe. you will be amazed. some friends even heated their swimming pool this way on a cabana roof close to pool with no overhanging trees... so of course you take your shower, wash clothes or whatever when the sun is shining but it is almost free... black pipe is atwoods, your a okie right? so i know you know atwoods....when is your return? take care