Why you do not see many people in the US use solar water heater? is it because of its weight on the roof?
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go israel! we saw solar water heaters EVERYWHERE. which is really good, because we went on a tour and the tour guide said that by his estimate 80-90% of israel’s power comes from oil, 10-20% from coal and nuclear. EEK.
Question by Ron H: Why you do not see many people in the US use solar water heater? is it because of its weight on the roof?
What is the life expectancy for the solar water heater. Normal roof warranty is 20 years. It would be too much trouble to disconnect the solar panel cum water tank and re-roof with shingles.
Give your answer to this question below!
5 Responses to Why you do not see many people in the US use solar water heater? is it because of its weight on the roof?
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Most decisions made by us americans are based on short term cost. Solar panels are pricey. Doesn’t really matter if they save on the long run, because we are cheap and won’t see the payback quick enough to satisfy our need for instant gratification.
KirksWorld
November 8, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I checked into Solar panels for my home and wattage of electricity used. It would cost $ 26000 just for the system. I would still have to have it installed and I live in a hurricane zone, so this will be expensive. Love the idea, but I do not have that much extra cash on hand. Make them cheaper and they will be bought up.
Yoda out
Yoda
November 8, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Correct answer is the up front cost of such a system and a general non understanding of its function. We have been conditioned to use current methods and equipment. Believe me, if the system were affordable, the current businesses out there making furnaces and other heating equipment, plus house builders, would be beating your door down with ads for such a system.
True, in the long run, given the cost of the materials and the life expectancy of the materials, one might break even but earth benefit would be more even.
That all said, there are climates out there where solar water heaters are just not feasible. They have to augmented by some other kind of conventional heating system, just like when it is so cold out that heat pumps do not operate efficiently. So, the product would have to be aimed at a certain section of the county. Right now, it just isn’t happening that way.
ozarks bum
November 8, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Actually there are several reasons why Americans don’t use solar water heaters and cost is not the foremost.
First is capacity. Americans use way more hot water than most of the world, including Europe. Solar won’t provide the capacity with out an expensive storage system. If you can keep your hot water usage down around 80-100 gallons a day, solar is viable in most of the USA.
Second is expertise. There are a lot of Semi-experts in the solar field, particularly in the installation end. Solar systems are more complicated than regular hot water heaters and require a lot more knowledge to balance collectors, pumps and storage. Until the big engineering firms become involved, solar water heating will be done by people with good intentions, but little practical knowledge.
Third is aesthetics. Residential architects have not gotten around to designing homes with built in solar capacity. Add-ons are ugly. Many upscale neighborhoods won’t allow them.
The good news is that changes are coming. In 20 years solar hot water will be much more prevelant in the US. Especially in the south and southwest.
nathan f
November 8, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Anything solar would not work where I live. In the winter it is almost always cloudy & that would be a waste of time & money.
Blue Jay
November 8, 2011 at 2:24 pm