Install Solar Hot Water

Sunlight converts cold water into hot water. No gasses are emitted and no-one gets hurt. Life is rarely this simple!

How to do it now!

There are three elements involved in installing a solar hot water system in Australia. These are:

1. Finding the right solar hot water system supplier/installer.

• Will the supplier/installer facilitate the complete process (tank selection, install, rebates)? Their level of experience and the advice that they can offer can be the decisive factor in choosing the right solar hot water system.
• What experience does the company have installing solar hot water systems similar to yours? If you have a special need (eg: pool heating) ensure they have done such installations before.
• What warranty on the installation of the system does the supplier/installer provide? Ensure the supplier/installer will guarantee the quality of their installation.
• Ensure competing bids are in the same format. By ensuring that all of the bids you receive are made on the same basis, you'll be able to compare the bids easily.
• Get itemised quotes. This will allow you to evaluate the costs of labour, materials and so on.

2. Selecting the right solar hot water system for your household.

• Ensure the solar hot water system is the right size for your household. It is critical to choose a system with enough capacity. This will ensure you have sufficient free hot water when the system is operational.

  Capacity (litres)	No# of people in household
  150-220	1-2
  220-300	3-4
  300+	5+

• Decide between a split system, a close-coupled (tank-on-roof system or Thermosiphon) system or a heat-pump system. Solar hot water systems can store the heated water either on the roof or in a tank beside the house (like a traditional hot water system). The close-coupled system has fewer moving parts. However, this system may require the roof to be reinforced to bear the additional weight. The split system places the ugly tank out of sight, is generally easier to install and often attracts higher rebates. The split system is also slightly more efficient and, overall, tends to be the cheaper option.
• What is the warranty on the system? A warranty of ten years on the tank and collectors, and five or more on the parts and labour is advisable.
• What maintenance services are available for the system?
• How efficiently does the system convert sunlight into heated water? All accredited systems are tested for efficiency and compared to a standard electric hot water system. The more energy displaced, the more RECs are assigned to it. Therefore, the more RECs a system has, the more efficient it is (1 REC = 1 MWH of displaced energy over a ten year period). Evacuated-tubes can be more efficient in some circumstances (eg: a European winter) but their total collection area is far less than a flat plate collector. Check with your supplier to ensure you get the most efficient and effective system to meet your needs.
• What is the cost of the system fully installed? The true cost of your solar hot water system can be calculated by subtracting from the installed cost of the system the rebates or RECs you are eligible to receive.

Some solar hot water providers in Australia include:

3. Applying for (and receiving) government rebates

Does your solar hot water system qualify for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or other Government rebates? Not all systems qualify for RECs or rebates. To get the RECs the system must have been accredited by ORER (www.orer.gov.au). If a system does qualify for a rebate, the RECS can be offered as a point of sale discount or can be redeemed for cash through a RECS trader. If replacing a gas hot water system, then there are extra rebates of up to $1,500 available through various state government programs (see below). If replacing an electric hot water system, the Federal Government offers up to a $1,600 rebate to households whose income is less than $100,000 p.a.

Federal Government - the Federal Government offers a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) incentive to homes that convert to solar hot water with accredited systems. The REC is based on the efficiency of the solar hot water system, the greater the efficiency - the greater the incentive. In addition, the Federal Government recently announced a new Australia-wide Solar Hot Water Rebate Program which offers up to $1600 rebate for eligible installations. Interested parties should consult the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for more information and application forms.

State Government - the following state government incentive schemes can offer further rebates.

• NSW – In addition to the Federal Government REC program, NSW households may be eligible for a further rebate of up to $1200 from the NSW Government. See if you’re eligible here.

Why this action is important?

In order for humans to live sustainably we must harness renewable, local and abundant energy sources such as sunlight. This action cuts a third of the energy use from the average house with a cost-effective investment in sound technology and generates long term returns (financial, environmental and intergenerational).