Solar hot water panels installed on a home

One of the most affordable ways to switch to solar power is with a solar hot water system.  Instead of generating electricity, solar thermal panels heat water using sunlight, no matter what the temperature is outside.  Solar water heating is perfect not only for residences, but also commercial uses including hotels, car washes, nurseries and even breweries.

These systems are also ideal for heating swimming pools and spas.  In fact, during our recent visit to the sunny desert Southwest, I wondered why more properties did not rely on solar thermal panels for outdoor water recreation.

A lot of energy is required to heat water for washing dishes, laundry and bathing.  With a solar hot water system, hot water is “free,” and much less expensive.  You’ll watch your electricity or natural gas bills drop dramatically after installing solar water heating.

Solar hot water systems do require an initial investment, but property owners report savings of 50-80% on their energy bills as a result.  Not only that, but you don’t have to worry about rising utility costs over time.  Your solar hot water will always cost the same after installation…. free!  Solar thermal panels also are eco-friendly, with no greenhouse gas emissions.

While there are a number of DIY instructional videos and websites on the Internet, most people recommend hiring an expert to help you both determine the type of solar hot water system to install and to actually perform the installation.  Costs of solar hot water range from $500-$10,000 for homeowners, depending on the type of system and other requirements.

For more information about the different types of solar hot water systems and solar thermal panels, click here.

Government incentives could encourage more nationwide installation of solar panels

Renewable energy is on everyone’s mind… including the government.  To encourage people to switch to solar power or other non-fossil-fuel based power sources, the U.S. federal government will allow you up to 30% of the cost of solar installation in the form of tax credits.  But, the deal could get even sweeter!  Two Senators have proposed a new bill that would provide for the U.S. Government to pay 50% of solar panel costs.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Representative Steve Cohn (D-TN) put forth potential new legislation that is modeled after California’s Million Solar Roofs initiative.  The “10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons of Solar Water-Heating Act”would help encourage the addition of 10 million new solar arrays and 200,000 new solar water heating systems to the national energy mix.

The goal:  to reach 30,000 megawatts (MW) or more of photovoltaic panel installations.  To put it into perspective, it would double similar solar initiatives from China and India.  In the mix are thousands of green jobs in the manufacturing and system installation industries.

The plan:  Solar power systems would receive incentives starting at $1.75 per watt, and rebates under the proposed bill would be in addition to existing federal rebates, up to 50% of the solar panel cost.  However, federal rebates are just part of the puzzle.   State incentives are added on top, which can lead to rebates for home solar power systems of 80% or more, depending on where you live.

The bottom line is that the question that is forefront on many peoples’ minds: how can you reduce the cost of solar panels, may be answered very soon.  Already generous government rebates could be increased even more!

Stay tuned to get more news and the most up to date information on how to save money with your solar installations!