Hot water represents the second largest energy consumer in American households. A typical 80 gallon hot water heater will consume approximately 150 million BTUs in its seven year lifetime. This will cost approximately $3,500 at $0.08 per KW/H – not accounting for energy increases! If you have invested in your house, your next investment should be in solar hot water.

Your decision to buy a solar hot water system is based on a variety of reasons. In some cases, the primary consideration is to save money on water heating bills by making an up-front investment. Other people want to include environmentally friendly technologies in their home, or to help reduce oil imports. Since adding solar hot water can increase hot water delivery capacity, other people may buy a solar hot water heater in order to meet the needs of a growing family. Businesses may invest in solar hot water to demonstrate their commitment to protecting our environment, or to limit uncertainty about future fuel costs.

The dollar savings produced by a solar hot water heating system are directly tied to hot water use, and avoided expenditures on conventional hot water fuels (natural gas, LPG, oil, or electricity). Thus, the economic benefits are higher for households with high water heating costs (electricity) and with higher usage (households with three or more residents). Generally speaking a solar hot water system will save you up to 80% on your annual water heating bills.

The total costs for a solar hot water system vary according to a number of factors. These include the type of system, the manufacturer, the installer, the size of the system, and whether the system is being included in a new construction project or installed as a retrofit to an existing house. Approximate installed price ranges for closed loop, household sized, solar hot water systems are:
1-3 persons: $4,000-$5,500
4-6 persons: $5,000-$6,500
Approximate prices shown are before tax credit or other incentive programs.

Yes, The Oregon Department of Energy has an incentive program that allows up to $1,500 in the form of a tax credit for approved solar hot water systems. Additionally check with your utility company to see if they have any alternative energy programs to help reduce the initial costs of solar hot water systems, and to promote the growth of renewable energy use.

Using the sun's clean renewable energy to heat water is good for the environment because it reduces several forms of air pollution and helps to reduce demand for new and often environmentally threatening supplies for fossil fuels. Most people in Oregon currently use fuel oil, electricity, propane, or natural gas to heat their hot water. The environmental impacts of using these fuels to heat water include global warming, acid rain, urban smog, and the production of nuclear waste.

In Central Oregon, a new solar hot water heater will typically provide up to eighty percent of a household's needs. By installing a solar water heater, a family of four, who currently use an electric water heater and consume an average of 100 gallons of hot water per day, will prevent 4,250 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Another way to look at it is that an emission reduction of this size is equivalent of around 6,000 miles per year of pollution free driving (assuming your car gets 25 miles per gallon). Either way, the environmental contribution is significant (over 20 years it adds up to over 40 tons of emissions prevented) helping to reduce the threats of global warming, and maintain the quality of life in Central Oregon.

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