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Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average home (excluding the family car).It’s also power hungry, using up to 35% of a home’s energy. 
The cost of installing and running a solar hot water system is less than most people realise.  The fact is, solar hot water systems generally pay for themselves within two years from installation and then the real savings start adding up.
A solar hot water system can save up to 90% of an average household’s hot water energy requirements.It can also save up to 3.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions from an average household per year.There are factors to consider such as the direction of the roof, quality and location, but in essence, the sun can provide the bulk of the energy requirements for domestic hot water.Conventional gas or electricity sources can make up any shortfall.  
The cost of electricity is growing and there is greater emphasis on finding renewable energy sources.When one counts the cost that generating electricity has on the environment, the argument for solar power is even more convincing.
Solar hot water has been the subject of massive technological development in recent times.  Consumers now have a choice between roof or ground-mounted systems, which are suitable for any weather conditions from below freezing to the harshest desert heat.
Solar hot water can be installed anywhere, new buildings and old.It is a relatively simple process to replace an electric hot water system, and many governments around the world are encouraging and incentivising householders to do so.
In Australia for example, eligible property owners, landlords and tenants are rewarded with generous government rebates when they replace their electric storage hot water systems with solar.The Australian Government is currently offering a 600 rebate per eligible installation of solar hot water to help people reduce greenhouse gas emissions.It is currently estimated that the average family can reduce their annual energy bill by up to seven hundred dollars by installing a solar system.  
Perth solar hot water company, Solar MyWorld, have experienced a huge increase in demand for their systems since Government announced the rebates.The company says people are making lifestyle adjustments to meet growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, and they have seen a consequent increase in demand.  
A study commissioned by the Australian Government, ‘Energy Use in the Australian Residential Sector 1986-2020 projected a 56% increase in residential sector energy consumption from 1990 – 2020.Water heating was the only major energy use predicted to decline over the study period, predominantly due to Government and State energy programmes.Water heating energy use reached a peak in 2002 at 92.4 petajoules (PJ) and is anticipated to decline slowly to 8.5PJ by 2020. 
Solar hot water is one of the simplest lifestyle changes that people can make. There are no reasons not to go this route.It is both cost-effective and low maintenance and on top of that, is kind to the environment too.Plus, a solar hot water system that has been correctly installed using quality parts should last at least a quarter of a century.That should warm you up!

Making the decision to install solar panels is one that you will never regret. Once you have made this decision you need to decide if you will install them yourself or have it done by a professional company. Regardless of your decision, making the right choice as to who to purchase them from will ensure success. Trying to figure out which manufacturer or installer to choose can be a difficult decision however below you can find some tips to make the process easier.

Experience counts. ?If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where solar panel installation has been ongoing, you may be able to locate a company which has been in business for two or three decades. ?If so, they should be able to provide plenty of references for you to call. ?It will also be easy to check with the local Better Business Bureau to see if they have a clean record.

Ask them about the equipment they recommend, and do some research on the internet to find some reviews of the manufacturers. ?Find out what kinds of warranties the equipments comes with. ?Also, find out what kinds of warranties the contractor offers on labor and workmanship. ?It is common to find 10-year warranties on the solar panels, and 3 to 10-year warranties on pumps, inverters and controls. ?Workmanship should have at least a one year warranty.

If you still want to stay connected to your electrical company you want to make sure that the installer you hire has experience working with both off-grid and grid systems. The two systems are definitely different and you want to make sure that whomever you hire has experience working with the one that you determine meets your needs the best. Off-grid systems are more complex than grid tied systems. An off grid installer will most likely be quite capable of connecting your system to the local power company, especially since he or she will be monitored by the local building inspectors.

Membership in a professional organization for alternative energy vendors is another indicator that you might want to check on. However, don’t base your decision solely on this factor until you check out what the requirements are to become a member. There are organizations which are voluntary while others require a membership fee. Other organizations, such as the Solar Energies Industries Association require continuing education and field experience in order to qualify for membership.

Word of mouth from a trusted source is always the best recommendation. If you personally know someone who has had solar panels installed you should ask them about their experience and see if they would recommend the company they used. Another source is local real estate agents as they typically know trustworthy local contractors.

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