Heating up water takes a lot of energy. And with the amount of hot water we use on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that our electricity bills often soar higher than we would like. The good news is there’s another way of warming up water that is not only just as efficient, it is also more environmentally-friendly and could definitely shave quite a bit off that electricity bill.

The answer lies in the simple yet revolutionary technology of solar water heaters.

The one-million gallon pool for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics used it, as do virtually all homes in Israel. From the sunny countries of India and Greece to places where there is less sunshine such as Japan, solar heaters are used in most households and by many industries. In fact, following the oil crisis of the 1970s, Israeli law required solar water heaters be installed in new homes.

Solar water heaters come in many shapes and sizes to meet our different residential and commercial needs. However, all solar heating devices operate following the same principle – specially-manufactured absorbers are strategically placed to directly absorb the heat and light from the sun’s rays. This stored-up energy is then used to heat up water for your shower or swimming pool.

From sun-drenched California to windy Chicago, solar heaters can be used by anyone, anytime, anywhere, regardless of the weather. The abundance or lack thereof - of solar radiation is not an issue. Of course, during the day (especially sunny ones), water can be heated up by the power of the sun alone. Otherwise, solar water heaters act as a back-up to your electric or mechanical heating systems. Either way, with solar energy augmenting a substantial part of your daily energy requirement, electricity costs will definitely be lowered.

Harnessing the sun’s energy through solar water heaters is not a fad that will fade away, but a technology that will surely continue to shine on.

Bookmark to