Solar Thermal is common in first world countries such as Spain and Israel. And in the U.S., thanks to financial incentives and a growing desire for energy independence, the technology is increasingly widespread. Because basic Solar Thermal systems are relatively inexpensive and proven to reduce energy consumption, they’re popular not only in developed nations, but also in places with more limited financial resources.
In Chile, for example, a government project is currently bringing Solar Thermal to hundreds of shantytown residents near Santiago. Solar Thermal systems installed on new homes the government is building for these underprivileged people will provide financial savings of 62% for a family of four using 10.5 gallons of water per day at 115 degrees Fahrenheit. This project comes on the heels of legislation approved last year in Chile authorizing government subsidies of between 20 and 100 percent of the cost of Solar Thermal installations in new residential buildings.
Granted, the vast majority of Americans are far better off economically than the Chileans who will benefit from their government’s Solar Thermal program. But the desire to save money by reducing energy costs has strong appeal across all cultural, economic and national boundaries.
The installation cost of a Solar Thermal system is quite reasonable when you consider the long-term financial benefits. Sure, it may take a few years for the energy savings a new Solar Thermal system provides to equal the cost of installation. With a minimum 25-year lifespan though, these systems continue paying back long after they’ve paid for themselves. No matter what country you’re from, that is a sensible proposition.
“Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire” runs a quote by noted author David Rains Wallace. We here at SunWater Solar certainly agree, as would anyone who has ever successfully brewed a batch of ale, lager, stout or other type of beer.
Most people have spent some stretch of time living in an apartment building. If you’ve ever rented an apartment, you know that noisy neighbors, shared laundry machines and crowded conditions can be downsides to apartment life. But having the freedom to move out as soon as a lease ends helps make such inconveniences worthwhile. And as a tenant, you also don’t have to worry about the large amounts of money required to keep an apartment building operational.
Say the words “Solar Thermal” and readers of the SunWater blog may envision rows of Solar Thermal collectors providing low-cost hot water to homes and businesses. But what many people don’t know is that besides heating water and other fluids, Solar Thermal technology can also reduce air-conditioning and industrial cooling costs.