subject: Sudden Growth In Sales Of Solar Water Heating Systems by:Bryan Farrow [print this page] Solar energy technology has come a long way in recent years and no longer do we need to live in the Sahara with a solar panel the size of a football field just to heat enough water for a cup of tea!
It's long been recognized by residents that living in the South West of England means more sunshine than living elsewhere in the UK. No wonder then, that an ever growing number of people are having a couple of solar panels, now compact, efficient and hidden on the roof, installed in their homes.
The benefits are enormous and the once prohibitive costs have been significantly reduced. With huge backing from the government in terms of tax breaks, publicity and grants, any home can now have solar panels installed and do their bit for the environment as well as save money on utility bills.
In particular, a home having a solar water heating system installed will see an immediate decrease in heating costs of between 50% and 80%! Just think about how that translates into money in your pocket and you'll soon realize how a solar water heating system pays for itself very, very quickly.
There are two ways of going about switching to a solar water heating system: doing it yourself and using a qualified installer. Doing it yourself is not really that hard if you are the sort of person that regularly carries out maintenance around the home. There are some excellent 'how to' books and videos out there that explain what sort of panels to look for, how to install them and how to connect them to a water heating system. Whilst saving as much as half of the cost of using a professional, this is a serious option for the home improvement enthusiast and property developer.
For those of us that who wouldn't dream of rewiring a plug without first calling an electrician, you will be relieved to know that there is a growing army of skilled plumbers and heating engineers that now offer solar panel installation at a very reasonable price.
A local spokesman for solar energy, asked to explain the tremendous sudden growth in the market for solar energy explained: "In a recession, people look for all sorts of ways of reducing their outgoings. Say that someone buys one of the more expensive, all singing all dancing, 'brand name' solar heating systems, this would cost them about 4,000, (around $6,000) although there are a lot of systems around for about half this price. So if they borrowed the money to buy the system in the first place and put the loan onto their mortgage, they might be paying an extra 20 ($30) per month than they were paying before. Now, they will save an immediate 40 to 60 ($60 to $90) per month on their heating bills. They will be reducing their carbon footprint. and the value of their home may rise significantly as it becomes a lot more attractive to potential buyers. It's really a no-brainer".
Quite.
About the author
Bryan Farrow is a writer for DJ Interiors South West Ltd, a plumbing and heating company based in Devon and Cornwall, England www.djinteriorssw.co.uk
