2007-01-14 18:58:28 · 6 answers · asked by Moneyloser 2 in Environment
I wouldn´t waste your money. I have friends who have installed them, and they would have seen abtter return if they had installed the panels for producing Electricity.
If you really want to go down the renewable energy road and invest in solar panels, Then buy the panels that just produce Electricity.
The water heater panels only heat your water to a not very high temperature and as you are at work all day, if you want to take a bath late at night, the water is only warm and not hot.
I am not sure about the UK but if you do purchase the panels for Electricity production, there maybe a scheme where you can sell the Electricity to the local Electrical company, I think it is under the clear skies scheme. There are also grants you can apply for with regards the costs of purchase and installation.
2007-01-14 19:45:56 · answer #1 · answered by JayEleven 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I bought a solar hot water system about 2 years ago and it cost me around £3,000.
As to how good it is; well, it probably won't save you any money. We were told that the panels have a life expectancy of only 10 years and since they cost £3,000, it looks as though we won't make enough of a saving in those 10 years to offset the cost.
As to JayEleven saying
"The water heater panels only heat your water to a not very high temperature and as you are at work all day, if you want to take a bath late at night, the water is only warm and not hot."
Well, that's true in the winter, because we don't get a lot of good sun here in the UK - even when it *is* shining. In the summer though (when the sun shines, of course) it's really good. On a good day it will heat the water to 85°C (the cut off) and since our system included a well insulated, double size (210L) hot water tank, when we get a good day of sun, the water it produces lasts us a couple of days.
And remember, even when the sun doesn't heat the water very much (as it won't today - even thought the sun is out as I type), it still heats the water a little, which means less work for your gas hot water system to do.
But, as I said above, I don't think I'll ever save any money in the long term, so you should only really consider it as a way of doing your "bit" for the environment.
2007-01-14 23:24:47 · answer #2 · answered by amancalledchuda 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I live in the central US so the weather may be much different but I made a solar hot water heater with black plastic landscape irrigation piping an old water heater and some check valves that will make water hot enough to scald you on a sunny day. Cost? about $100. I configured it differently for winter, it recaptures the waste heat from the furnace with the same result. It amazes me the amount of power used to do nothing other than heat water.
2007-01-14 19:43:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
solar pv panles can generate electricity and if your local government has policy buying solar electricity, then, it will be worth do the investment. Solar water heater, it would be better to use vacuum tube type which has a better performance in England. www.himinsun.com
2016-03-25 14:03:21 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have found a few sites that might be of interest.
Not sure how much power you need, but it seems as though panels can cost from as little as £57.
I bet they don't produce as much energy as you need though!!!
2007-01-14 19:12:10 · answer #5 · answered by footynutguy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
exactly i don't know!all circumstances are different and therefore charged accordingly but i do know its not cheap in the short term but long term you recoup your money especially the new dual one Sun and Wind model
2007-01-18 08:26:23 · answer #6 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋