It’s the dead of winter, and Arizona is undoubtedly cold right now. Did you know that solar energy cannot only light your homes and businesses, but also keep them (as well as you) warm?
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| The power of the sun can keep you warm in your home too |
It’s not
enough to know that solar energy is good for the planet. Consumers should understand
that solar energy must be transferred into a usable product, like now, in the
winter, to stay warm. That’s where we get solar thermal energy.
So what
exactly is solar thermal energy, and how do we use it?
Solar thermal technologies use the
sun’s heat energy to warm up substances (like hot water for our homes or
heating air) for a variety of different uses such as space heating, pool
heating and water heating for homes and businesses. Solar energy systems
convert the available light to heat rather than the outside temperature. This
means the systems are not affected by temperature conditions. A great way to
save money and go easy on the environment, solar thermal collecting devices can
be places anywhere on a building or home that is exposed to the sun; usually
the roof is a popular option.
Another ‘pro’
of making the switch to solar thermal energy is that solar water heaters do not
pollute. Solar water heaters avoid carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
sulfur dioxide, and the other air pollution and wastes created when your
utility generates power or you burn fuel to heat your household water. When a solar water heater replaces an electric water
heater, the electricity displaced over 20 years can represent more than 50 tons
of avoided carbon dioxide emissions.
Simply put, solar thermal systems
will heat your water and air for much less than you’re probably paying right
now while helping to save the environment.
Still not convinced? Here are some numbers:
Businesses
can save 40% – 80% on electric bills by switching a
typical water heater with a solar water heating system.
Water heating accounts for
approximately 25% of the total energy used in a typical home, making an electric
water heater is the biggest energy user of all appliances for a family.
Solar
heating can lead to savings of 85% on utility bills over the costs of
electric water heating in a single family home.
As utility prices rise (and they
will rise), consumers with solar heating systems will reap the benefits of
saving money and knowing they’re helping to restore the planet for years to
come. Durable and long lasting, solar thermal systems are built to work, and
keep you warm while doing so.