The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.

Ralph Nader,
Loose Talk

 

solar hot water systems

Solar water heaters have been in use in Florida since the early 1900’s. As electricity became available and cheap, power companies started giving away electric water heaters in order to sell more electricity. Today, large utility rate increases are causing more people to return to solar water heaters as one of the first and most beneficial steps in reducing rapidly increasing electric bills and protecting themselves against future rate hikes.

how it works

Quite simply, as sunlight strikes the collector, water inside heats up. If you use an “active” system, sunlight heats the roof collector which activates a pump and controller. A pump moves cool water from the bottom of the water tank to the collector for sunwarming. The heated water circulates from the collector back to the tank for use in your home.

An Integral Collector Storage System (ICS) or “passive” system combines the storage tank and the collector in one unit.  Sunlight heats water in the roof-mounted ICS throughout the day.  When hot water is used in the home, it is delivered directly from the homes existing tank then replaced by solar heated water from the ICS. This system requires no pumps or controls for operation and therefore has less maintenance and parts to replace.

In an active system the solar tank is equipped with a back-up heating element that provides hot water during periods of prolonged bad weather or unusual demand. In a passive system, the homes existing water heater acts as the backup. This assures both systems provide a seamless supply of household hot water.

monetary benefits

— Qualifies for a 30% Federal Tax Credit up to $2000.00.

— Qualifies for a $500.00 Florida state rebate (plus many utility company rebates)

— Protection from future utility rate increases.
        
— Increases property value and resale attractiveness.

— Under state law, added value of solar installations cannot raise property values.

— Exempt from Florida state sales tax.

— Tax free savings pays for system in 2-4 years.

At today’s typical Florida electric rates (including fuel surcharges and utility taxes) of around 12-14 cents per kilowatt hour, water heating can easily cost $800.00 to $1,200.00 per year for a 3-5 person household. A solar water heater can substantially eliminate this portion of your electric cost while reducing your total utility bill by 25-30%.

After rebates and incentives, Demco Energy can install a new solar hot water system on a typical Florida home in a single day for under $4,000.00 so you can start using free energy from the sun and stop giving money to electric companies at alarmingly higher and higher rates.

 

new construction

If you are building a new home or business or are refinancing, the economics are even more attractive. Including the price of a solar water heater in a new 30 yr. mortgage usually amounts to between $13-$15 per month. The federal income tax deduction for mortgage interest attributable to the solar hot water system reduces that by $3- $5 per month. So if your savings on your electric bill from the new solar hot water system are more than $15 per month (virtually guaranteed), the solar investment is profitable immediately. On a monthly basis, you’re saving more than you’re paying.