Do-it-yourself solar water heater

By Debra Atlas, Contributing writer, Redding.com
Sunday, November 9, 2008

Do-it-yourselfers can now reduce home water bills while taking advantage of a new solar energy system.

Hot2o is a lightweight, affordable solar DIY solar water heater. Launched in 2007 by Chico-based FAFCO Inc., this system was designed in conjunction with Oregon’s Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Hot2o is a complete solar system in a box. Weighing about 65 pounds (traditional solar panels weigh hundreds), the system can be easily self-installed in less than a day. It is designed to work with existing electric or gas water heaters.

It doesn’t depend on heat, only sunshine, says Doug Kohl, spokesman for FAFCO. Kohl, who lives in the Sierra Nevada and installed his Hot2o system in under eight hours, said “if the panels are seeing sunshine, even if it’s in the 40s, they generate hot water around 104 degrees.”

A switch senses when the roof temperature exceeds the tank temperature, turning the collector on. It channels water through the unglazed panels, absorbing the sun’s heat. Heated water is then transferred to the hot water tank for storage until needed.

When not in use, water in the solar collectors is stored in the drainback tank, preventing the water from freezing.

FAFCO’s solar panels heat water up to 120 degrees. Their low profile makes them almost invisible to passers-by and enables them to withstand severe weather conditions.

FAFCO’s DIY system qualifies for federal tax credits, pricing a basic system to about $2,200. Dealer-installed systems average $5,000. This is significantly less than a standard home solar electric system’s price of up to $50,000.

Homes with gas water heaters require adding an additional storage tank to accommodate this innovative system, to offset the tank’s internal heat exchanger, which normally heats the water.

“The net effect is your gas hot water heater goes to sleep,” saving energy and lowering utility costs, said Freeman Ford, FAFCO’s CEO and co-founder.

Realistically, said Kohl, the return on investment is four to five years on a FAFCO solar heater. Compare that to the normal 20-year ROI for traditional solar heaters.

For eco-minded consumers, there’s an added plus. “When you install one of our systems, you’re parking a car for a year in terms of carbon saving equivalents,” said Ford. “It’s the right thing to do.”

You can find a Hot2o dealer at www.hot2o.com.

Debra Atlas is a freelance environmental writer. She can be reached at debraatlas@gmail.com. View her blog at www.envirothink.wordpress.com.