Document Actions
The Next Wave: Solar Water Heating Systems Yield Immediate Energy Savings
Solar water heating (SWH) applications represent a significant opportunity to reduce energy use in both commercial and residential building sectors in the United States at a low financial and spatial cost.
In fact, a typical residential SWH system saves 50%–90% of a
conventional system's energy use and occupies roughly 10%-20% of the
roof space of a typical photovoltaic system. According to The Technical Potential of Solar Water Heating to Reduce Fossil Fuel Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the United States
,
in 2004, water heating for U.S. homes consumed about 23% of all
residential natural gas and 8% of all residential electricity.
Nationwide, energy used for water heating in commercial and residential
buildings combined totaled nearly 8% of all end-use natural gas.