Up until recently, the only serious solar energy product that was being effectively marketed to average homeowners was the solar water heater. I shower with solar heated water and it is an incredible savings. It is also very hot all summer. I live in a climate that is very similar to Southern California. There are actually only about two months in the winter were the solar water heater doesn’t do the trick. Apricus Solar sells units that can provide an average-sized family with all the hot water they need. You know those black and yellow stickers that you get on appliances saying how much electricity they typically consume? It’s kinda nifty to have a water heater that has a sticker that says 0 kWh/year.

I looked around for some typical energy consumption stats for an electric water heater and I got a bit of a shock. One source said that an average water heater uses 3,200 kWh in a year but also points out that there are so many inefficiencies in the system of power generation and transmission that the net energy used to heat your water is more like 9,600 kWh.

Using solar generated electricity in your home is now becoming more cost effective. There have been technological breakthroughs that are expected to vastly increase the supply and decrease the price of photo-voltaic panels. If you are planning new construction or renovations, you owe it to yourself and to the planet to see what innovations are available for alternative energy.