The sun supplies us with a massive amount of energy potentials on a daily basis which exceeds primary energy consumption by 80 times. This energy source is inexhaustible and it is available to us for billions of years unlike fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or oil which are limited. Therefore, in eliminating the over-dependence on fossil fuels, solar water heating system play an important role in achieving this and further helps to reduce the energy bill spent on heating of water especially for residential purposes.

Researchers have discovered that a huge percentage of residential and commercial energy consumption is related to water heating. About 60% of residential energy consumption is used to heat water and this runs into billions of dollars on annual basis. Likewise, most commercial buildings also consume about 40% of their energy on water heating which also runs into billions of dollars on a yearly basis. Therefore, with so much energy consumption directed to heating of water, a solar water heater can help provide an economically viable and environmentally sustainable energy solution for supplying this essential need on a regular basis.

Solar water heating systems otherwise called ‘solar thermal’ systems make use of the available heat from the sun to warm water for various domestic and commercial uses. A solar water heater makes use of solar collector panels to generate heat. These panels are usually placed on the rooftops of a building where it collects the sun’s energy and converts it into heat; the heat generated is then transferred to the water to heat it up. It is that simple and easy. There are two major types of solar water heaters namely; active and passive solar water heating systems.

A solar water heater is one of the best ways to get started using solar because it is relatively cheap. A solar water heating system is very affordable and it saves a huge amount of money. The cost of installing a solar water heating system is very low and with the advancement in technology, it can further reduce. Furthermore, the maintenance cost of solar water heater is minimal. In most cases, solar water heaters usually come with a 5 to 10 years warranty and require minimal maintenance. Once installed, a user is only required to do periodic routine checks to monitor the system. This gives households the opportunity to increase savings and reduce utility bills for a very long time.

The environmental costs associated with the use of traditional water heating systems are massive. They include carbon emission and various other forms of environmental pollution such as acid precipitation, deforestation, global warming etc. it has been estimated that a single-family home with the solar water system in place will reduce its CO 2 emission by an average of about 28% and with continuous usage, it can rise up to 60%. This is also applicable to industries and business establishment who make use of solar water heating systems on a large scale, thus, helping to improve the environment and making the world a safer place.

Adopting solar water heating system can reduce cost, increase household savings and reduce over-dependence on the utility, as well as fossil fuel companies that supply it. As long as the sun is shining, there would always be energy and this is as reliable as that of the traditional energy source. The question then is why pay for something you can get on your own? Solar water heaters give households and industries the opportunity to generate their own energy which can be gratifying.