Mary’s Solar Hot Water System

November 21, 2022/in Solar Hot Water /by starkraving

Solar Hot Water

Customer Story

Mary’s Solar Hot Water System

Mary Johnson of Ashfield had her automated wood heating system installed in May 2019 and a solar hot water system completed in June 2019.

“I am so very happy with them,” Mary says of her new clean energy systems. “More than I could have imagined.”

Her previous antiquated oil system – installed in the 1970s – frequently broke down and proved to be inefficient even after multiple repairs each season. Similarly, the house’s oil hot water system was faulty and did not fulfill her family’s domestic hot water needs.

The wood boiler and the solar hot water system are connected so that the automated wood heating system can serve as a backup for hot water. During the summer season, the wood system remains inactive since the Johnsons’ hot water needs are solely provided by the sun. The automated wood boiler provides warmth in the autumn, winter, and spring as the primary source of heating in the home. Mary is impressed with the silence and efficiency of both the solar hot water system and biomass boiler. With her rebate awards from MassCEC, Mary’s total monthly loan payments for both brand-new systems and wood fuel turned out to be less than the cost of her previous monthly heat and hot water bills.

As the Director of Green America’s Carbon Farming Innovation Network, Mary is passionate about contributing to climate change solutions, and feels relieved that her home no longer relies on fossil fuels for heating and domestic hot water. She plans to go all electric with solar panels and an electric vehicle to cover her family’s electric usage and transportation.

We’re In This Together

Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.

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We’re In This Together

Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.

I’m on board!

Tom’s Solar Hot Water System

November 21, 2022/in Solar Hot Water /by starkraving

Solar Hot Water

Customer Story

Tom’s Solar Hot Water System

Along with fifty-eight other residents of his community, Tom recently installed solar hot water in his home in Arlington, MA, through HeatSmart Arlington/Winchester. He has been very pleased with the system so far.

“Financially I think it’s a winner. Partly because the lifetime warranty of the tank pays for itself, and partly because of the free energy,” Tom stated.

One thing he thinks is great about solar hot water panels is that they get a lot of energy from the sun on bright cloudy days or when the sun is not shining directly on the panels, even in the winter. Tom advises homeowners considering installing solar hot water to plan where they want the tank to go ahead of time. He also suggests that if homeowners are considering adding solar photovoltaic panels as well, the installations should be coordinated for efficiency.

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We’re In This Together

Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.

I’m on board!

We’re In This Together

Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.

I’m on board!

Solar Hot Water: The Technology, System Types, and Benefits

We’re In This Together

Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.

I’m on board!

Solar Hot Water provides savings, cool basement in summer

January 27, 2021/in Solar Hot Water Third Party Resources, Videos Solar Hot Water /by starkraving

We’re In This Together

Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.

I’m on board!

Solar Hot Water

February 13, 2020/in Solar Hot Water /by competenow

Solar Hot Water

Tapping into the sun’s power is a highly efficient, low maintenance, renewable hot water solution for all the sunny days ahead.

Benefits of solar hot water

If you are looking for an affordable way to use solar energy in your home, solar hot water can be an excellent investment to reduce costs.

Lower greenhouse gas emissions

Protect the climate by using the sun for up to 80% of your water heating needs

Cost competitive

Lower costs than heating water with oil, propane, or electric resistance

Less expensive solar

Installing solar hot water is a fraction of the cost of installing solar photovoltaic (electricity) systems

Versatile

Solar hot water systems can be paired with any source of back-up water heating

The Technology

How It Works

Solar energy heats liquid circulated through collectors on your roof or on the ground. Heat from the liquid is transferred to a solar storage tank or boiler through a heat exchanger to provide hot water to your home. When needed, a backup source of heat will provide supplemental hot water.

Solar hot water is ideal for homes with:

Available roof or ground space | Good sun exposure | Medium to high hot water usage

Learn More

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Featured Customer Story

Tom’s new solar hot water system

“Financially, I think it’s a winner. Partly because the lifetime warranty of the tank pays for itself and partly because of the free energy.”

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Incentives and Financing

Mass Department
of Energy
Resources (DOER)

Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs): One-time payment provided to homeowners installing solar hot water. A two collector system could receive approximately 100 AECs totaling $400-$1,000.

Municipal Light Plant

If you live in a town served by a Municipal Light Plant (MLP) check your MLP’s website for incentives and rebates.

Mass State Tax Credits

15% of the system cost as a state tax credit, up to $1,000

Federal Tax Credits

Inflation Reduction Act: Federal tax credit up to 30% of system cost.

Financing Options

Mass Save® HEAT Loan: Up to $25,000 at 0% interest over terms of up to 7 years.

Example Cost for a 2,000 FT² Home

Cost after incentives is estimated by subtracting AECs worth $1,000, Mass State Tax Credit and Federal Tax Credit from up-front cost.
Cost after incentives may be substantially lower if your household qualifies for income-scaled State and Federal rebates.

Example up-front cost before incentives

$11,800

Example cost after
incentives

$6,900

Things to Consider

If you answer yes to ANY of these questions, then solar hot water may be a good fit for your home

Do you want to save on your energy bill?

Solar hot water provides 80% of your hot water for free, dramatically cutting your home’s hot water heating bill.

Do you have available roof or yard space with good sun exposure?

Solar hot water requires good sun exposure for at least 5 hours a day for optimal production.

Do you have a pool?

Solar hot water pool heating systems are an environmentally friendly and an economical way to keep pool water heated to a comfortable temperature.

Are you looking for an affordable way to go solar?

After incentives, solar hot water’s net cost is approximately $6,900, much lower than solar electric (PV) systems. The 0% interest Mass Save® HEAT Loan will enable you to start saving money from day one.