Issue #04
May 2009

An economic bathroom

Eco Inspiration

A hot couple

Winter is approaching and that means hot showers suddenly take on a life and death significance. And a hot shower is only as good as the hot water unit supplying the hot water.

So, if you are looking to replace, upgrade or install a new hot water unit, one important thing to bear in mind is that not all hot water units are the same. Far from it, actually.

There are huge differences between hot water systems and there are a range of things to consider when selecting your unit - size, capacity, the number of users it must cater for, power source, upfront costs, running costs and, now more than ever, its environmental impact.

Certain types of environmentally friendly hot water units can attract significant government rebates. Both solar systems and heat pumps are eligible for Federal and State government rebates sometimes adding up to $4000, meaning the rebate can potentially cover the entire cost of the unit.

These systems also attract "RECs". A REC is a Renewable Energy Certificate which represents a unit of electricity generated from renewable energy with low green house emissions. One REC represents one megawatt-hour produced from renewable energy technology. RECs have a dollar value and can be paid to you as a monetary value.

So, while many of us are familiar with traditional gas and electric hot water systems and perhaps even the difference between storage and continuous hot water units, you can see that it pays (in actual dollar savings) to find out more about heat pumps and solar hot water systems.

Here is a brief description to introduce you to each system, but as always, turn to your plumber, the hot water expert, for more information on these systems. You can also use our handy reference - The Hot Water Decisions Guide to help you choose the right hot water system for you.

Solar

Solar systems use the sun’s energy to heat water, so they are much better for the environment. They are the cheapest hot water systems to run but generally have a higher initial purchase price. Their average payback period is 6 years. This means they can save you money over the life of the unit. Solar systems come with boosters to supply adequate hot water during periods of low sunshine or very cold weather. Solar systems use collectors located on the roof which connect to a storage tank on the roof or at ground level. Ground level tanks are sometimes preferred because they provide a clean roofline. Solar systems attract RECs and government rebates.

Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps are a relatively new technology that is becoming very popular. They work like reverse cycle air-conditioners to extract heat from the air and use this energy to produce hot water. Heat Pumps attract RECs and government rebates. Heat Pumps are one of the most efficient hot water systems and they are a more environmentally friendly alternative to straight gas and electric storage systems. Heat Pumps are usually located at ground level and are approximately the same size as conventional hot water tanks. Like Solar, some Heat Pumps use an electric booster to supply adequate hot water during periods of very cold weather.

So, this winter, choose the right hot water unit and you’ll be able to enjoy hot showers (responsibly, of course) and be rewarded for doing the right thing. And remember, don't risk it, use a licensed plumber™.

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