Renewable Energy Success Story

Heating Water with the Sun

Solar Hot Water Heaters on the Home of Dick Cookman

Have you ever turned on a garden hose that was lying in the sun and felt the hot water that runs out of the hose? It’s easy to heat water with solar energy! The five solar panels on this roof belonging to Dick Cookman have sheets of black metal under the glass. A water and antifreeze mixture runs through copper pipes attached to the metal and collects the heat from the sun, even in the winter. This heat is pumped into the house and a heat exchanger transfers the heat to the water used in the house. What could be simpler?

Dick Cookman’s solar hot water heater:

* is 22 years old

* provides over half of the hot water needs for his family, reducing the reliance on natural gas, propane, or oil.

* produces no pollution

* had one maintenance repair (part of a pump)

* has paid for itself at least 4 times with energy savings, providing greater than a 14% tax free return on investment