Introduction:

Across Australia, around 30 per cent of household energy was used to heat water, according to the Australian Greenhouse Office in 2005. About five per cent of Australian households have solar hot water systems.

On average, every Perth household needs about 50 litres of hot water per person per day. In October 2003, the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey of the hot water systems used by Western Australian households connected to the mains pressure system. According to the survey, 15 per cent of Western Australian households use solar heating. Western Australia has a capital stock of about 112,800 solar water heaters. About 63 per cent of WA households have gas water heaters while another 19 per cent are using electric water heating.

Solar water heaters are a smart investment and they can reduce a Perth household’s hot water bills by around 75 per cent. This can add up to thousands of dollars saved over the lifetime of the solar hot water system (compared with electric water heating). In Perth, our bright sun can heat up to 90 per cent of the water in a solar water heater. Throughout the year, the amount of heated water is within the range of 65 per cent to 85 per cent.

Along with the financial savings, a solar water heater generates relatively few carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Carbon dioxide is one of the main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect. If you replace an electric system with an efficient solar system, you can save around four tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced by an average large car in one year. Similarly, a solar system will save one tonne of CO₂ per year compared to reticulated, natural gas as well as bottled LP gas.

For more information about the running costs and greenhouse gas emissions, go to:
www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/

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