Solar Water Heating

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes solar water heating technology, its costs, benefits, and adoption in the United States.

• In the United States, over 1.5 million homes and businesses use solar water heating, providing more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of thermal energy generation. The US Department of Energy expects an additional 400 MW to be installed within 3 to 5 years. Based on the assumption that 40 percent of existing US homes have sufficient sunlight, there is potential for 29 million systems to be installed.
• Solar water heating systems consist of a solar collector and a storage tank. They are categorized as direct systems (heating water directly) or indirect systems (using antifreeze for cold climates), and as passive systems (thermosiphons using natural liquid rise) or active systems (using electric pumps). Solar swimming pool systems are simpler and can provide between 50 and 100 percent of the energy required for pool heating.
• Residential solar water heating systems have an initial cost between $1,500 and $3,500, which is higher than the $150 to $450 cost of electric or natural gas heaters. However, they typically pay for themselves through energy savings within 4 to 8 years and have a lifespan of 15 to 40 years. In Florida, homeowners with solar water heaters save 50 to 85 percent on water heating bills compared to those using electric heaters.
• Solar water heating provides environmental and economic benefits, including the prevention of over 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per heater over 20 years. It also supports domestic manufacturing and installation jobs, reducing reliance on foreign oil and natural gas.
• While consumers may struggle to verify manufacturer performance claims, independent testing and certification are provided by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2006). Solar Water Heating. https://www.eesi.org/files/solar_water_0506.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Solar Water Heating. 2006. https://www.eesi.org/files/solar_water_0506.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Solar Water Heating |date=May 2006 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/solar_water_0506.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2006solar, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Solar Water Heating}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/solar_water_0506.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }