Looking to the sky for renewable energy

The sky’s the limits when it comes to tapping into the sun as a renewable source of energy. Besides making (or breaking) a beach holiday, the sun is an abundant source of clean, renewable energy. That’s why more and more consumers are turning to the sun for their water heating needs. 

Did you know that there is enough solar energy in Canada to meet approximately half of the water heating energy needs for an average family of four? That’s 2,500 kWh of energy every year that we don’t need to generate using traditional methods.

Solar water heating technology has been around since the 1800’s. And although the idea of heating water using the sun not new, the technology behind modern solar water heating most definitely is.  Consisting of a solar collector and a water storage tank, solar water systems vary from passive to forced circulation with optional back-up energy sources.

Solar water heating is becoming increasingly popular around the world. In sunny regions, solar water heating has become the norm. An early adopter of solar heating technology, Israel has mandated their use in all new home construction, making it a world leader in solar energy use per capita.

It’s a common misconception that solar water heating is limited to temperate climates with plenty of sunshine. While the geographic location will impact how much energy is produced, solar water heating is being successfully used in Japan, Austria and Northern Europe. 

With the limitless energy potential in the sun, it seems solar water heating is giving an entirely new meaning to the notion of worshipping the sun.