SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY, SAVE THE WORLD!

O.K., so we exaggerate a bit to make a point.  It is certainly true, though, that using the energy from the sun is one of those rare situations in life where in doing something good for yourself you are also doing something good for your community and your country.  Kind of like being able to “have your cake and eat it too”…or maybe “have your pool and heat it too”.  The really good news is there is no better place to take advantage of solar power than Southern Arizona given the fact that we are blessed with the highest annual percentage of sunny days in North America.  So please don’t let all that free energy go to waste!

It’s great for you,

Decrease your energy bills while increasing your homes value.  The total life cycle costs of a solar system are the lowest of any water heating systems available.  When you factor in that quality solar systems increase the value of your home the case for solar becomes compelling.

• According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical homeowner relying on electricity to heat water could save up to $500 in the first year of operation by installing a solar water heating system! The savings over time increase due to increasing electricity rates...
• Realtor studies estimate that solar upgrades return 100% of their cost when the home is sold.
• EPA/DOE studies indicate that the value of a home increases from $11 to $25 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills. 
• Studies by the Solar Weatherization Assistance Program in Florida a few years ago confirmed that solar water heaters are cost-effective, especially in large households, with the energy savings generated equating to an over 8 percent after-tax real rate of return. There aren't too many investments these days giving dividends like that.
  
  

Reduce your taxes. Take advantage of Arizona state income tax credits (25 % of the cost up to $1,000) and exemption from state sales tax.  As of January 1, 2006 there is a Federal income tax credit of 30% for solar hot water and electricity up to a maximum of $2,000 for residential installations and with no cap for commercial installations.  

Enjoy your pool more.  Well engineered and installed solar pool heating systems can extend your families swimming season up to 8 or 9 months of the year if you don’t currently have a pool heater.  If you do have a gas or electric pool heater the savings from using a solar heater can be hundreds to thousands of dollars per year.  Of all the options available to heat your pool, solar energy offers the best value, dollar for dollar than any other method available. In fact solar pool heating is so effective that it is the largest uses of solar energy in the world.

Be happy.  Surveys taken of solar water heating systems over the last 10 years show that 94% consider their solar heating systems a wise investment.

It’s great for our community,

Solar energy is largely pollution free.  Some will argue, correctly so, that the manufacturing of solar systems creates some pollution but there is no question the net effect is a positive for the environment.  As an example, by using sun power to heat water - instead of gas or electricity - a family will keep an average of 1,200 to 2,900 pounds of pollution from entering our atmosphere each year.

Use of solar energy creates quality local jobs by expanding the local solar industry.

And it’s great for our country…”

Increased use of solar reduces our dependence on imported oil.  Anything that reduces our crude oil imports – particularly from the Middle East – has much further reaching benefits to our country than just improving our balance of trade.  After the oil embargo of the early 1970’s the Federal government started numerous initiatives to reduce our oil imports, which were about 40% of our usage at that time.  We now import over 50% of our oil…

Uncle Sam Wants You...  In 1997 the Federal Government initiated the “Million Solar Roofs” (MSR) program. The goal of the program is to have a million solar systems installed in the USA by 2010.  Arizona’s target as part of the MSR Initiative is to install 100,000 solar systems by the year 2010 and to date somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 solar systems have been installed.  So clearly we have a ways to go but there has never been a better time to do your part!

Sources:

- Arizona Solar Energy Association

- Arizona Solar Center

- Arizona Dept. of Commerce Energy Office

- U.S. Dept. of Energy including their Solar Collector Activity Report

- Florida Solar Weatherization Assistance Program

- USA TODAY Weather Almanac