Around 20% of home energy use goes towards heating water. Reduce energy use by switching to solar water heating. Not only will you lower your carbon footprint and save money, but grants and no-interest loans are also available to make your home eco-friendlier.
The system raises water temperature by absorbing sunlight and converting almost 80% of the radiation into heat energy. Water is passed through a collector placed on the roof and circulated with a pump, and then stored in a tank (80-gallon capacity is recommended for a household of up to four people).
Choose the right system with copper, brass, stainless steel and plastic or rubber components. Storage tanks lined with glass or plastic to resist corrosion are also recommended.
As Malta has ‘hard’ water high in suspended minerals which cause a build-up of calcium deposits, a water softener is also a good investment.
Correctly installed and with a little maintenance, a solar water heater can run for up to 20 years.
