1. What is solar thermal?
2. How does it work?
3. What are the benefits?
4. How much does it cost?
5. Where can I find installers?
6. What incentives are available?

1. What is solar thermal?
Solar thermal systems use the sun’s light to directly heat water and/or space for homes and businesses. There are several solar-thermal system configurations which employ the sun’s energy to heat water; the most appropriate for Utah’s climate, where freezing temperatures are common, is a closed-loop, active, solar hot water system.

More information on solar thermal:

• Utah State Energy Program
• US Dept. of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program
• Solar Hot Water (PDF)
• A Consumer Guide: Heat Your Water With the Sun (PDF)

2. How does it work?
Solar water heaters use the sun to heat either water or a heat-transfer fluid (such as food-grade propylene glycol, a non-toxic substance) in the collector. The two types of collectors are:

• flat plate collectors consist of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a black or selective coating is applied) backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing and placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover.
• evacuated tube collectors consist of a series of modular tubes, mounted in parallel, each of which contains an absorber tube. Sunlight passing through an outer glass tube heats the absorber tube contained within it. The absorber can either consist of copper or specially-coated glass tubing.
  Heated fluid from the tubes are transferred from the collector to the solar storage tank into a heat exchanger, where heat energy is transferred from the fluid to potable water. Heated water is then held in the storage tank ready for use, with a conventional natural gas or electric system providing additional heating as necessary. A closed-loop solar thermal systems circulates the liquid through a self-enclosed system.

3. What are the benefits?
Solar water heating systems usually have higher initial costs to purchase and install than conventional water heating systems. However, a solar water heater can usually save you money in the long run. On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50%–80%. Also, because the sun is free, you're protected from future fuel shortages and price hikes. If you're building a new home or refinancing, installing solar water is even more cost-effective.

Overall, the benefits of the system relate to:

• The amount of hot water you use
• Your system's performance
• Your location and solar resource
• Available financing and incentives
• The cost of conventional fuels (natural gas, oil, and electricity)
• The cost of the fuel you use for your backup water heating system, if you have one.
• Offsetting the need to use traditional, carbon-emitting sources
• Noiseless and pollution-free energy generated on-site

Related Information:

• Estimating a Solar Water Heater System's Cost
• Energy-Efficient Water Heating

4. How much does it cost?
The following table provides an estimate of installed costs, before and after incentives. Consult an installer to get estimates for your system.

Adding a solar water heater to a new 30-year mortgage usually amounts to between $13 and $20 per month. The federal income tax deduction for mortgage interest attributable to the solar system reduces that by about $3–$5 per month. So, if your fuel savings are more than $15 per month, the solar investment is profitable immediately.

5. Where can I find installers?
Contact a few solar dealers and installers in your area to explore options and get an idea of costs. Below are several websites that provide updated lists of solar installers across the state:

• List of Utah Solar Dealers & Installers
• Find Solar
• ReDirect Guide, Salt Lake City
• Utah Solar Energy Association
• North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Certified Installer Locator
• Verify a License with the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing

6. What incentives are available?
A list of available state and federal incentives can be found at:

• Utah State Energy Program
• Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Efficiency
• Download an application for Questar’s rebate program here

Or, visit our How To section for information on incentives by application, resource and technology.

¹ Assumes all available incentives in Utah, including state tax credit, federal tax credit, and utility incentives. See Solar Incentives for complete details.

² A two-collector system Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) rated at 32,000 BTUs/day/Collector = 64,000 BTUs per day; 64,000 BTUs per day divided by 3412 (BTUs per kilowatt) – 18.76 kWh/day.