Heating water with solar systems is in no way a new concept. While solar hot water systems in various forms date back hundreds and even thousands of years, the twentieth century introduced solar as a leader in the energy industry all over the world. Japan, for example, has used solar hot water systems since the end of World War II when obtaining oil was difficult. Although the price and importation of oil eventually stabilized around the world, today more than 10 million Japanese households use solar to heat their water.
In Israel, the majority of homes have used solar hot water systems since the 1960s. Even when oil became affordable for most of the world in the ‘80’s, Israel made the decision to commit the country to the solar model: all new homes are required to install solar hot water systems. Today, 9 out of 10 homes use solar for their hot water needs. Spain in 2005 followed in Israel’s footsteps and made the installation of solar hot water systems mandatory in all new homes.
By some estimates, 60% of the world’s solar thermal hot water capacity is in China. Most urban residents in China consider a solar hot water system a necessity; 30 million units are currently installed in the country, thanks to low equipment and installation costs and abundant solar resources. Combined with Europe, Japan and India, China dominates the global solar thermal market.
What promoted the above-mentioned countries to go solar? Many were driven to adopt solar hot water systems because more conventional systems (at least by American standards) were impractical or expensive due to limited access or affordability of oil as an energy source. This is the predicament that Maryland and the rest of the United States is currently experiencing.
As energy prices spike, so does mainstream interest in solar hot water systems. Fortunately, we have the benefit of years of proven research and success all over the world as we begin to explore the advantages of solar. Everyday, people are looking up for relief on the global energy crisis we are facing and finding solar to be a viable solution for any homeowner.
