If you live in Maryland and have completed any research on solar PV (photovoltaic) for home you probably know it can be pricey. 
Now, I am a huge fan of solar PV and truly believe if you are able to make the investment you will not be disappointed but, solar thermal systems or solar water heaters will get you the most bang for your buck. If you just can’t bring yourself to make the larger investment in a solar PV system to produce electricity for your home it is definitely worth considering a solar thermal system.
Your existing water heater is likely the least efficient use of energy in your home. Solar water heaters are incredibly efficient and do an amazing job of offsetting this poor use of energy. Even if you install a complete solar PV system it is wise to install solar thermal collectors for the water heating portion of your energy usage. Solar water heaters are so efficient that is does not make sense to heat your water with electricity generated by a solar PV system.
So, if you are considering a complete solar PV system, but are concerned about the cost you really should look into starting with a solar water heater/solar thermal system. You will get the most bang for your buck and it will compliment a future solar PV installation.
If you live in Maryland and have completed any research on solar PV (photovoltaic) for home you probably know it can be pricey. I am a huge fan of solar PV and truly believe if you are able to make the investment you will not be disappointed but, solar thermal systems or solar water heaters 
One of the most common questions I here is, “What is the payback period for a solar water heater?” While I do have accurate figures from numerous case studies, it is important to realize solar panel payback can be a rather complicated calculation and each home must be analyzed individually. Whether you are installing solar PV panels or solar thermal for water heating the payback periods will depend on your specific scenario. That being said, one could over simplify the whole solar panel payback period topic by shedding light on the fact that it actually has a payback period while fossil fuel based alternatives do not. So, whether your solar panel payback period is 3 years or 7 years…at least you have a payback.
