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Roof-mounted solar water heaters were very common in South India too. Our childhood home had two solar panels heating a tank of water. Worked very well in summe
by puzzledobserver 3y ago
Roof-mounted solar water heaters were very common in South India too. Our childhood home had two solar panels heating a tank of water. Worked very well in summer, and there was a backup electric heater for the winter months. We also got some rebate from the electricity supplier, if I remember correctly.
The entire system was quite simple, and hasn't needed any maintenance in close to 20 years, I think?
What are the benefits of solar electric panels compared to water heating panels?
- pfdietz 3y agoNo moving parts, nothing to leak, and a joule of electricity is more valuable than a joule of low grade heat. It's my understanding that if you want solar hot water these days you just get PV and a heat pump water heater. Sure, the heat pump has moving parts, but it's not on the roof.
- Scoundreller 3y agoAnd in a hot climate, the heat pump water heater provides a little cooling (when you dump the hot water outside).