Ask Focus on Energy

Try a solar water heating system!

If your heater is electric, you may be able to use solar electric panels to power your hot tub heater. Another great option is using a solar water heating system. Hot tubs need water temperatures of 99-104 degrees Fahrenheit, and a solar water heating system can really help! Consider a year-round system that first targets the domestic hot water load in the house (120 degrees Fahrenheit for basic household needs such as laundry, bathing, dishwashing and cooking) and then sends remaining heat off to the hot tub (or your less glamorous , but also hot water-needy, boiler or furnace).

Focus on Energy can offer a financial incentive for the energy you save on your domestic hot water bill from this type of system (but not for other residential pool, hot tub, or space heating systems). Please visit focusonenergy.com/incentives for the latest incentives and requirements, as Focus offers are subject to change.

You can also receive a federal tax credit. To learn the details regarding federal tax credits, I would suggest visiting the ENERGY STAR (R) Web site or the Tax Incentives Assistant Project Web site. These Web sites have information that consumers and businesses need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies.

Even without Focus incentives or federal tax incentives, a solar water heating system will cut your hot tub heating costs and help you enjoy your spa even more.

If you know you have enough solar access for three to five panels and have a pipe run in mind, get started by collecting at least three bids from our full service installers . If you're not sure if you have an optimal site, or if you want to know more about what you need and how much it will cost from an unbiased party, you should hire a site assessor to provide an analysis of your site. Focus will help with 50% of the cost to obtain your site assessment.
 

Published Wednesday, October 28, 2009