Solar Thermal & Pool Heating Systems in Florida

Solar thermal and pool heating systems are a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. As the original solar battery, solar water heating is not only a smart investment, it's the truest form of energy security and sustainability. When deciding between heat pumps and solar water heaters in Florida, it is important to consider several factors. While heat pumps can be effective in certain situations, solar collectors are the more reliable and efficient choice. This is because solar energy is abundant in Florida, making it a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. Additionally, solar water heaters require little maintenance and have a long lifespan. Heat pumps, on the other hand, are expensive to install/replace and maintain, and their efficiency is dependent on air temperatures. Overall, if you are looking for a reliable and efficient option for your Florida home, solar water heaters are the way to go.

For Florida homeowners, solar water heating offers numerous benefits:

• Cost Savings: By harnessing solar energy, you can significantly reduce your electricity or gas bills. Solar water heating systems can reduce water heating costs by up to 80%.
• Environmental Impact: Solar water heating systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment.
• Energy Security: Solar energy is a renewable and abundant resource, providing a reliable source of hot water and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Increased Property Value: Homes equipped with solar water heating systems can see an increase in property value due to the added energy efficiency and sustainability.

Florida offers various incentives to encourage the adoption of solar water heating systems:

• Property Tax Exemptions: Solar water heating systems are exempt from property tax assessments, reducing the financial burden on homeowners.
• Sales Tax Exemptions: Solar equipment, including water heating systems, is exempt from sales tax, making it more affordable.
• Utility Rebates: Various utility companies in Florida offer rebates for the installation of solar water heating systems. For a comprehensive list of available incentives, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE).

Solar water heating is an excellent investment for homeowners in Florida looking to reduce energy costs, enhance energy security, and contribute to environmental sustainability. With AET’s high-quality solutions, you can enjoy the benefits of solar energy and make a positive impact on the environment. Contact us today to learn more about how you can benefit from our solar thermal and pool heating systems.

Florida's summer heat can make a garage feel like a sauna, with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F. This is due to three factors that converge every hot afternoon. Firstly, garages are not considered a conditioned living space, so homebuilders are not required to install insulation in the walls or ceiling. Secondly, the sun's heat penetrates the exterior walls of the garage, while heat trapped in the attic radiates downward. Finally, many garages lack a ventilation system or even a window, making them feel more like hotboxes. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to lower the temperature, but one that we are hearing a lot of lately is installing a heat pump in your garage!

Heat pump water heaters are designed to take heat from the air and transfer it to the water. This process also cools and dehumidifies the air year round, which is similar to how an air conditioner works. However, its not  practical to rely on a heat pump water heater for impactful cooling purposes, as it is primarily designed for heating water. If conditioning of a garage is desired the better decision is to bank the additional saving a Solar Water heater provides over a heat pump water heater and insulate the garage while adding a small dehumidifying unit, this solution will provide impactful improvement to both household finances and the trek from your vehicle to the conditioned comfort of the home.

Project produces One Million BTUs Per Hour

One of the Navy's Aviation Survival Training Center in Jacksonville, FL has proven nearly twice as effective as originally estimated. The project was originally projected to save the Navy $90,750 per year and have a payback of roughly 11 years. Three years of monitoring has revealed that the project is producing a savings of $171,700 annually resulting in a payback of only six years. The project is an integrated solar thermal and natural gas system. The complete system consists of natural gas-fired unit heaters for space heating and solar thermal panels for pool and domestic hot water heating. There are six natural gas-fired unit heaters to heat the pool, one heater for the shop area, and one unit for the drying room. There are 168 four-by-ten flat plate collectors along with drain back tanks, heat exchangers, controllers, pumps, and pipes that interconnect the systems in the building. Water is pumped through the solar collectors to two large drain back tanks, one each for the pool and the domestic water system. A heat exchanger located in each tank transfers the solar energy to the water used in the pool and the domestic hot water system. The water from the heat exchanger is pumped back up to the solar thermal panels to start the process over again. On a cloudless day, the solar panels produce one million BTUs of energy per hour- enough to heat the center's 270,000-gallon pool by one degree every two hours.