Articles Tagged with: Solar Hot Water

If you’ve ever stood under a hot shower thinking, “I wonder if this is costing me more than my last weekend away,” there’s a good chance your water heating system is guilty as charged. Traditional electric hot water heaters are basically kettles on steroids, chewing through power to keep water hot even while you’re off at work or the beach. Imagine the amount of energy being consumed by these systems globally when it’s totally unnecessary to keep the water hot just in case someone might turn the tap on.

Thinking of giving your home an energy upgrade? You’re not alone. More and more Aussies are ditching gas and switching to all-electric homes – a move that’s not just good for your wallet, but also a win for the planet.

Solar Victoria continues to strengthen consumer protections through its Solar Homes Program, focusing on ensuring that households opting for energy-efficient hot water systems receive high-quality products and services. As demand for heat pump hot water systems surges across the state, the organisation is taking decisive steps to uphold stringent industry standards for both retailers and installers, safeguarding consumers while promoting sustainable energy solutions.

If Australian households switched their hot water heaters to run off daytime solar power, it could lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions and lower energy bills, while maximising the benefits of cheap, abundant solar energy. Hot water heating is responsible for 15-30% of a home’s total energy consumption, second only to heating and cooling systems. A large proportion of Australian households use electric water heaters with storage tanks, which act like thermal batteries, storing more energy than many home battery systems. Traditionally, these heaters have operated during off-peak hours overnight, but shifting them to run during the day could help soak up excess solar energy, reducing waste and better matching supply and demand.

Victorians are tapping into a brighter, more sustainable future with record demand for the government's Solar Homes Hot Water Rebate, making solar hot water systems more accessible than ever. Energy and Resources Minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, recently announced the expansion of this popular program by adding 8,000 new rebates to the pool, a response to the overwhelming interest shown by the public.