Solar Hot Water Systems
Okay, so what are our options when it comes to solar hot water?
Which companies provide it; how much does it cost to install; and how efficient is it?
In Australia
We are lucky to have a rebates scheme in place. This table of figures (sourced from the Solahart website) outlines the rebates.
The table below outlines the Financial incentives and rebates  that are available for a typical household who replaces their electric storage water heater with the most suitable Solahart electric boosted model in that state.
| NSW | QLD | SA | VIC | WA | TAS | NT | ACT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Unit | 302L | 302L | 302L | 302Kf | 302L | 302Kf | 302L | 302KF |
| RECs Value* | $1380 | $1380 | $1380 | $1196 | $1380 | $1196 | $1380 | $1472 |
| Federal Rebate^ | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 |
| State Rebate^ | $800 | $700 | ||||||
| Total rebates | $3180 | $2380 | $3080 | $2196 | $2380 | $2196 | $2380 | $2472 |
| Installed cost+ | $1550 | $2350 | $1650 | $3370 | $2350 | $3400 | $2350 | $3100 |
* RECs Value as at 27th May 2008Â ^ Federal and State rebates subject to eligibility conditions
+ Installed cost based on model RRP plus standard installation cost less the total of maximum available rebates for each model and state. Installation costs can vary depending on your situation. All costs and rebates are correct as at 27th May 2008 but are subject to variation.
By the way, a RECs is a Renewable Energy Certificate.
So, if you’re buying from Solahart, this is a pretty handy piece of information! And if you aren’t, it’s still a handy piece of information, because it tells you the rebate you can get with other products also.
These guys are pretty new - having only been around for a few years. They offer both solar hot water systems and solar power.
To actually find a price for you, they require that you complete a quote. However, on their main website page, they claim that you can get a hot water system from them “from 999.99 after rebates” (accessed July 11, 2008).
