In Kenya, most households have a rule on the level of consumption of fuel or electricity to serve on needs. We tendto use electric kettles, heating coils, and hot shower settings when in need of showering. These methods affect our electricity bills and therefore a campaign for change is essential.There are many benefits that one can enjoy if the person uses a solar water heater and they include:
1. Cost-effective.
The goalof every individual is always to save money to serve other needs in the future. Solar water heating uses converted energy from the sun to complete the heating process. Therefore, this means that no cash will be spent on paying electrical bills as heating uses a lot of electricity.The use of solar heating panels means that a person will spend less to acquire energy.
2. It is efficient
A solar panel approximately converts 70 percent or more radiation from the sun. During the warm season, the temperature is always high independent of the area. This ensures that the solar cells save enough energy that will be used during other seasons and no use of external energy is required.
3. The installation process is cheap
When acquiring a solar water panel, most companies offering such services have an installation package that comes after purchase. Some offer free services while others the money is like a token of appreciation to them. Installing a solar heater is considered to be less costly compared to the installation of electricity. This is because it cost less and can be done before or after a person has settled in a house, unlike electricity which is expensive both ways.
4. Saves the environment from carbon emissions
Having a solar water installation in your building is one of the methods of combating greenhouse emissions and also reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. Kenyan homes that use the traditional wood fuel for heating purposes have increased the amount of carbon in the air. The dirty air causes the greenhouse effect on the ozone layer, therefore, endangering the rest of the country. To avoid all the above effects of fuels, the use of renewable energy is highly campaigned to save the environment by keeping it healthy.
5. Requires low maintenance
Just like any equipment, a solar water heater needs to be maintained to serve much longer. The use of any solar installation does not require a lot of maintenancecheckups as they do not need interference most of the time. To keep it functioning properly, simple cleaning has to be enforced. A solar water heater can be used for more than twenty years.
6. Use less space.
The use of solar thermal panels uses less space than normal photovoltaic panels. The amount of energy converted to produce heat does not need a lot of panels to be able to complete the process. This ensures that a small amount of space on the roof will be used.
The above benefits clearly show the efficiency of solar water heaters in homes. In manufacturing businesses that require the use of hot water, the use of solar water will be more cost-effective compared to the use of electricity.
