Great Lakes Solar & Wind Energies

Water Heating Spreadsheet

Water heating is a major energy consumer. Although the energy consumed daily is often less than for Air Conditioning or Heating, it is required year round, making it a good application of solar energy.

Use this spreadsheet to explore the energy usage of your water heater, and to estimate whether a solar water heater could save you money.

Water Heater Characteristics
Physical Thermal
Diameter (feet) Water Inlet Temperature (Degrees F)
Capacity (gallons) Ambient Temperature (Degrees F)
Surface Area (calculated - sq ft) Hot Water Temperature (Degrees F)
Effective R-value Hot Water Usage (Gallons per Day)
Energy Use
  Heat Delivered in Hot Water (BTUH)
  Heat loss through insulation (BTUH)
Gas   Electric
Overall Efficiency
Conversion Efficiency 0.98
BTUH Power Into Water Heater BTUH
Cost
$/Therm Utility Rates $/KwH
$ Yearly Water Heating Cost $
Solar?
Solar Water Heater Cost: $ Percentage Solar:
years Payback Time for Solar System years

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Calculators courtesy of Chuck Wright at Chuck Wright Consulting, LLC     Visit him at  http://cwc-das.com