Solar heating hot water is pretty basic. The best example, last summer when temperatures nearly reached 100 degrees, and felt like a blast furnace.

You picked up the garden hose and suddenly realized the water was pretty darn hot.

Well solar heating uses solar radiation to heat water in a solar panel for hot water for your home, swimming pools and spas.

The use of solar panels to heat water goes back more than 100 years. Who said there's nothing new under the Sun?

My intent is to give you answers to some very basic questions about using the Sun's free energy for solar hot water.

Can I use solar hot water where I live?

Absolutely, you are able to use solar energy regardless of where you live. That's not to say location, season of the year and climate don't impact the amount of solar hot water produced.

Expect to produce 50% to 80% of your hot water from the Sun. Places like Florida and Arizona have a lot more solar radiation than Alaska.

What do I have to do to get started with solar heating?

Start with energy conservation. Take a look at how you'reusing hot water today.

• Conserve water...get out of the shower sooner.
• Turn the hot water tank down to at least 120 degrees.
• Add a insulation blanket to your hot water heater.
• Insulate hot water pipes.

These are the most cost effective measures to reduce the amount of energy used to heat hot water. Even if you don't install solar hot water, plug the leaks...become an energy miser.

What about solar tax credit, solar incentives and rebates?

The U.S. Federal solar tax credits give you 30% of the cost of a solar water heater. Almost every State and local utility havea incentive program. Abundant tax credits and incentives save you money.

Using the solar calculator you can make a realistic estimate as to what a solar water heater costand the payback period. Eventually, the system pays for itself.

What about home improvement financing?

It's not very well known, but you can get an energy efficient mortgage or energy improvement mortgage from your local bank. You can leverage your energy savings from a new energy efficient home.

A solar heater increases your home buying power because of an increase in the value of the home and energy savings.

Couple this solar finance along with solar tax credit and other incentives you have the makings for a good deal.

What are the environmental benefits?

Even if you don't consider yourself an "environmentalist" you support a healthy and clean environment benefiting long term sustainable energy supply. Solar panels avoid greenhouse gases associated with coal and natural gas. Using solar heating can avoid 50 tons of carbon dioxide emission.

How much does a solar heater cost?

Like any equipment, the answer to the question depends on several factors:

• System size
• Manufacturer or retailer
• Instalation costs

The cost ranges from about $1,000 to $10,000. Use the solar calculator to get a good estimate for your situation.