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Hi,

I have a few questions before I can give you an answer. Can you get natural gas to your home? How about Propane? This may be a solution, have you looked into a tankless water heater, they use far less fuel( electricity) than a normal heater. They are on demand, so it only comes on when you need the water. I think there are several companies in NC that deal with alternative energy. I'm sure if you do some research you will find something that will fit in your budget and situation.
Hope you find something that will help, keep us posted.

Hank

Windmill - about $8,000 to install, batteries and the like?

We have propane, (fireplace and kitchen stove), perhaps this is the answer. Will do some research. I s the tankless water heater expensive?

Here a tankless water heater runs about $1000 to $1200 to buy. But then you need electrical and gas lines. So about another 750 to $1000 in installation. And you still have a utility connection.

One of the heating systems used here is an underground heat exchange thing. Lines are run out to the backyard or other property. Heat is exchanged between the ground and ambient air -usually in a basement or garage. Hot air or cold air is then blow into the house.

Not sure if such a system can be used for hot water heating.

Do you have a garage or out building for a solar water heating systems. I have seen pools heated using a stand along solar panel array. We are even seeing such systems used out here to power highway lights.

John, Your last paragraph gave us an idea. I've seen those pool heated solar systems and the highway lights. I will pursue this a little more. It's a simple way to solve our problem. If you come across a site please post it. I'll google for a while and see how they heat those pools with solar panels.

Hi
I got this article from Mother Earth News on line, thought you might find it interesting. I don't know if the whole article copied, but I'm sure you can get it on line.

Hank

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Go Solar for Free Hot Water
Solar water heaters are the easiest entry into renewable energy.
February/March 2007 By Bob Ramlow

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The author's Wisconsin straw bale home incorporates both a solar water-heating system (upper roof) and a photovoltaic solar-electric system.
JOHN IVANKO
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How would you like to have free hot water for the next 40 years? That should sound pretty good — about 15 percent to 20 percent of a typical household’s energy outlay goes to make sure the “H” tap means what it says. If energy prices increase by 6 percent annually, the average family would save thousands of dollars over the coming decades by installing a solar water-heating system that supplies just 65 percent of their hot water.

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I mean “free” literally. Yes, you’ll spend money up front to install the heating system, but your home equity will increase instantly, often enough to offset the cost of installation. You’ll also pay reduced utility bills — saving more money every time rates rise. Within a few years, you’ll recover the initial expense. Experts agree, a solar water heater is far and away the easiest initial investment in renewable energy. Perhaps best of all, you’ll enjoy hot baths or showers with the satisfaction of knowing the energy comes directly from the sun.

A Good Deal, Getting Better
Solar water heaters vary in their details, but they all do the same basic things: gather heat in a solar collector; transfer the heat, directly or indirectly, to the water supply; and store the heated water until it’s used. They use relatively simple, time-tested technology, which is one reason they are a best bet in renewable energy.

It’s important to understand that solar water-heating systems have very low — sometimes zero — operating costs, and maintenance amounts to only about $2 per month. Say you might spend $7,000 to install a solar water heater, when you could install a conventional gas or electric heater for considerably less. But it’s so much less expensive to operate the solar heater that, at some point, you’ll make up the initial difference. When all costs for purchase, installation, maintenance and operation are taken into account, a solar water heater usually equals an electric heater after just eight and a half years, and equals a gas heater in just less than 15 years. From then on, through the expected 40-year life of the solar system, you’ve got free hot water (see “Gas vs. Solar: Compare Costs,” in the Image Gallery).

Consider the positive environmental benefits of a solar water heater, and the deal just gets better. A typical residential solar water heater will offset greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. That’s equal to the amount of CO2 released by an average vehicle every 1,685 miles (based on 19.6 pounds of CO2 per gallon at 22 mpg).

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THat's exactly what we're looking for. Will pursue further and keep you posted. Thanks so much. Penny

I'm listening, I'm listening . . . . but I'm afraid I'd be dead before a system like that could pay for itself . . Now, if I could just prolong life . . . .uh . . . er . .

I know what you're saying, Meeker. We may not live long enough to see the system pay for itself. But knowing that I'm not paying into the coffers of Duke Power delights me. They are destroying our environment with their coal power plants, destroying Kentucky and West Virginia with their mountain top removal. My husband is a pretty good engineer. I bet he could build a solar powered hot water heater for less than quoted in this article. By the way our congressmen and women from the embattled states get money from Duke energy to allow them to continue their filthy business. North Carolina just voted down windmill energy....Duke was behind that one too.

Lafingpenny,what you say takes me back to 1945 when I was stationed at Fort Knox. . . It was amazing when in Louisville to see the otherwise beautiful downtown buildings black with coal smoke. . . in fact the smell was constant there as well as at Fort Knox. . . . . I think it'd be wonderful to put Duke out of business. . . More power to you!!