We heated our water and our home using solar-thermal water systems in our first house, many years ago. It was quite efficient. The installation, including heating ducts, was all done by contractors and went relatively smoothly.

On photovoltaics, in San Diego you can supply all th eelectricity for an average family with about 1800 square feet of panels. The local energy company will supply you if you request with a modern meter that measures time-of-use, not just total kWH. They will then credit you with credit up to the amount of your bill for any surplus your meter shows flowed back into the grid from your system. You can end up being energy-neutral as to cost, or very nearly so, depending on how many panels you mount. You can mount them on the roof in a frame, or on poles, or in empty acreage in a frame or on poles. They ideally need to face south (in the Northern hemisphere). BUT a whole-house system can cost you 20,000 US. No small change, that. Some federal credits may also apply. Look to spend 8 to 10 years to pay it all back in saved electrical bills UNLESS rates rise significantly which is perfectly possible with oil costs accelerating.

If they do, your pay-back period goes down accordingly as your monthly savings goes up.

Plus you get the satisfaction of knowing you are off the grid and not burning oil to heat with.

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