print this article | 
e-mail this article | 
comment Solar Water Heating Required in New Homes in Hawaii
Despite the highest electric rates in the U.S., abundant sunlight, and a frost-free climate that allows the use of relatively simple open-loop designs, only about a quarter of all houses in Hawaii currently heat water with the sun. But legislation passed in June 2008 will require that most new one-family houses be equipped with solar water heaters, starting in 2010. The law cites Hawaii’s overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels and the impact on the state’s economy of rising petroleum prices as reasons for the requirement. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission will be tasked with formulating specifications for acceptable installations.
Based on what you have seen and read about this project, how would you grade it? Use the stars below to indicate your assessment, five stars being the highest rating.
The law will rescind the current state tax credit worth 35% of the cost of a new solar heating system, starting on December 31, 2009. Utility rebates of $1,000 now available will also disappear for houses permitted after that date. The Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA) estimates the cost of a solar water heater installation at $6,000; without state and utility incentives, the portion paid by the user will increase by $2,450, and if the federal tax credit, set to end in 2008, is not renewed, it would increase by another $1,800.
The Hawaii Association of Realtors, the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, and the state’s gas utility opposed the law. Surprisingly, so did HSEA, which described the law as “grossly flawed,” although it supported the Legislature’s stated goals. HSEA’s Rick Reed argued that the bill was not needed, noting that Hawaii has “the most robust and successful solar water heating market in the country.” According to Reed, in 2007, about 5,500 new solar hot water systems were installed, accounting for almost half of the new residential systems in the U.S.
In a letter to Governor Linda Lingle, HSEA argued that the bill includes too many loopholes. Exemptions from the law’s requirement are to be granted if any of four conditions are met: the “solar resource” is poor; a cost-benefit analysis finds the system won’t pay for itself over 15 years; wind or photovoltaics are used for primary water heating; or a gas-fired, tankless water heater and at least one other gas appliance are installed in the house. The law allows any architect or engineer, even if in the employ of the builder, to certify that a dwelling meets the variance conditions. HSEA also criticized the bill for failing to guarantee that current quality standards for solar heating systems are maintained.
Hawaii is the first state in the U.S. to mandate installation of solar hot water heaters. Israel has mandated solar heating systems since 1980; today about 90% of buildings there have them. Also, Spain requires new and renovated buildings to obtain 30%–70% of their hot water needs through solar means.
This article was produced by BuildingGreen, LLC.- www.buildinggreen.com
