Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Solar water heating a smart choice for NZ homes

Solar water heating a smart choice for NZ homes

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson is calling for more New Zealanders to install solar water heating and says there are government grants available now to help with the purchase of solar systems.

In the 2003/04 Budget the Government committed $200,000 to EnergyWise Solar Water Heating Grants. By 30 June, the grants will have helped put more than 400 solar water heaters on New Zealand homes - a 20 percent increase on what would otherwise have been installed.

Mr Hodgson said water heating is responsible for between 30 and 45 percent of a household's energy bill, which means there is significant potential for households to save power and money. "Solar is a renewable form of energy, producing no greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the need for electricity generated with fossil fuels such as coal and gas.

"Every year around 70,000 new water heating systems are installed in New Zealand's 1.3 million homes but only 2,000 of those are solar. Reaching the solar industry's medium-term target of 10,000 solar water heating installations a year would be a huge increase on current sales and a valuable contribution towards our national renewable energy target."

In addition to the grants, the Government, through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), is working with the Solar Industries Association to get industry training in place, improve the quality of installations, establish a testing regime for solar systems and market the benefits of solar water heating.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The $450 grant is available to people who take out a loan to purchase a solar water heater from participating Solar Industries Association suppliers. A limited number of grants are available.

For further information on solar water heating, EnergyWise Solar Water Heating Grants or for a list of accredited suppliers, visit www.eeca.govt.nz and www.solarsmarter.org.nz or phone 0800 SMARTER.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.