Hawaii Solar Water Heater Bill
The Hawaii state legislature passed a bill on May 1 that would make Hawaii the first State in the nation to require solar water heaters as a standard feature on all new homes. The Solar Roofs Bill received unanimous support in the House and only two opposing votes in the Senate.
Earlier this year Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle announced a goal of at least 70 percent renewable energy use in Hawaii by the year 2030. “Achieving this goal is nearly impossible without widespread use of solar water heaters,” says Hawaii Sierra Club Director Jeff Mikulina “The solar roofs bill is smart policy, sensibly crafted to smooth a transition toward zero-energy homes of the future.”
Solar water heaters shave 30 to 40 percent off a home’s electricity bill and greatly reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions. Advocates say the policy comes none too soon, as Hawaii faces the priciest power in the nation and threats from climate change.
Hawaii ranks number one in the nation when it comes to using energy from the sun to heat water. It’s a great way to use the sun’s energy!
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