Energy | July 03, 2008 |
Hawaii's Water May Soon Be 100% Solar Heated
While some forecasts have viable solar energy projects drawing even on cost with dirtier fuel sources like coal by 2015, other people seem to think that’s something of a pipe dream. Either through lack of trust in the efficiency of the free market, or skepticism about the pace of the economy, they’ve decided additional measures must be taken.
For fans of these legislative solutions, the U.S. state of Hawaii may soon be a new trendsetter, surpassing even the historically greener European Union. A bill currently before the Hawaiian state legislature would deny construction permits to any new homes that did not include plans for a solar water heater. Though some local European communities have enacted similar or more stringent requirements, Hawaii’s legislation would be the first of its kind on such a large scale.
While I’d rather see the market tweaked to favor green energy sources, instead of having governments force people to be green, Hawaii’s abundant sun and warm weather will make this bill easy for even the most fervent Libertarian to swallow, while setting an important precedent for the rest of the world.
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Comments By Readers
We are really happy about this law. Hawaii is so dependent on oil, even though we have wind, sun, tides and geothermal. Puna has been a lot more progressive this way with it's geothermal venture (which produces 25% of the energy of the Big Island) and tons of people who prefer green and alternative lifestyles. Many people live off grid, using rainwater catchment and septic systems.
What this will do is to encourage companies producing components for solar water heating to come up with mass production techniques to get the cost down to service all of the new homes in the state.
This in turn will make those techniques usable to increase the mass production for the main-land where solar water heating may actually become financially viable for the average home builder and, more importantly, the average home owner who is renovating his / her home.
Dan
DailyHomeRenoTips.com
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