Funding to boost solar uptake

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has a website that claims to make choosing solar water heating easier by providing independent information and tailored finance schemes.

The website (www.energywise.govt.nz/solar) provides technical information, system performance models, case studies and an online calculator to assist users and building professionals with important decision-making around solar water heating technologies. Also available is information on packaged systems, industry-accredited suppliers and approved installers, and EECA’s solar finance scheme criteria.

The finance schemes provide added incentive to choose solar water heating by offering funding to assist with feasibility studies and installations. The schemes are: Grants and Loans for Homeowners, Grants for Volume Builders and Grants for Publicly-Owned Buildings. In addition, an Innovation Fund to encourage smart innovations that will increase the uptake of solar water heating and heat pump water heating technologies, and lead to developments in the sector, has been launched.

Solar water heating can help many New Zealand families and businesses reduce their power bills and their impact on the environment, while also futureproofing homes and buildings. Generally, it is most cost effective to plan to install solar water heating onto new buildings at the design and construction stages.

“EECA’s aim is to help make the decision-making processes around taking up solar as straightforward as possible for both residential and business consumers, as well as for the building and design sectors,” explains Mike Underhill, EECA chief executive.

The funding schemes are part of the government’s $15.5 million investment in solar water heating programs, and are aligned to its approach of promoting sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy and encouraging New Zealanders to take responsibility for their energy consumption.