Solar Water Heaters Will Make You Rich!
By Rich MacMath
According to City of Austin Amendments to Section 504 of the 2000 International EnergyConservation Code (IECC), "the primary source of hot water may not be electric resistance. An electric resistance system is permitted if piped in series with the primary system." One acceptable primary system is a solar water heating system, sometimes referred to as a solar thermal system. (Others are a heat pump water heater or a heat recovery unit.)
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Roof-top solar collectors
used to heat water. |
The time has never been better to consider the solar option. During the 15 year lifetime of a conventional electric storage tank water heater, a solar water heating system could save thousands of dollars in electric costs; however, the initial cost of a solar thermal system has always been much higher. The installed cost of a typical household system can be between $3,000-$4,000. Now, two incentives make solar water heating in Austin more cost effective - a federal tax credit and a new rebate from Austin Energy.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) provides new tax incentives for a number of solar and energy efficiency measures. Among them are tax credits to individuals for residential solar water heating systems. The allowable tax credit is 30% of the qualified solar system expenditures up to a maximum tax credit limitation of $2,000.
To be eligible for the solar hot water system tax credit, the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) must certify the system and half of the energy used by the system must be derived from the sun. The incentives apply to solar equipment placed in service during 2006-2007.
The Austin Energy rebate is $0.25 for every kWh of annual electric water heater energy savings as estimated by the SRCC for Austin's climate and latitude. For example, if the predicted energy savings for Austin are 2,400 kWh per year, then the rebate will be $600. The rebate applies to solar equipment placed in service after January 1, 2006.
For more information about different types of solar water heating systems and how they operate consult the Sustainable Building Sourcebook.
(Building Code Basics is on hiatus until GBP hires someone to fill our code specialist position.)
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