Hawaii Requires Solar Water Heaters for New Homes

[trof]

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle says the state has moved closer to energy independence by requiring solar water heaters in all new home construction. Lingle signed the new requirement into law Friday, putting it into effect starting in 2010 and praising it as the first of its type in the United States. She said the measure represents an important commitment to the state's environment, while critics contended it will drive up home prices and eliminates an existing tax credit incentive.

The measure, called Act 204, was lauded by some environmentalists who said it was an important move to reduce Hawaii's use of fossil fuels, predicting it would significantly cut electricity costs for new homes. Homebuilders, however, were against the measure, contending would add to the already-high costs of buying a home in Hawaii.
http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=57499

[opihimoimoi]

1. A tiny step...we need more steps.....how bout Stability....?

[losthills]

2. Evert state in the union should require them,

and should have started doning so thirty years ago...

[Peregrine]

3. Solar water heaters are not feasible everywhere but

Tankless water heaters are. Now these should be required in all new construction and when water heaters are replaced.

I think in places like Florida, building codes should require solar energy providing 50% of the energy requirement for new construction.

[jpak]

6. Solar hot water heaters are feasible everywhere in the US

In Maine they provide 100% of hot water demand in the summer and 60-80% in the December...

[izquierdista]

5. Ninety years ago

Solar water heaters were the most common type. It was not until the 1930's that natural gas and electric water heaters began to be more reliable than the solar rooftop design. And in the big housing boom after the war, solar was thought to be old-fashioned, so houses were built with gas and electric so that you could have unlimited hot water any time of the day.

Sometimes to make progress, you have to look back to the past.

[midnight]

4. Every little bit helps.

[ladjf]

7. An excellent first step. We don't need to follow the advice of the

home builders on this issue.