Central
Otago could become one of the country's first "solar centres"
through a Central Otago District Council (CODC) scheme that
could see ratepayers able to pay off solar hot-water systems
through their CODC rates.
"It can be done; it's being done elsewhere in the country and
we're looking at it seriously," Central Otago District Mayor
Malcolm Macpherson said.
Nelson City Council this week introduced the first scheme of
its kind in New Zealand, where homeowners can get a loan to
cover the cost of installing a solar hot-water system and
take 10 years to pay it off as part of their rates bill.
Dr Macpherson said the details of any Central Otago scheme
would be similar, where the CODC would "act as a bank" and
pay the costs of installing the solar hot-water systems,
which homeowners would pay back over a period of time.
An Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)
subsidy would probably also be available as part of the
scheme, he said.
Dr Macpherson said he had been "talking to Nelson" about its
new scheme, and already had meetings in Alexandra with
several private providers who were involved in installing the
solar hot-water systems.
Solar energy had become much more affordable and reliable and
it was an ideal time to investigate a scheme for Central
Otago, Dr Macpherson said.
"It's ideal for Central Otago. I think it should be a
no-brainer for us."
He expected the CODC would decide "reasonably quickly"
whether to adopt a scheme.
"In the next 12 months we'll know whether there will be
something going or not."
Dr Macpherson said savings for homeowners in Central Otago
with solar hot-water systems could be substantial - for most
of the three-month summer season homeowners would spend no
money at all on hot-water heating, and for another five
months they could expect to pay "hardly anything".
Electric heating of water would "kick in" during periods when
there was not much sun.
- Pam Jones
Solar Hot Water Systems
• At present, solar water heaters (including the cylinder)
typically cost between $4000 and $8000 to get installed.
• It is estimated that, for an average household, an
effective system will: provide between 50 to 75 per cent of
annual hot water needs; cut about 2200kWh from annual
electricity use; and provide savings of $350 to $450 a year.
Source: Consumer.org.nz
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.