Plenty of incentives to switch to solar heating

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Grace Kuo of Makiki said that when her family decided to install a solar water heater, the decision was a practical one; the Kuo family includes three teenagers.

In addition to lower electric bills and a $750 incentive rebate from the electric company, the Kuos got another pleasant surprise.

Their solar water heater was the 20,000th installed in the state. To celebrate, Hawaiian Electric Company gave the family a check for $500.

"This milestone highlights a 6-year program which has put Hawai'i out in front as the nation's leader in per capita use of solar energy," said Karl Stahlkopf, HECO's senior vice president for energy solutions and chief technology officer. "Hawai'i has benefited significantly."

Customers save money, and the state saves an estimated 1.35 million barrels of imported oil, enough to power Honolulu for two months, he said.

Heated water represents the largest part of the electrical bill for most Hawai'i residents with conventional water heaters. A properly designed and installed solar water heater can reduce the cost of heating water by 90 percent for the average family.

Tax credits are also offered under some circumstances to those who install solar heaters, and low interest loans are available to landlords or owners who install solar heaters in units occupied by low income families.

More information is available by calling 523-4207 or by visiting the electric company Web site at heco.com.