Environment California
Research & Policy Center released a report today on solar water heating
technologies along with a coalition of policy makers, environmental groups and
businesses. The report calls for an expansion of California’s solar power market to include
solar water heating, a rooftop technology that captures sunlight to reduce
fossil fuel use in homes and businesses.
Environment California
Research & Policy Center’s new report, “Solar Water Heating: How
California Can Reduce Its Dependence on Natural Gas,” summarizes the
current state of solar water heating technologies and outlines the significant
benefits of growing a more robust market for these systems.
“California
needs more solar power if we are going to solve global warming and kick our
addiction to fossil fuels,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate
for Environment California. “Solar water heating is an age-old technology that
belongs on the roofs of the 21st Century.”
Some of the benefits highlighted in Environment California
Research & Policy Center’s report include:
- Greater Energy Independence:
California
imports 85 percent of its natural gas. An expanded solar water heating market
could save 1.2 billion therms of natural gas each year, the equivalent of 5
percent of statewide gas consumption.
- A Healthier Environment: Solar water heating could reduce global warming
pollution by 6.8 million tons of CO2 per year. This is equivalent to
the annual emissions from over one million cars, and represents 5 percent of
the total reductions needed to meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions cap by
2020.
- Reduced Energy Bills: Consumers can cut their energy
bills by up to 50 percent by investing in solar water heating technology. Decreased demand for natural gas saves all ratepayers
money: some studies have shown that a 5 percent reduction in demand could shave
25 to 35 percent off California’s
wholesale natural gas prices.
Policy makers joined Environment California in calling for
more solar power. “Solar power represents a significant energy resource for California,” said
Assemblymember Jared Huffman (Marin). “California
should continue to seek greater energy independence, fight global warming, and save
homeowners and businesses money by encouraging a mainstream market for solar
power, including solar water heating.”
Businesses in California
set up to service and supply a growing market for solar water heating joined in
coalition. Members of the California Solar Energy Industry Association
(CALSEIA) spoke of the potential for significant job growth in California from
increased manufacturing and installation of solar rooftop systems.
“For decades we’ve manufactured solar water heating systems
within the state for practically every market outside California,” said Freeman
Ford, president and founder of FAFCO, a large solar water heating manufacturer
based in Chico which exports systems to other
states such as Hawaii and countries such as
many in Europe. “Due to a lack of government
support, California
has fallen behind in utilizing solar power.”
Meanwhile, a new piece of legislation is moving through the
state Legislature. AB 1470 is seen as a companion to SB 1 (Murray) signed into
law last year, the Million Solar Roofs bill that created incentives for solar
electric panels funded through a small surcharge on electricity bills. AB 1470
would similarly create consumer incentives for solar water heating systems
through a small surcharge on natural gas bills. The roof of a typical home or
business could physically support both a solar electric system and a solar
water heating system, thus saving on both electricity and natural gas bills.
