Media Release from Solar Industries Association

Solar Industry Welcomes Green Party Policy on Solar Water Heating

“The solar water heating industry is well prepared and capable of implementing the Green Party solar energy policies if they were introduced. “ Mr Roy Netzer, Chairman of the Solar Industries Association said today. His comments were in response to the policies proposed by the Green Party to install half a million solar water panels.

Mr Netzer said the “The solar water heating industry has been working for the last three years to prepare for a government to institute such policies. The industry has developed a network of Accredited Suppliers and approved installers so that much of the country has access to a qualified and experienced solar water heating installer. The association has established a Code of Practice to ensure that installation standards are appropriate, a training course to help plumbers gain relevant experience, and an accreditation scheme so that the public can know if the installers are likely to meet the relevant standards.”

“The industry has experienced a 40-50% growth over each of the last three years as the public have gained confidence in the products and the installers. The industry is now well positioned to increase that growth.”

Mr Netzer agreed however “That access to the appropriate plumbing skills is now the biggest barrier – the products are reliable, will work efficiently for many years, and are a better investment than putting money in the bank. The other barrier that needs work on is local council consents – for some reason there is a great amount of inconsistency among different councils, and in many cases they make it very difficult to grant a building consent for a solar water heater”.

“The industry would like to see solar water heating being a component of how every house meets the sustainability requirements of the new building legislation. I look forward to seeing a solar water heater being installed on every house”

ENDS

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