A few months back, I wrote a short blurb on solar water heaters. THIS month, we learn that Californians have an opportunity to install solar water heaters for their homes, saving huge amounts of natural gas and money in the process.
On January 21, California approved $350 million in funding for rebates for homeowners who install solar-powered water heaters. The program awards up to $1,500 per home, where installing a system costs between $6,500 and $8,000 (and don’t forget that there are federal rebates, too!). Plus, homeowners enjoy the savings of natural gas costs.
The rebate program could help 200,000 homes displace 585 million therms of natural gas. A portion of the funds are expressly reserved for low-income families, and another for replacing electric heaters as well–so nearly everyone is eligible.