Japan aims to install solar panels on 70% of newly built houses

[Rybold]

"TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) - Japan aims to reintroduce subsidies on solar power equipment next year to help generate demand until technological innovation brings prices down.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on June 9 announced a long-term goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80 percent from current levels by 2050. The initiative includes a target to have more than 70 percent of newly built houses equipped with solar panels by 2020."

UPDATE 2-Japan aims to restart solar subsidies next year | Markets | Markets News | Reuters

Wouldn't it be nice if the U.S. govt. (or state govts) required all new houses built to have at least a certain wattage of solar panels?

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

I wish we would do the same with solar water heating.

EERE Consumer's Guide: The Economics of a Solar Water Heater

THAT is some mighty low hanging fruit!

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by Sufferin' Prius Envy

I wish we would do the same with solar water heating.

EERE Consumer's Guide: The Economics of a Solar Water Heater

THAT is some mighty low hanging fruit!

My next-door neighbor's swimming pool is solar heated. They have several large panels on the roof of their house. For regular, in-house water heating, it could work in hybrid with a regular methane water heater. In fact, if the water heater tank had really good insulation, I wonder if it remain [warm enough] from sunset until your shower at 7am. Ceramic lining on the inside, foam insulation on the outside, perhaps.

[patsparks]

Yes, solar water heaters will keep the water easily hot enough to shower in the morning. The gas or electric boost kicks in if you use a lot of hot water or if the water temperature drops below 60 degrees Celsius but that normally only happens on days of heavy cloud cover and even on those days the solar heater contributes to heating the water.

If you live in areas where heavy frosts form some of the heat in the tank may be used to prevent the water in the panel from freezing, this may cause the booster to come on when it is very cold.

[Nords]

Originally Posted by Sufferin' Prius Envy

I wish we would do the same with solar water heating.

EERE Consumer's Guide: The Economics of a Solar Water Heater

THAT is some mighty low hanging fruit!

Here, you can copy our SB644. The governor has decided not to veto it:
Lingle's veto list misses major bills | starbulletin.com | News | /2008/06/24/

The local solar installers feel that it just gives the developers a chance to cut the little guys out of the business, I mean, pass on higher costs to new-home buyers. The reality is that most homeowners don't want to try to fork over the $5500 up front, even if they're getting $4000 back in rebates & credits.
Solar water heater bill draws opposition | starbulletin.com | Business | /2008/04/03/

I think it'd be nice to buy a home where the piping is integrated within the house instead of just bracketed to an exterior wall.

[tripp]

Originally Posted by patsparks

If you live in areas where heavy frosts form some of the heat in the tank may be used to prevent the water in the panel from freezing, this may cause the booster to come on when it is very cold.

Pat, what they do in those climates is use a different liquid to collect the heat and then use a heat exchanger to heat the water in the tank. That way you don't have to worry about freezing water in the pipes.

Suffering, yer spot on. It's absurd that solar thermal panels aren't a building code thing now. There's really no reason to exclude them from every new building built.

[Godiva]

They're also installing recharge stations. There will be at least two EVs available in 2009. Can U.S. sales be far behind?

[chogan2]

By contrast, I just happened to check the laws in Virginia today regarding net metering. Virginia Power is required to accept net metering of home and commercial PV installations only up to the point where those PV installations account for 1% of power consumed in the state. If you get your PV after that, tough. And knowing Virginia Power, they aren't going to go one bit above that. So while Japan is aiming for 70% of new home construction, Virginia caps the most basic economic benefit at 1% of total demand. No question which approach is going to prove smarter in the long run.

[Godiva]

Originally Posted by chogan2

By contrast, I just happened to check the laws in Virginia today regarding net metering. Virginia Power is required to accept net metering of home and commercial PV installations only up to the point where those PV installations account for 1% of power consumed in the state. If you get your PV after that, tough. And knowing Virginia Power, they aren't going to go one bit above that. So while Japan is aiming for 70% of new home construction, Virginia caps the most basic economic benefit at 1% of total demand. No question which approach is going to prove smarter in the long run.

This is why GERMANY is #1 in solar in the world.

My local utility won't pay one cent for any extra power I generate. They also have a lot of hidden fees tacked on if you net meter. And you have to pay for everything up front before you can get any tax credits from Fed or State. The U.S. isn't serious about solar.

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by chogan2

By contrast, I just happened to check the laws in Virginia today regarding net metering. Virginia Power is required to accept net metering of home and commercial PV installations only up to the point where those PV installations account for 1% of power consumed in the state. If you get your PV after that, tough. And knowing Virginia Power, they aren't going to go one bit above that. So while Japan is aiming for 70% of new home construction, Virginia caps the most basic economic benefit at 1% of total demand. No question which approach is going to prove smarter in the long run.

Send this link to your local Congressmen:

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