New solution encourages solar uptake

15 November 2007

Property owners and building industry professionals can now look forward to smoother Building Code compliance and building consent processes for solar water heating installations.  

A new Acceptable Solution (G12/AS2) issued by the Department of Building and Housing and effective from 1 December 2007, sets out the requirements and standards for most solar water heating installations that, if followed, will facilitate the consent process.  This applies to installations where the tank is not on the roof.

Up until now Councils around the country have had their own interpretations of what is required to install and grant consents for solar water heating systems, with inconsistent compliance requirements and associated costs.  The Acceptable Solution outlines uniform examples to clarify the requirements for the solar water heating, building and plumbing industries, and design professionals to satisfy the Building Code.  This should ultimately expediate the building consent process.  While it is not compulsory to follow compliance documents such as Acceptable Solutions, Councils must accept building work which meets them.  Councils may also accept alternative solutions as long as they satisfy the New Zealand Building Code requirements.

The Acceptable Solution also provides a quality assurance measure for solar water heating which bodes well for consumers and the industry, and has been welcomed by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

“This is great news for property owners, the wider building and solar water heating industries,” says Mike Underhill, CEO, EECA.  “EECA has already been actively working to promote more robust industry standards through industry-accredited suppliers, approved installers and products that comply with New Zealand Standards. 

This Acceptable Solution will go towards developing and strengthening consumer and wider industry confidence.  It will potentially ease the pressure around obtaining official sign-off in relation to solar water heating installation which we know has been one obstacle to uptake of this technology in the past.  This is a significant step forward in the Government’s programme to encourage more New Zealanders to install solar water heating systems.”

Solar water heating can help many New Zealand families and businesses reduce their power bills and their impact on the environment while also realising the long-term benefits of future-proofing buildings.   Generally, it is most cost effective to plan to install solar water heating onto new buildings at the design and construction stages.   EECA has also instigated tailored finance schemes to assist with the installation of solar water heating.

The Government’s $15.5 million investment in a solar water heating programme is aligned to its approach of promoting sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable sources of energy and encouraging New Zealanders to take responsibility for their energy consumption. 

G12/AS2 is available on the Department of Building and Housing website – www.dbh.govt.nz/building-code-compliance-documents.  For information on solar water heating technologies, industry-accredited suppliers, packaged products, approved installers and EECA’s finance assistance schemes go to www.energywise.govt.nz/solar.