Solar Water Heaters Now Mandatory In Hawaii

Starting this year, Hawaii has become the first state to require solar water heaters in new homes. The bill was signed into law by Governor Linda Lingle in 2008. The law prohibits the issuing of building permits for single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters. Hawaii relies on imported fossil fuels more than any other state, with about 90 percent of its energy sources coming from foreign countries, according to state data.


State Sen. Gary Hooser, vice chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee, first introduced the measure eight years ago when he said a barrel of oil cost just $40. Since then, the cost of oil has more than tripled! It's unbelievable how much the price of oil has risen in such a short amount of time.

Should this bill be passed for other states in the Continental US?  There's probably a positive gain for requiring solar hot water heaters in tropical areas like Hawaii, but to pass this law in parts of the country that endure longer, darker winters probably wouldn't be quite the same. Something to chew on.

Solar Thermal Challenge Hosted By SHEM

The Challenge: Efficient design of solar thermal in residential new construction.
The Prize: Construction and monitoring of winning selection.
The Payoff: $1,000 in prizes for top three selections.

The Contest
Using Google Sketchup, the free Google 3-D drawing program (available here for free download), two model structures have been provided. Roof orientation varies, from 3/12 southfacing to 12/12 north/south orientations.Any product, and any manufacturer is invited to submit qualified bids. The intent of the program is to construct the buildings, then monitor and report results.Pre-deadline bidders conference to be held at Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing's westcoast warehouse and factory support center at the Morrow ranch in Redding, CA. At that conference, Jeff Morrow will conduct a seminar on sizing and diagramming systems.

The Conference
Our conference will be held the first weekend in August (August 6,7 & 8th, 2010) at the Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing's West Coast Warehouse & Factory Support Center at the Morrow Ranch in Redding, CA. Beginning with a Friday night mixer, speakers and seminars are to follow on Saturday and Sunday. Accommodations are available.

Guest Speakers - Friday
Bruce Ewing - Mid America Heating & Plumbing, Manhattan, KS. The founder of Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing, will be making the opening remarks of conference.
Jeff Morrow - Solar Heat Exchange Manufacturing, Perry, KS. One line diagramming: system sizing and communicating plumbing details.
Jeff Shaw - Gulf South Solar, Lafayette, LA. Training, marketing and business development. The story of a seasoned dealer.

Guest Speakers - Saturday
Bryan Tumolo - SPS Industries, Albuquerque, NM. Discussing the issues regarding the installation of evacuated tubes and large scale thermal.
Michael Hopson - Covington, LA. The realities of becomming a new solar thermal dealer. Lessons learned in solar dealing.
Tom Dinkel - SunReports, San Francisco, CA. Hosts the discussion on the benefits of web based solar monitoring.

Please contact us to attend and/or participate in the challenge.