Having recently joined ecogise I have spent my time learning the products/industry, understanding compliance requirements, meeting with agencies and other industry related people. This has lead me to see the restraints and barriers that slow the uptake of these environmentally beneficial solutions.

I wanted to ascertain why local and central government appear not to be considering or applying legislation to enforce the installation of Solar Hot Water heating (and other sustainable options) to ALL new homes.

It may be idealistic to think that with education and social responsibility the public will change their habits, I know that this can take time to manifest, if at all.

Recently adopted legislation has been actioned, effectively meaning that new homes have to install double glazing. Therefore this legislative approach is not a new initiative.

While I am fortunate to live in the Nelson region, which is currently reviewing the potential of a Solar City programme, it puzzles me why all new homes do not have to install an alternative means (other than electricity) to heat our water.

Should the Solar City programme be adopted this will improve the ability for the retro-fit market to afford Solar Hot Water installations. Unfortunately though many older homes have not been designed or situated to provide an efficient and cost effective solution.

As you may also know, it is easier and therefore cheaper to plan a new project, rather than trying to work within an existing environment. You must be aware of people that have completed renovations only to comment "they had opened a can of worms." This is an analogy to reinforce why new installations are more cost effective than retro- fit options.

A new home design can consider and overcome most restrictive reasons for installing Solar Hot Water, eg roof angle, roof position, hot water cylinder location, strength of truss or roof construction, council permit process (including fees and addition site inspections) etc.

As for cost and payback periods it appears to me that when people are considering installing Solar Hot Water in NEW homes they may be looking at the TOTAL cost as opposed to reviewing the Difference between installing standard plumbing and Solar Installations. eg A plumber and electrician are already required on all new sites, as is a hot water cylinder.

So the added costs are only the solar collectors, roof penetration installation and piping, which is much simpler to install on a new building.

I am of the belief the best way to improve the uptake of solar technology is to make it compulsory for ALL New Homes.

James Brown