Solar Hot Water Ready construction is defined for the purpose of this initiative as a building that has a conduit in place for future plumbing requirements and has an area designated for a solar collector to facilitate installation of a solar water heating system at a later date.
Solar Hot Water Ready does not include the installation of solar panels, additional hot water storage tanks, the actual plumbing or the pump and control unit needed for solar hot water generation.
Making a home Solar Hot Water Ready is easier and less expensive during initial construction than it is post construction. When a homeowner makes the decision to install the solar hot water heating system, a few preparations during initial construction can substantially reduce costs during final installation, and will also help ensure that the system provides maximum energy savings.
Making a home Solar Hot Water Ready allows the homeowner the option of easy, more cost effective installation of a solar hot water heater when they’re ready. It will also help to maximize system performance when it’s installed as roof orientation is taken into consideration during the building and design process of construction.
Substantial savings are realized when the solar hot water system is installed as the basic construction and structural requirements will be in place. Having a home Solar Hot Water Ready will improve the aesthetic look of the system as all plumbing will be hidden inside the walls as opposed to running outside the building.
The Solar Hot Water Ready requirement enables local governments to mandate that all new single family dwellings be solar hot water ready within their communities.
With British Columbia’s varying geography, not all communities will benefit from solar installations. Supporting, rather than enforcing, sustainable innovation in construction allows interested B.C. communities the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the green economy.
Generally, making a house solar ready will add approximately $200-$500 (including labour) to the cost of building a new home. This estimate considers pipes, accommodation and design requirements for future installation of a solar hot water system.
A number of local governments expressed interest in becoming Solar Ready Communities. Creating an optional Solar Hot Water requirement that local governments can choose to apply provides consistent standards across B.C. as individuals and communities embrace green technologies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase efficiency and save money.
The Solar Hot Water Ready proposed requirement is another step the Province is taking in fulfilling its promise to take aggressive action to combat climate change. We learned during the first phase of Greening the BC Building Code that industry and local governments prefer regulations that are flexible, support local governments as leaders in adopting standards, and work for communities of all sizes. The optional Solar Hot Water Ready requirement meets all of these criteria.
The Solar Hot Water Ready requirement would apply in the following areas
1. Areas Designated for Future Installation of Solar Collectors
In common construction practice, roof and wall spaces are not built with weight and space requirements in mind for a future installation of a solar domestic hot water system. By taking these aspects into consideration during the initial building phase, significant cost savings are made when the homeowner elects to install a solar domestic hot water system at a later date.
Rationale:
2. Conduit Requirements
A single straight pipe chase conduit) from the utility room to the roof space allows installation of plumbing and electrical cables during solar system installation. Including the appropriate conduit requirements during the construction phase will save the home owner money and time at the point of installation.
Rationale:
Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CANSIA) have developed best practices guidelines which can be accessed on their respective websites. These best practice guidelines go beyond the scope of the Province’s proposed regulation, but provide excellent information on optimum placement of solar hot water panels and other relevant information for building a solar ready home.
The implementation date is June 21, 2011.
Depending on the level of interest, the Province will provide another opportunity for local governments to sign on to the Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation in approximately 1 year from the implementation date.
