§196-6.5  Solar water heater system requiredfor new single-family residential construction.  (a)  On or after January1, 2010, no building permit shall be issued for a new single-family dwellingthat does not include a solar water heater system that meets the standardsestablished pursuant to section 269-44, unless the energy resources coordinatorapproves a variance.  A variance application shall only be accepted if submittedby an architect or mechanical engineer licensed under chapter 464, who attests that:

(1)  Installation is impracticable due to poor solarresource;

(2)  Installation is cost-prohibitive based upon alife cycle cost-benefit analysis that incorporates the average residentialutility bill and the cost of the new solar water heater system with a lifecycle that does not exceed fifteen years;

(3)  A renewable energy technology system, as definedin section 235-12.5, is substituted for use as the primary energy source forheating water; or

(4)  A demand water heater device approved by UnderwritersLaboratories, Inc., is installed; provided that at least one other gasappliance is installed in the dwelling.  For the purposes of this paragraph,"demand water heater" means a gas-tankless instantaneous water heaterthat provides hot water only as it is needed.

(b)  A request for a variance shall besubmitted to the energy resources coordinator on an application prescribed bythe energy resources coordinator and shall include a description of thelocation of the property and justification for the approval of a variance usingthe criteria established in subsection (a).  A variance shall be deemedapproved if not denied within thirty working days after receipt of the varianceapplication.  The energy resources coordinator shall publicize:

(1)  All applications for a variance within seven daysafter receipt of the variance application; and

(2)  The disposition of all applications for avariance within seven days of the determination of the variance application.

(c)  Nothing in this section shall preclude anycounty from establishing procedures and standards required to implement thissection.

(d)  Nothing in this section shall precludeparticipation in any utility demand-side management program or public benefitsfund under part VII of chapter 269. [L 2008, c 204, §2; am L 2009, c 155, §14]

 

Note

 

  Photovoltaic rebate program (repealed June 30, 2013).  L2008, c 151.