Solar heating loans planned for summer

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 22

Solar heating loans planned for summer

| PA Wellington. I The Government’s loan ! scheme for solar water I heaters should apply in I time for summer. The Minister for Energy : Resources (Mr Gair) has : said he is concerned that ; some manufacturers of solar water heaters might | “beat the gun” in promot- ■ ing their products. Officials from the Mini istry of Energy have met i the executive of the Solar ■ Equipment Manufacturers’ ! Association to discuss I ways to implement the ; scheme speedily. j In the Budget, the Govi ernment announced inter- = est-free loans of up to : $5OO for approved solar | water heaters installed according to an approved code of practice. The association’s Wellington representative (Mr M. Kendon) said that a final draft of an installation code of practice had been prepared by the asso-

ciation. It would be put before the next executive meeting on July 4 for approval. Mr Kendon said the Government and the association were looking at a way to set approved standards for heaters within the next few months or at least in time for summer. The Standards Association had been asked to draw up a set of standards, he said, but that would take -about 18 months to complete. “We have worked out something that the Government and the association are both happy with, but a final decision has not been made,” Mr Kendon said.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Gair, who is recovering from surgery, the Minister of Works (Mr W. L. Young) said it would be misleading for a manufacturer to give the impression that consumers could obtain a loan immediately for solar heating equip-

ment under the provisions announced in the Budget. “Mr Gair emphasises that several things have to fall into place before that can happen,” said Mr Young. A charter was to be prepared for the solar heater loans scheme to be administered by the Ministry of Energy. “The charter will require the certification of manufacturing codes of practice for installation, and guarantees for customers,” he said. It would remain in force until perman mt standards covering the quality, installation, and performance of solar water heaters were developed. “Mr Gair asks manufacturers that they be patient and not anticipate the scheme by making public announcements at this stage,” he said. “Administrative and testing arrangement should all be completed within the next two months or so.”