Solar water heating an untapped resource

Solar water heating has a massive potential to reduce households' greenhouse gas emissions but red tape and uncertain grants mean this is almost entirely untapped, according to a new report.

The report, which used Government figures, found that solar water heating could provide around a quarter of the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions required from households over the next 40 years to tackle climate change.

This was the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars off the road, said the report, which comes as the Government is due to announce a restructuring of incentives for "micro-generation" in the Budget.

Written by Nick Radford, a former parliamentary researcher, for the West Country company Soltrac, it estimates that solar water heating – distinct from photovoltaic panels which generate electricity - can provide 60-70 per cent of the average household's hot water needs over a year.

This would give average annual financial savings of £232 a year for the average household and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 665 kg a year.

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