Orange County First In State To Offer Solar Water Heater Incentive

Orange County is the first county in the state to offer homeowners money for installing a solar water heating system. The county made the announcement Tuesday morning, coinciding with Earth Day. It is offering homeowners and businesses a $200 credit.

On average, it takes about seven years for a solar water heater system to pay itself off. Environmentalists want homeowners and business owners to take advantage of the power of the sun.

"We believe reusable energies are a good thing. It's a proven technology. It’s a cost effective technology and we want to help people move in that direction," said Lori Cunniff, Environmental Protection Division.

A typical home has an 80-gallon water heater. A solar system can cost about $4,000. Last year, Progress Energy launched a $450 rebate program to encourage its customers to go green. The company thinks, even though the initial cost of converting your water heating system is pricey, buyers should consider the long-term benefits.

"With the state rebates and federal tax incentives, Progress Energy rebates and partnerships like this with Orange County, the reduction of initial cost is less than half. With the energy savings, the average customer can receive their payback in seven to ten years," said Program Manager Christopher Gillman, Progress Energy.

That's factoring an average annual savings on your electric bill of 17-percent. So, as long as the sun is shining, the savings could continue to mount.

The demand for solar water heaters is not very high, but the county has allocated $86,000 to fund the incentive program.