If you’re a fan of taking hot showers, then you probably know how expensive it is to have a heater at home. But what if you could get your water heated for free or next to nothing? It’s an interesting energy alternative and one that’s not been studied too much in Belize. But it got some attention today and Keith Swift found out more.
Dr. Roland Clarke, Project Manager - CREDP
“Its economic, its environmentally friendly, and it’s the wave of the future.”
Dr. Roland Clarke from the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme is talking about solar energy – specifically solar water heaters like this system which is manufactured by Sun Power Limited. The explanation of how it works is technical but Sun Power’s Sales Director Henry Jordan says all you really need to know is that it can save you thousands of dollars.
Henry Jordan, Sun Power Limited
“We’ve done an estimated installed selling price in Belize of a typical 80 gallon system with 36 square feet of collector. The approximate purchase price is about US$1,805. The break even point against the current rate of electricity at 22 cents a kilowatt hour is 18 months to the homeowner in Belize. The savings then after that against using an electric water heater 365 days a year, the annual savings is roughly US$920 per annum and that is a considerable savings I would believe.”
Sun Power is one of four solar water heater manufacturers which will be making presentations at the two day seminar hosted by BELTRAIDE. CREDA’s Dr. Clarke says the sessions are aimed at the business community and the hotel sector.
Dr. Roland Clark,
"This seminar is intended to introduce trade allies here in Belize to the solar water manufacturing industry in CARICOM therefore there are manufacturers here, there are installers, there are plumbers, there are also people from the trade organizations, BELTRAIDE for example, the regulatory agency here, the electricity regulator and also government agencies present as well. All of these together need to cooperate or transform he market here towards the increase use of solar hot water heating.”
The seminar continues tomorrow when the focus will be on the hotel sector. That should be interesting since one of the country’s larger hotels told us they spend upwards of $70,000 every month on electricity.
