Solar-energy water heaters

VietNamNet Bridge – As of August 1 HCM City will carry out a programme to help its citizens to buy solar-energy water heaters. Accordingly, any consumer that buys the equipment will be given VND1 million ($58) back.

This programme is jointly held by the Energy Saving Centre, the Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The programme aims to encourage the community to use solar-energy water heaters to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours, which can help cut investment costs and protect the environment.

The programme will start as of August 1 2008 and go till the end of 2013 and be applied for all consumers who buy this kind of equipment, without restriction in quantity. It will be then expanded to the whole country.

According to Pham Huy Phong of the HCM City Energy Saving Centre, if 30,000 are used, they will help save around 60 million kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to a reduction of 5,000 tonnes of TOE/year and 23,541 tonnes of CO2/year.

PV