'Solar water heaters will reduce cost'

It said that though the initial cost of a SWH is more than the conventional Electrical Geysers/boilers, the pay back periods more than justify the investment by their utility. Working President of KASMA T Ananth said that the total money invested in a SWH is paid back within 3 to 4 years, and they work efficiently for 15 to 20 years with little maintenance.

The plumbing cost required for a residence may cost anywhere between Rs 1,000 in ideal conditions to a maximum of Rs 10,000 where new and total hot water plumbing has to be done. The organisation also says that soft loans at an interest of only 2 per cent per annum are available and loan may be repaid by way of installments equal to or less than the electricity savings for 3 years.  A SWH of 100 Litres per Day capacity reduces at least 1,500 kgs of CO2 per year, Ananth added.