Solar water heaters are hot in Israel

Israel is holding its parliamentary elections today, and in a country that's so concerned about energy, it's not a surprise that two environmental groups—the Green Party and the combined Green Movement—Meimad—are among the 34 parties vying for spots in the 120-seat Knesset.

I saw firsthand how significant energy-use matters are to Israel during an August 2008 trip. For example, all the hotel rooms we stayed in were equipped with motion sensors on the lights or required us to plug the access key card into a slot to turn on the TV or air conditioner. This last gizmo also prevented us from leaving either running when we headed out for the day.

But what I noticed most about Israelis' alternative-energy efforts were the rooftop solar water heaters all over the country. Whether I was in the Old City of Jerusalem or in hustle-and-bustle modern-day Tel Aviv, these solar water heaters, required for new residential construction for many years, were everywhere—it was the rare residential building that lacked them. (The photo above was taken in Jerusalem.) In an anachronistic touch in a 16th-century synagogue in Safed, I also saw old lighting fixtures fitted with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (right).

It's not a given that Israel's green parties will claim any Knesset seats, but it's clear that with the widespread use of solar water heaters, Israelis have made some significant steps toward saving energy.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: We'll be testing residential solar water heaters for an upcoming story on these appliances. If you're considering installing a tankless water heater, read our latest report.

Written by larrylarr on February 13th, 2009 with no comments.
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