Solar Water Heating - The Smart Choice

The Solar Association of New Zealand is the advocacy organisation for solar water heating solutions in New Zealand (originally the Solar Industries Association or SIA). The Association aims to serve and assist both industry and householders towards the widespread adoption of solar water heating, reducing power costs and supporting the environment. 

Solar water heating systems are a smart investment and can be installed in new buildings, in your current building with connection to your existing hot water heating system, or with a complete replacement high efficiency hot water cylinder. Solar systems are inexpensive to install, provide free energy once installed, and reduce overall water heating costs.

When you look to purchasing a solar water heating system you should purchase from a solar specialist. To get the best energy performance out of your new solar system it should be of a design suitable for your situation and it should be installed for optimal performance. There are a range of models of solar system available but optimal energy performance will only come from a system that has been properly designed as an integrated unit (collector, hot water storage tank and controller) and meet the New Zealand design and durability standards.

A solar specialist is trained to be able to advise you on the model of system appropriate for your application and to ensure that it is installed to meet the Building Code requirements. The Solar Association recognises solar specialists by way of accreditation – Accredited Solar Retailer.

The Solar Association of New Zealand represents the collective interests of solar specialists (system manufacturers, retailers and installers of solar water heating systems), and can assist you to find the right product and specialist for you. On this website you can find information on:

• what to look for when purchasing a solar hot water system – only purchase a Solar Association listed Complying SWH System
• how to find Accredited Suppliers and Installers, and designers
• the range of models of systems available and how to choose a system, and
• the quality standards that solar specialists and their products are expected to achieve.

The Solar Association has a Customer Assurance Scheme which applies to purchasers of a SWH system which has been purchased from an Accredited SWH Retailer and meets the requirements of the Solar Association Code of Practice (including using a model Solar Association Sale and Purchase Agreement). Read more here.