Residential Solar Initiative for EarthCraft Homes Rebate

The South Carolina State Energy Office began the Residential Solar Initiative to demonstrate and encourage the building of homes with solar hot water heating systems. Homebuilders can receive a rebate for every home built with a solar hot water heating system, along with promotion from the State Energy Office as a builder with experience in installing solar hot water systems. Homebuilders are eligible if they build an approved EarthCraft Home with a solar water heating system certified by the Solar Rating Certification Council or the Florida Solar Energy Center. A maximum of $20,000 in total rebates has been allocated for this initiative. Twenty rebates of $1,000 each will be awarded to builders for approved installations. Only new installations (completed after application approval) qualify. Builders submit an application, and after approval, they have 180 days to install a new solar hot water system in the home. After the installation is verified, the State Energy Office will issue a rebate to the homebuilder.