The solar heating systems - the first of their kind to be installed in NYC under the state's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) - will be at two 6-family residences operated by the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation.

Installations took place from March 11 through March 16 at 2829 Fulton and 779 Liberty.

Solar hot water systems are still fairly new to New York City residences, which usually heat water with natural gas or oil. But with President Obama's push to fight the effects of climate change and also reduce US dependence on foreign oil, it is expected that apartment buildings and single-family homes will increasingly turn to "green energy" to heat the water used for washing dishes, doing the laundry, and taking baths and showers.

"In a typical household," says CEO Cherry, "heating the water accounts for as much as 14 to 25 percent of the energy used. But with solar heating systems like those being installed in the Cypress Hills buildings, renewable energy from the sun is used to help pre-heat your hot water, which reduces the amount of energy used and lowers the home owner's heating costs."

There are 42 million solar hot water systems installed throughout the world. Germany alone installs 140,000 systems a year, employing 18,000 people and generating $1.6 billion of economic benefit. Solar hot water is required in all new buildings in Spain and Israel.

EarthKind Energy, New York State's leading authority on solar thermal technologies, explains the process: Solar panels containing a mixture of water and a food-grade glycol (the same substance contained in ice cream and toothpaste), which absorbs 94 percent of the sun's energy, will be installed on the roofs of the Brooklyn buildings.

The heated solution transfers the heat to water in a storage tank, which provides pre-heated water for the buildings' existing hot-water tanks and reduces the energy used by 50 percent or more. And provides plenty of hot water for your morning shower.

Betsy MacLean, Director, Cypress Hills Local Development Corp., says: "Our hope is that the solar hot water systems will save us maintenance and operating costs. Cost, as well as concern about the environment, prompted us to do this."

The solar thermal system will save Cypress Hills money. The system is not covered under a New York City property tax abatement.

Only solar electric installations, otherwise known as Photovoltaics (PV), qualify a building or home owner for a tax abatement. Solar thermal is 1/3 the cost of solar electric, but produces the same amount of energy. According to CEO Cherry, the tax law should be amended to include solar thermal systems.

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