Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Solar Energy Heats Up

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 12 2008 (IPS) - This year the use of solar energy will intensify in Brazil, the result of a municipal law in Sao Paulo which requires the installation of solar water heaters in all new buildings, and which is being expanded to other cities – and while there is a construction boom in the country. This is the interpretation of Delcio Rodrigues, coordinator of the Solar Cities initiative of the non-governmental institute Vitae Civilis.

The municipal standard approved in July in Sao Paulo was followed by a law for the entire state of Sao Paulo in November.

There are similar laws in place or in process in 45 municipalities across Brazil. At the state level, Rio de Janeiro enacted its law on Jan. 3, following the example of Sao Paulo.

Solar panels to heat water are very useful in Brazil, where the widespread use of electricity-heated showers represents 47 percent of the residential electrical consumption in the critical hours of early evening.