Urban Options is offering a Solar Domestic Hot Water Rebate Program. The program, sponsored by the State of Michigan Energy Office, offers residents an opportunity to save on their utility bills and positively impact the environment at the same time.

Rebates of 50% of the installation cost of a solar domestic hot water system up to a maximum of $4,000 per installation are available. Rebates are also available to refurbish and repair older systems already in place up to a maximum of $2,000.

Program Manager John Watson says, "Who says that solar doesn't work in Michigan? We actually get more solar gain in the summertime in Michigan than the state of Florida! With a 50% state solar rebate, this translates to big savings and a faster payback for anyone wanting to harvest those rays."

Over the course of its lifetime, a solar domestic water heater will typically:

• Prevent as much as 50 tons of greenhouse gas emissions;
  
  
• Pay for itself through reduced utility bills;
  
  
• Contribute to economic development through less dependency on fossil fuels.
  

Application packets became available on April 1, 2005 and will be accepted for consideration through October 1, 2005. For more information, call 1-866-846-SDHW(7349) or visit www.urbanoptions.org.

Urban Options, a Michigan-based energy education organization, is working in partnership with the State of Michigan Energy Office, the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation to deliver the program.