The state is accepting applications for variances from homeowners wishing to be exempt from a new law requiring that building permits only be issued for single-family homes using solar water heaters.

The variances are handled by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's state Energy Office.

For an explanation of the law and a copy of the application, go to http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy/SWHVariance.

The law went into effect on Jan. 1.