By Stacia Kalinoski

EUGENE, Ore. -- Forty low-income renters in Eugene will soon see their monthly rent reduced, and help is on the way for even more folks.

St. Vincent de Paul is installing a solar hot water system at the Mary Skinner Apartments in Eugene.

Leaders unveiled the panel Friday, which hooks up to the hot water system. Water pumps into the bottom, runs up the small pipes, and produes hot water for showers and kitchen use. It's expected to save each tenant about $15 a month, but that's not the only benefit.

"By retro-fitting where you decrease the work load on the grid and create jobs by having the installation and manufacturing on those come locally, it actually pumps money back into our local economy," said Executive Director Terry McDonald.

The panel costs about $800 and is expected to be hooked in by February. Three other low-income apartments are next on the list. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.