Let me guess...they just happen to sell solar heating systems? Just kidding...seriously though, your friend may want to check into the cost of solar heating vs. the cost of converting the other heater. I don't use either one down here in Louisiana so I can't offer any helpful advice, but fellow mod CarlD uses solar panels and has great results with them....and the long-range cost is much better for solar than for any fuel-powered system.

Janet