Rating Solar Thermal Equipment and Systems

Living in the U.S., you’ve probably heard a great deal about ratings such as ENERGY STAR when purchasing new appliances, central heating and air systems, water heaters, and more. When it comes to solar thermal equipment and solar hot water heater systems, look to the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (SRCC). The SRCC rating is a certification for solar collectors, and the organization also has a program for complete solar water heating systems.

When products bear the SRCC certification seal, you can see how it rated for operating guidelines, product testing, and product standards. The program was designed for manufacturers to rate and test the efficiency of the solar thermal equipment they produced. This rating gives homeowners a credible rating system to use when evaluating various models of solar thermal equipment. SRCC has been rating solar thermal systems since 1980, and is relied upon by the United States’ government for reliable product information to determine tax credit qualifications.

Just as the ENERGY STAR program does, the SRCC rating program provides valuable information to guide consumers when making purchasing decisions. When comparing solar thermal products for your home, use the SRCC rating to measure product performance and provide a side-by-side comparison of products. The SRCC certification and rating system is nationally recognized as a standardized method to compare solar thermal products. Using these ratings can help you determine the best buy for your needs.

There are many collectors and solar thermal systems available bearing the SRCC seal. Over 1,000 collectors and 2,000 systems have completed the SRCC’s certification and have been rated. Smith Sustainable Design offers a variety of SRCC rated solar thermal collectors and systems which can be used in your home. For more information on what the SRCC rating means to you, and how to use it, please contact us.