Go Green, Economical, and Efficient with Solar Heat Systems

Many homeowners are looking for cost-effective and energy-efficient source of energy for their home and business. Different solar energy systems such as solar panels and solar heat systems are becoming popular because of their high efficiency. Many people consider that installing solar power system for their home requires very high price. Solar heat systems differ from solar photovoltaic systems. Solar photovoltaic panels produce electricity for your home where solar heat system is for water heating.  For water heating, solar heat system is less expensive and affordable way for an average homeowner.

Solar heat system proves to be an affordable and effective way of going solar, rejecting the high price tag of solar power system. In the case of traditional gas or electric water heaters, you pay thousands of dollars for their equipment, installation, and yearly maintenance. Solar water heaters, on the other hand, do not require such additional charges; instead they save energy every year recovering the installation costs. Energy saving opportunity every year gives you a sound reason to pay more initially for the installation of solar heating equipment in comparison with electric or gas water heaters. You can also qualify for federal tax credits and other local incentives in case of purchasing certain certified solar heat systems. The rebate or tax credit can reduce the costs for your solar heating equipment up to 30%.

A solar heat system is much advanced and energy efficient as compared to the traditional gas or electric water heater. It uses approximately 80 percent less energy than other typical water heating systems. This considerable reduction in energy consumption can save $500 per year for an average home. It is believed that after adding all incentives, tax credits, and yearly savings, solar heat system can pay back its initial installation costs within 5 to 7 years.

If you want to go solar, don’t make cost an excuse because long-term benefits of solar heat system compensate the initial installation costs for you within a few years. Smith Sustainable Design helps you explore different solar water heating options for your home. We guide our customers to find best solar heating system according to their needs and budget. 

OG-300 Solar Hot Water Heater System for Residential Use

It is important to look for Solar Rating and Certification (SRCC) seal on the solar hot water system you choose for your home. Collector certification (OG-100) and heating system certification (OG-300) are two major currently operating programs of SRCC. The OG-300 certification and rating program is a reliable and best choice for a new solar thermal systems for the residential use.  The complete package of OG-300 systems provides a solar thermal kit including collectors, storage tanks, and other components required for a safe installation.

Every product having OG-300 certification seal gives valuable information to the consumer about solar hot water heater system. We can assume from the OG-300 seal that the particular product has been tested and meets the requirements of SRCC standard. It means that the product operates efficiently, meets safety requirements, and provides a specific amount of solar energy. A comparison between different ratings of OG-300 systems can help you select the best system for your requirements. You can also examine how a rated solar thermal kit is more profitable than an unrated system.

You also qualify for rebates or tax credits if your purchase an OG-30 system. This incentive is from the federal government for those homeowners who select OG-300 systems for their home. You can receive about 30 percent of your costs as a tax credit by purchasing this system. You can apply for a federal tax if you choose to purchase a OG-300 Solar Hot Water Heater System for your new construction, existing home or primary or secondary residence (not for rental homes). Make your plans to purchase and install a new OG-300 solar hot water heater system because the tax credit incentive will end at the end of year 2016.

The Clean Energy Program in the state of New Jersey offers you financial incentives for purchasing OG-300. On buying a non-rated system, you may not receive rebates or tax credits offered by your utility company on installing SRCC rated system. SRCC do not rate low-standard and cheap solar hot water heaters, made overseas. You can be disqualified from extra benefits if you purchase these non-certified systems.

Smith Sustainable Design offer to install OG-300 solar hot water heater system for your residential use, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Contact us for more information about the different available types and benefits of OG-300 systems. We will guide you to choose the best SRCC rated solar hot water heater system for your home. 

Standard and Rating for Solar Thermal Equipment and Systems

You must have heard about ratings and standards for different renewable energy products especially when purchasing appliances such as central heating and air systems, water heaters etc. ENERGY STAR is a very well known program in the U.S. to help everyone save money and protect the climate. So consider Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) when you decide to install solar hot water system or solar thermal equipment for your home or business. The organization SRCC provides rating and certification for different solar energy equipment like collector certification and heating system certification.

For an SRCC certified product, you can see the product rating for operating guidelines, product testing, and product standards. The purpose of this program was to test and rate the efficiency of the solar thermal equipment, by their manufacturers at the time of the production. This rating system guides homeowners about the efficiency and reliability of different types of solar thermal equipment, helping them to select an ideal solar energy system for their home. The rating system for solar thermal equipment has been working since 1980, trusted by the government of the United States for their reliable product information.

Similar to ENERGY STAR program, the SRCC rating program helps homeowners to make a decision about purchasing, giving them valuable information about the solar energy products. You can use solar rating system to evaluate different solar thermal products, comparing them side by side and selecting the one, which best suits for your home needs. The nationwide acknowledged, SRCC rating and certification program is a standard method for the comparison of solar thermal products.

A variety of collectors and solar thermal systems have been rated, receiving the SRCC seal. There are about 1,000 collectors and 2,000 solar thermal systems available in the market that are certified and rated by the SRCC. We at Smith Sustainable Design offer SRCC rated equipment such as collectors and solar thermal systems for your home. You can contact us for more information about the understanding and practical use of SRCC rating program.

Pool Heating through Solar Hot Water Systems

Everyone wants to have a heating system for their outdoor pools, but the expected cost of pool water heating makes them ignore the idea. You have no need to avoid the pool heating plan anymore because solar hot water systems provide a cost-effective and energy-efficient heating system for your pool. Solar hot water systems make use of the natural energy from the sun to maintain a consistent temperature of your pool.

Different components of solar hot water system for your pool heating include a solar collector, a pump, a filter and a flow control valve. Solar collector receives water from your pool after getting pumped and passing through the filter. Water gets heated in the solar collector and returns back to your pole. The same process works in hot climates by operating during the night time for the purpose of cooling pool water.

A number of factors determines the size of the solar hot water system suitable for your pool. These factors include the pool size, desired temperature of the water, pool cover, length of swimming season, and the average temperature of your location. By considering all these factors, you can easily determine the size of solar collector and pump of your solar hot water system.

The charges are exorbitant when you use typical gas or electric heaters for your pool water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it may cost $2,000.00 per year to heat an average sized residential pool by the traditional heating methods. Every year, maintenance of these systems will charge you much more than their initial installation costs.

On the contrary, solar hot water systems require very low annual operational cost helping you to recover the installation costs within few years of use. With solar water heaters, you can enjoy warm pool water the whole year without paying large amounts for the operational cost of your heating system.

You can consult Smith Sustainable Design for installing and designing an ideal solar hot water system for your pool. Leave your current gas or electric pool heater and enjoy warm water using solar hot water system without worrying about operating costs. If you are planning to install a pool, we can help you have an ideal pool heating system making use of the natural energy from the sun for heating your pool water. Contact us today if you are in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and looking for a pool heating system.