Globally commercialized in the 1960’s, solar thermal is a simple concept that uses the sun’s energy to heat water. Because it is such an easy technology to adopt, the worldwide number of solar thermal systems to solar photovoltaic is 10:1. Solar Thermal is cheaper to manufacture, cheaper to install and requires less maintenance. Costing up to 1/3 less than Photovoltaic systems, before federal and state incentives (30%in California), Solar Thermal has a price advantage over a PV system. So with lower costs, shorter payback and easier maintenance, why is solar thermal not more popular?

Over the last decade, the appeal of sustainable energy has grown exponentially. As the growing solar market emerged – companies flooded the PV scene in search of the one goal: to offer quality products that will lower utility costs. Every company hopes to offer their clients the guarantee of a shorter payback period. However, the reality is that costs per watt have continued drop and production costs for PV panels have remained stagnant.  As a result, PV systems still cost upwards of $25,000, which results in a payback period of over 15 years. Not exactly the cheap guarantee companies had hoped for when first investing in the technology…

Today, there are too many players and too little profit in the PV market. As America struggles to overcome its economic woes, the demand for extravagant solar systems has taken a plunge. With demand for systems at a low – there is an opportunity for Solar Thermal to use this down time to gain some momentum and increase its popularity. 

When it comes to going solar, there is no right or wrong choice – but now more than ever, is the time for people to start looking into solar systems that cost less and provide a shorter payback. Solar thermal is, in most cases, the less expensive form of solar and will help a homeowner or business owner quickly reduce their carbon footprint at a lower cost.

This tax season take some time to reflect upon the money that you can get back from the government. Recently, the government has passed numerous incentive and rebate programs to aid in the economic recovery efforts and in an attempt to support various emerging industries, chief among them, renewable energy. However, keeping up with all the new incentives can be quite confusing and time consuming, resulting in more frustration than benefit for many Americans.

An excellent source for current information on federal incentives is: http://www.dsireusa.org/

The CCSE provides a non biased center for education on various types of renewable energy. They offer many benefits to the local community including informative & educational classes, seminars, and expos, many free and open to the public.

The CCSE is also an excellent resource for clarification on incentive programs and they even offer classes that explain how to fill out the required incentive paperwork. Like anything else, the best advice often comes from word of mouth, so ask around, talk to people you trust, established industry professional and local community resources about their experiences with renewable energy tax credits and incentives.

Kim Perszyk

April 15th, 2010

Hard Water Map - U.S.

The term ‘Hard Water’ may raise some concerns. But don’t stress too much – hard water is very common in the U.S. (found in up to 85% of homes) and it is generally not a health hazard. The main concern lies in the potential expense it can create for homeowners.

So what is hard water exactly? Hard water contains high levels of mineral content – usually consisting of calcium, magnesium and traces of sulfates. Underground sources collect these dissolved minerals and overtime create a buildup. The severity is measured by the grains of mineral per gallon, also known as GPG. Hard water with high GPG levels will often result in heavy scaling in the bottom of your hot water heater. Scale is the precipitation or physical buildup from these minerals. It looks and feels like sand, and can often damage the lining of the tank – limiting the efficiency of your heater. According to a study from the Army Corps of Engineers, just a slither of scale buildup can reduce a heat exchanger’s efficiency by 15%. This accumulation on the inner wall of the heat exchanger affects the performance of the exchanger, which in turn, creates higher energy costs and/or the need to replace the homes existing water heater.

If you own a solar thermal system, your system is also at risk. The scale buildup can reduce the efficiency of the electronic pump, causing the overall efficiency of the system to deteriorate.

Here are some steps you can take to avoid hard water damages:

1)      Test the hardness of your water. Contact your local water supply company for a free testing kit.

2)      If you are thinking of investing in a solar thermal system – buy a closed looped system. The recirculation will lower chance of new minerals being added into your water supply.

3)      Look into the many commercial ways to treat hard water. These include: filters, water softeners, electromagnetic conditioners and reverse osmosis.

Step 1- Search Online
Starting your search online? Go to the California Energy Commissions Green Jobs site . Here you will find links to tons of statewide job postings – all sorted by city. Another option is to search on green jobs sites: Tree Hugger, Green Jobs, Solar Jobs or the SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Associations).  These sites are geared toward finding the qualified candidates in the solar green industry. Also, let’s not forget your typical job sites like Monster or Craigslist. Try even checking the solar groups on LinkedIn. Sure, these sites hold some generic position outside of the budding green industry, but if you look hard you can find some gems. Even looking around on manufacturers websites, where job postings are usually updated weekly on the careers page.

Step 2 – Get Involved
If you can’t find that dream job right away, don’t wait around for another job to be posted. Take this downtime to make a name for yourself amongst the pros in the solar industry.  Get involved locally and sign up in local chapters and organizations, like the US Green Building Council. When you become a council member, you’re given the opportunity to get involved with solar/green professionals and understand solar’s role in the LEED Certification process (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Connecting with others in the industry is the quickest way you can familiarize yourself with current issues, technologies and job opportunities.

Step 3 – Learn the Trade
Ok – so you’ve made some connections, but do you know enough about the industry? Can you explain the concept of an energy grid or the financial and environmental benefits of going solar? Are you familiar with technical jargon in both Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal industry? Do you even know the difference between the two? Have these last few questions made you curl up and ball under your desk and wave a white flag? Regardless of whether or not you answered ‘yes’ to the last question, you need to set aside some time to do some research on solar. No, this doesn’t mean one day on Google. This means applying yourself for a few weeks. Sign up for a class. Contact a local Solar Installer and ask for hints and tips on how to learn more about the industry. Even create a twitter account and immerse yourself with the online social community.

Step 4 – Apply Yourself
You made the connections, you’ve learned the trade and you are confident enough in your knowledge to apply for the job. Remember when applying to keep your original professional mentality and know that solar jobs are not some secret that only YOU know about! This is a growing industry, which means solar manufacturers and installers are probably getting resumes by the truckload. Set yourself apart from the other 2,500 by gaining some experience when applying for the solar job.

Step 5 – Work in the Field
For those looking to work as an installer – you can still get in on the ground level, so long as you have some contracting experience (electrical, plumbing, HVAC). Most importantly, look towards getting a certified license  through training. This can be done either by enrolling in a class or having a solar manufacturer train you.

Good Luck!

Greg Brandmeier
Marketing Coordinator

Solar Thermal Installation

When installing a solar hot water system on your residential home or business, selecting a licensed solar contractor is essential. In order to be assured that your installation will be in good hands, you need to conduct your own research and interview a number of different qualified candidates. This means prequalify the installers – ask them a series of questions that will allow you to assess their level of experience. Most importantly, you need to find out if the installer has the proper licensing and training. The market is crowded with new solar installers and it is up to you to differentiate the experienced professionals from the ‘rookies’.
Finding a Solar Contractor: What to look for:

1. Hire only licensed solar contractors – Visit the Contractors State License Board at www.cslb.ca.gov or call at 1-800-321-2752 to verify solar contractor licensing. Buying a high end solar thermal system is only the first step…

2. Be sure the contractor is insured – Verify the certificate of insurance for general liability insurance. Uninsured workers can file for damages against the homeowner if injured on the job.

3. Get multiple bids – Get at least two bids from different solar thermal contractors, so you can compare the costs of installation. Don’t let price be your guide – remember that the lowest is not always the best.

4. Review past work and get a list of references – Call and pre-qualify several solar thermal contractors before selecting one. Request a reference from a previous satisfied customer or check review websites like Yelp.com or Kudzu.com to see what people are saying.

5. Get a written contract – Be sure to specify start and completion dates of your new solar thermal system – insist on a specified progressive payment schedule.

6. Review the contract before signing – do not sign under pressure. Ask for at least 48 hours to review the contract if needed.

7. Set a payment schedule – Do not pay cash and do not let payments get ahead of completed work. Never pay for work before it is done.

8. Do not pay more than 10% or $1,000 as a down payment – Keep the final 10% payment upon completion of the job.

9. Review the warranty details – make sure that there is a specific guideline provided by contractor or third-party.

10. Keep a job file – maintain a paper trail of receipts, permits and plans. You may need this information when submitting for local solar incentives or the 2010 30% federal tax credit.

Now that you have the tips, it’s time to begin the search for the solar installer that fits your needs – Good Luck!

Greg Brandmeier
Vaillant Solar Systems Marketing Coordinator