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Author Archives: Solar Fred

How Texas Measures Up for Solar Hot Water Rebates

Posted on by Solar Fred

Despite Texas being known for its oil, Texas utilities are not so shy when it comes to solar water heating incentives. Though not as generous as Arizona or California programs, they typically provide around $1000 towards mostly residential solar thermal … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, Hotel Solar Hot Water, pre-engineered solar thermal systems, Residential Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, solar hot water for hospitals, Solar Tax Incentives, solar thermal air conditioning, Solar Thermal Economics, Solar Thermal Space Heating | Tagged , ,

The difference between good solar thermal engineering and bad solar thermal engineering

Posted on by Solar Fred

We like music here at Free Hot Water. Who doesn’t.  And we also like metaphors. So, we thought we’d metaphorically and musically show you the difference between good solar thermal engineering… and bad solar thermal engineering with help of the … Continue reading

Posted in Solar Thermal & Solar Hot Water News, solar thermal engineering | Tagged

When Solar Installers Need a Solar Thermal Engineer

Posted on by Solar Fred

Although Free Hot Water offers OG-300 residential systems and pre-engineered commercial solar thermal systems, there will still be times when solar thermal installers and construction firms need a solar thermal engineer. Sometimes it’s as simple as freeing installers from putting … Continue reading

Posted in Hotel Solar Hot Water, pre-engineered solar thermal systems, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, Solar Hot Water News, solar thermal engineering, Solar Thermal Space Heating, SRCC OG-300 solar systems | Tagged , , , ,

Featured Free Hot Water Installer: SunRenu Case Study of a 138-Unit Tucson Apt Complex

Posted on by Solar Fred

A few months ago, we asked Free Hot Water installers to share some of the projects that they’ve been working on.  The first in this ongoing case study series comes from John McDonnell, President of SunRenu Solar, based in Scottsdale, … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, Arizona Solar Thermal, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, Solar Thermal Economics | Tagged , , , ,

A Review of Arizona’s Generous Utility and State Subsidies for Solar Hot Water

Posted on by Solar Fred

Free Hot Water often highlights California’s generous subsidies for solar hot water installations, but it’s not the only state committed to solar water heating. Arizona’s utilities all offer different—but valuable—solar hot water incentives for both residential and commercial installations. Of … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, pre-engineered solar thermal systems, Residential Solar Hot Water, Restaurant Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, solar hot water for hospitals, solar hot water resources, Solar Hot Water Value, Solar Rebates, Solar Thermal Space Heating, SRCC OG-300 solar systems | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Video: Special Solar Thermal Delivery … By Helicopter

Posted on by Solar Fred

When installing solar hot water on buildings, sometimes the freight elevator is too small, and the building is too tall for a small crane. So, we found another way to the roof…  

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Little Products and Tools Mean A Lot When Installing Solar Hot Water

Posted on by Solar Fred

Free Hot Water is increasingly becoming known for our quality lines of solar collectors, tanks, and pump stations, and OG-300 systems. That’s the bread and butter of installing solar thermal, and we know that. Yet, there are little parts, tools, … Continue reading

Posted in pre-engineered solar thermal systems, Restaurant Solar Hot Water, Site Assessment, Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, solar hot water for hospitals, solar hot water resources, SRCC OG-300 solar systems, Weicon, Weicon Products | Tagged , , , , ,

California Launches Solar Hot Water Public Awareness Campaign

Posted on by Solar Fred

When California funded the CSI Solar Thermal program in 2010, part of the funding included a carve-out for marketing the program and educating the public about solar hot water’s benefits to consumers and businesses. That public awareness program is finally … Continue reading

Posted in CSI Thermal Program, CSI Thermal program for low-income, Residential Solar Hot Water, Restaurant Solar Hot Water, Solar Business Resources, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, solar hot water for hospitals, Solar Hot Water News, Solar Rebates, Solar Thermal & Solar Hot Water News | Tagged , , , , ,

California Expands Solar Thermal Incentives for Low-Income Housing

Posted on by Solar Fred

Once again, California is leading the way for solar hot water with a new solar thermal incentive, this time for low-income single-family properties and multi-family dwellings. Regular readers to the Free Hot Water blog are probably familiar with California’s CSI … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, CSI Thermal Program, CSI Thermal program for low-income, Residential Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, Solar Rebates, Solar Tax Incentives, Solar Thermal & Solar Hot Water News | Tagged , , , , ,

North Carolina Utility Study: Solar Hot Water Saves 63% of Water Heating Bill

Posted on by Solar Fred

Progress Energy, a Raleigh, NC-based utility, has completed a previously announced study showing that its residential customers could save $235 a year, or 63% of the water heating portion of their electric bill. The utility also offers commercial solar thermal … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, Hotel Solar Hot Water, North Carolina Solar Hot Water, pre-engineered solar thermal systems, Residential Solar Hot Water, Solar Business Resources, Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, solar hot water for hospitals, Solar Hot Water Value, Solar Rebates, Solar Tax Incentives, Solar Thermal & Solar Hot Water News, Solar Thermal Economics, SRCC OG-300 solar systems | Tagged , , , , , , , ,