Six Weeks of Solar Hot Water, Part II:We Can Be Heroes!

Welcome to the second instalment of 'Six Weeks of Solar Hot Water' (again proudly sponsored by Alpha Thermal Systems [Plug and Play SHW Systems] in Webster, Massachusetts).

Six Weeks of Solar Hot Water

I believe that we need to start actively motivating individuals to embrace Solar Thermal. North America is ready for Energy change. We need to get the message out – and we can no longer wait on industry groups to do it. 

Each week, I'm writing about the tools, resources, and marketing techniques that will help solar thermal commercial and residential installers create new and better business.

At the end of the six weeks, I will compile all of the posts (along with your critical feedback) into “The Solar Hot Water Marketing Guide” – a free and available PDF aimed at promoting solar thermal.

Part II: Heroes!

Almost any technology, product, or Solar Hot Water guide, needs strong exemplars - real stories documenting the best aspects of that value-proposition in practice.  Most of us are familiar with the high-rates of solar thermal deployment in Germany, yet there seems to be no “common thread” example documenting solar hot water success in North America.

In order to develop our own SHW narrative, we must address North American consumers in a simple and accessible way. I would like to use this post to document a few potential success stories in SHW (see below), as well as request your critical feedback:

1. What is the best success story for North American SHW?
   Please share any relevant blog posts, images, videos, etc. that demonstrate this success.
2. What's the best success story that you can imagine for promoting Solar Hot Water?  Is it a renewable energy street or district?  Is it a regional collaboration in SHW codes and standards (as exemplified with SolarBC)?  Or perhaps, is it the story of a single family who saved money and (oil) by deciding to adopt SHW heating?

I imagine that the forthcoming “Solar Hot Water Marketing Guide” will showcase stories from happy consumers, successful commercial installations, and innovative governmental partnerships.  Please help me find the *best* stories of what is already possible for Solar Thermal right now.

The Best of the Best

Here are a few Solar Hot Water highlights in North America to get us started.  Please add your own!

Public Partnership - Solar BC

SolarBC is one of the current standouts in North America, following the trend towards SHW teaming up a public counterpart:

SolarBC, a program by Eaga Canada, worked in collaboration with the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) by Natural Resources Canada to implement their province wide Residential Solar Hot Water Pilot initiative. The residential program offers “point of sale” grants off the cost of a solar hot water system, a network of approved and certified installers, information on solar events in the province, and other useful information about SHW in the province.

- From SolarBC's site (for 2008-2010)

Public Marketing - Solar on the White House

As many REW readers might recall, we saw the completion of a successful “solar on the white house” campaign last year.  Read the article announcing the campaign victory here:

Washington, DC, USA -- After months of petitioning by the solar industry and citizens, the government has agreed to install solar hot water panels and some photovoltaic (PV) on the White House, in Washington, DC.

An effort to put solar on The White House has been active for some time. RenewableEnergyWorld.com has been a media partner of the SolarOnTheWhiteHouse campaign, organized by Sungevity, the solar blogger Solar Fred, Kaco, and others since April 2010. The campaign rounded up 50,000 signatures since it began.

This campaign was wonderfully effective at generating media and public interest in solar thermal for a short time.  Despite a fair amount of vitriolic political scepticism, the “solar on the white house” campaign managed to generate a national conversation about alternatives to status quo energy policy (with the BP Oil Spill providing a foreboding counterpoint).  I think we owe all the people behind the “solar on the white house” campaign a big thank you.

Runner-up: Smart Clean and Ready to Go - Environment Maine.               

Recent Approaches to Tech/Development

Highlighting public+private/technological development(s) in Solar Hot Water is akin to opening up a can of worms as far as this article is concerned. I strongly feel that the SHW industry needs to collaborate to grow – far too often, passionate installers and engineers create disparate technological approaches, viewpoints, and industry standards. A lack of cohesion in the innovation of the SHW industry ends up holding it back by confusing consumers and governmental certifications.

Therefore, I'll simply list a few initiatives and articles from the past few years that I personally find notable. (Again, please let me know of your own highlights and best stories in the comments below).

Research: Wake Forest's Solar PV and SHW “Solar Cell” Initiative
http://www.gizmag.com/solar-thermal-cell/18346/

Sun and Wind Energy Magazine: Review of PrePacked SHW Systems (2010)
PDF Review Here.

Study - Fear of being first scares homeowners off of sustainability innovations (scroll down for article)
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/architecture/about/news/default.aspx#january

Microfit: Who's in Charge
http://www.northumberlandview.ca/index.php?module=news&func=display&sid=6558
*A notable problem in public development here in Ontario.

The US Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon
http://www.solardecathlon.gov/

Summary

Clearly, my little list of best practice examples in SHW is incomplete. I know that there are other amazing stories out there. Help me find them! What other stories and highlights from the last few years of the Solar Thermal industry need to be included here?

Thanks,
Andrew H.