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Category Archives: CSI Thermal Program

Download this USDA Presentation on Solar Thermal Food Processing History and Technology

Posted on by Solar Fred

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently made a presentation about the usage of solar thermal as a food drying and processing technology. In terms of industrial food processing, solar thermal and solar hot water are commonly at vineyards and … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, Commercial PACE Programs, commercial solar thermal skid pump stations, CSI Thermal Program, solar hot water resources, Solar Process Heat, solar thermal for breweries, solar thermal for process heat, Solar Thermal Space Heating |

Here Are Details on the New CSI Thermal Incentive for Solar Process Heating and Cooling

Posted on by Solar Fred

It’s official: Solar process heating applications are now eligible for California’s CSI Thermal incentive. That means that up to $500,000 is available for commercial process heat technologies, which include solar space heating, solar air conditioning, or multi-family/commercial combination solar heating, … Continue reading

Posted in CSI Thermal Program, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, Solar Process Heat, Solar Rebates, solar thermal engineering, solar thermal for breweries, Solar thermal for laundromats, solar thermal for process heat, Solar Thermal Space Heating |

Video: Solar Architects Through History: From Roman Baths to Today’s Solar Hot Water

Posted on by Solar Fred

One of the first books on solar energy that I ever read was A Golden Thread: 2500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology by John Perlin. Below, Perlin is interviewed about the (ancient) history of solar hot water and discusses … Continue reading

Posted in CSI Thermal Program, How Solar Works, Residential Solar Hot Water, Solar Business Resources, Solar Hot Water News, solar hot water resources, Solar Hot Water Videos |

New Changes to the CSI Thermal Rebate Program: Commercial Swimming Pools, Heating, and Cooling Now Eligible

Posted on by Solar Fred

California’s CSI Thermal program has expanded eligibility for its lucrative rebates that give California businesses up to $500,000 towards the cost or their solar thermal installations. The first big change is that commercial pool heating is now eligible for the … Continue reading

Posted in CSI Thermal Program |

PACE: A Little Known But Innovative Way to Finance Commercial Solar Thermal in California

Posted on by Solar Fred

Have you ever had a commercial or industrial solar thermal project in California get held up due to lack of financing? Consider the recently revived PACE financing, or “Property Assessed Clean Energy. PACE is the next best thing to having … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, Commercial PACE Programs, CSI Thermal Program |

To Mandate or Not to Mandate Solar Hot Water, That is the Question…

Posted on by Solar Fred

While incentives alone have worked to grow the market for solar PV systems in California, the state’s generous CSI Thermal rebates—plus the Federal 30% Investment Tax Credit—have yet to create a solar hot water boom in California. At least not … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, CSI Thermal Program, CSI Thermal program for low-income, Hawaii Solar Hot Water, Residential Solar Hot Water, Solar Hot Water Value, Solar Thermal Economics |

Case Study: California Laundromat Washes Away High Hot Water Bills with Solar Water Heating

Posted on by Solar Fred

Woody’s Laundromat is a neighborhood institution for residents seeking a clean and convenient laundry facility in the Lake Merritt area of Oakland, California. As the 2009/2010 winner of the OneCalifornia Foundation’s OaklandIndie Award, Woody’s was named a Neighborhood Dynamo, and … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, CSI Thermal Program, OG-100 Solar Hot Water Collectors, Solar hot water case studies, Solar Rebates, Solar Tax Incentives, Solar Thermal & Solar Hot Water News, Solar thermal for laundromats, Uncategorized |

Our Chief Engineer Has Been Invited to Present at an Intersolar Panel

Posted on by Solar Fred

If you’re attending Intersolar in San Francisco this July, be sure to set time aside to attend the Solar Heating and Cooling: Innovations & Applications session.  That’s when Gal Moyal, Free Hot Water’s chief engineer and CEO, will present a … Continue reading

Posted in CSI Thermal Program, Intersolar North America, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings, Solar Hot Water Monitoring, Solar Thermal & Solar Hot Water News |

320 Solar Reasons Why Free Hot Water Celebrated Earth Day

Posted on by Solar Fred

On Earth Day 2013, Free Hot Water was recognized by San Jose City Councilmember Ash Kalra for our Tradewinds project. Kalra was the scissor–cutter of honor, cutting the ceremonial ribbon of the largest multi-unit residential solar thermal installation in California … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, CSI Thermal Program |

Is Solar Thermal Now Cost Competitive with Natural Gas Heat and Hot Water for Apartment Buildings? Yes

Posted on by Solar Fred

Is solar thermal now cost-competitive with natural gas heating and hot water for apartment buildings? As Free Hot Water recently found out, the answer is… yes!  One of Free Hot Water’s new clients, Barak Jolish, a San Francisco building developer, … Continue reading

Posted in 30% Investment Tax Credit, CSI Thermal Program, Solar Hot Water for Apartment Buildings |