Santa Cruz businesses are getting into hot water, solar-style. The first business to take advantage of the new California Solar Initiative (CSI) Thermal Program for commercial businesses is Toadal Fitness, which installed a 12-panel Free Hot Water commercial system. It is estimated that the new system, which will heat all the water used by the facility, will generate more than 1200 therms per year on average. Over 25 years, this will save 202 metric tons of CO2 from being released into the environment.
“When people think of solar, they often think of photo voltaic panels, which produce electricity, not hot water or space heating,” said Free Hot Water COO Paul Burrowes. “People forget that Jimmy Carter put solar hot water panels on the White House, not solar electric panels.” Solar hot water panels are, in fact, very common in other parts of the world, and have been mandated by law in Israel since the 1970s.
Deputy Mayor Ryan Coonerty, who attended the ribbon-cutting event, said, “I think it is great that local businesses like Toadal Fitness are taking the lead in responding to climate change. I expect that this is only the first of many business who will look to solar thermal water to save costs and reduce their carbon footprints.” Read more at Renewable Energy World.
