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Stylized Text: For Homes

Picture of a Cocoa Beach home with a solar thermal system on the roof.Taking advantage of solar energy is one way that consumers can save considerable amounts of energy. Solar energy systems are most commonly used to provide hot water for residential uses.

The following sections provide information on how solar hot water systems work, how to appropriately size a system and their costs, how systems are installed, and information about the ratings generated generated by FSEC testing and certification.

Solar hot water systems come in all shapes, sizes, and configurations. If you're interested in how to determine what size of system can best suit your needs, take a look at our Simplified Sizing Procedures For Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems [384KB, Adobe Acrobat PDF].

Thumbnail of a diagram for one type of solar hot water system.System Types
There are a number of solar how water system types on the market. This section explores a number of common system type and describes the differences between. If you're still trying to figure out which kind of system is for you, this section is for you.
Picture of two FSEC employees installing a solar hot water collector on a roof.System Installation
This section explores the steps taken in the installation of a particular solar water heating system. This guide is not to be considered a step-by-step guide, but it will give consumers a rough idea of how their system can or will be installed.

Picture of a solar thermal system on a home.Collector Ratings
This section contains a listing of solar water heating collectors that have been tested and certified by FSEC for sale and manufacturing in Florida.

This link will send you to the FSEC Collector database.

Picture of a people inspecting a water tank.System Ratings
This section contains a listing of solar water heating system that have been tested and certified by FSEC for sale and manufacturing in Florida.

This link will send you to the Certification & Testing section.

Picture of a solar thermal array at a prison.Simplified System Calculator
The simplified residential solar hot water sizing calculator can help you estimate the size of an appropriate system for you as well as the possible economic benefits of such a system.
Picture of a pair of hands holding a stack of books.Q&A
There are many questions you may have about using solar hot water. Chances are that someone has asked the same question before. Take a look at our Q&A to find the answers to many common consumer questions.