Reference Links

General solar water heating

This FSEC web site on solar water heating provides basic solar information
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_hot_water/index.htm

U.S. Department of Energy Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/44792.pdf

System installation

The FSEC solar thermal manual provides detailed information on proper system installation.  This site also provides a pictorial tutorial on how a system is installed.
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/industry/resources/solar_thermal/index.htm

Detailed installation guidelines associated with installation standards are presented at this site.  http://www.solar-rating.org/education/og300education.htm

Building America Best Practices Series provides good examples how proper installation methods – and also how illustrates poor methods as well.
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/building_america/41085.pdf

System installers

The following organizations provide a listing of solar installers throughout the U.S.

Florida Solar Energy Industries Association
http://www.flaseia.org/

National Solar Energy Industries Association
http://www.seia.org/

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certified solar thermal installers
http://www.nabcep.org/index.cfm

System sizing and savings

A solar water heating Calculator is provided at
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_hot_water/homes/calculator/index.htm  and at
http://www.myfloridagreenbuilding.info/SHW-calc/index.htm

The SRCC web site provides listings of solar systems and anticipated savings for various locations in the U.S.  See the Ratings section.
http://www.solar-rating.org/default.htm

The outstanding DSIRE site provides a national and state by state listing of renewable energy incentives
http://www.dsireusa.org/

System certification

The SRCC site lists all collectors and systems that are currently certified under this national certification program.
http://www.solar-rating.org/default.htm

The FSEC web site lists the collectors and systems that are certified for Florida
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/industry/testing/index.htm