Report – The U.S. Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) issues ratings for the thermal performance of solar collectors and solar water heaters (SWH). A bias favoring unglazed collectors currently exists because unglazed collectors have been tested under ASHRAE96 which specifies low wind during testing, whereas glazed collectors are tested under ASHRAE93 which specifies...
Report – Unglazed polymeric collectors have long been used in solar pool heating systems, and they dominate the U.S. solar market. With low cost and good performance, solar pool heaters can attain simple payback < ~5 years, corresponding to ≥ ~20% return on investment. In the United States, such favourable economics are likely needed...
Report – California has long been both a national and international leader in developing programs and policies aimed at increasing the efficiency with which both electricity and natural gas are used in the State. Over the past 25 years, efforts from utility energy-efficiency programs and state standards have culminated in savings of approximately 2,000...
Report – California is the nation’s most efficient state in terms of per capita electricity consumption. Since 1973, per capita electricity consumption in the United States increased by 50 percent, while, remarkably, per capita use in California held constant. Much of this is likely the direct result of the state’s efforts to fund and...