DSM Pocket Guidebook Volume 5: Renewable and Related ... - NREL

The Solar Rating and Certification Commission (SRCC) now has o
standard in place for solar water heaters. To comp with the standard,
o manufacturer must
• Hove each system model rated
• Allow SRCC factory and field inspections
• Comply with o three-person design review.
Systems meeting the standard will hove o Iobei stating compliance with
the SRCC OG-300 standard. This standard should improve consumer
and utility confidence of product reliability.
Figure R-27 illustrates the impact of solar water heaters on utility
demand-based on the results of three field studies. The studies ore oil
described in the publication identified ot the end of this brief. In oil
three of these studies, the greatest coincident demand occurred in the
winter. This is because hot water use is o strong component of the
utilities' ear morning winter peak but is not os critical during the
summer peak period, which is typically in the afternoon. Rgure R-28
illustrates the energy impact of homes with solar water heating (with
electric auxiliary) and o similar set of homes with conventional electric
water heaters.
Several utilies in the western stoles ore now offering some type of
solar water heating program os port of their demand-side management
program. The programs generally include rebates or low-interest loons.
The programs include system standards tied to performance or warronties.
A utility solar water heating interest group is being formed to
define utility needs for information and to establish the readiness of
solar water heating os o demand-side measure. Costs and benefits for
solar water heaters ore shown in Tobie R-24 .
• DEFINITIONS AND TERMS
DRAINBACK SYSTEMS In these systems, water in the collector loop
drains into o tonk or reservoir whenever the pump stops.
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