A solar energy company in South Carolina is committed to bringing solar thermal to the masses. Southern Energy Management (SEM) was recently awarded a contract to install 60 residential solar thermal water heating systems using a grant from the South Carolina Energy Office.

Administered by Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (CEPCI), the partnership between SEM and Velux, a leading solar water heater manufacturer headquartered in Greenwood, SC.., will monitor the effectiveness of residential solar thermal water heating. All 60 Velux solar thermal water heating systems were installed in 60 days.

“Anything that can help make solar a little more mainstream in South Carolina is a big deal,” said SEM co-founder Bob Kingery. “For awhile now, residents there haven't had access to the type of incentives that make solar power accessible like some of its neighboring states. The monitoring systems being included in this project will give CEPCI the tools it needs to show that solar hot-water systems can legitimately help lower utility bills and serve as a sound investment for homeowners.”

The project by CEPCI will monitor the effectiveness of residential solar thermal water heating through a grant provided by the South Carolina Energy Office.

“Ideally, this will help kick-start legislative changes at the state level,” said Kingery. “If some of the lawmakers at the state capitol understand the potential here, we could see South Carolina take more of a leadership position when it comes to supporting sustainable energy.”

With the ability to provide an estimated 75 percent of a typical family’s hot water needs, solar water heating can eliminate the equivalent of 19,000 pounds of carbon emissions that would have been created through traditional water heating sources.

Nearly half of the systems will be monitored for one year to track the output of solar hot water and the electricity savings. The data produced from the program will give CEPCI information and data on potential savings for customers on a larger scale.

“Over the past decade, we’ve been part of many milestone solar projects in North Carolina and other states, and it’s always rewarding to see how pilot programs can lead to real change in the perception and adoption of renewable technologies,” said Kingery. “We're optimistic that the success of this project will give South Carolina the momentum it needs to propel solar into the mainstream."

Image courtesy of SEM.