Solar Thermal Advantage

Eneref Institute launched our “Solar Thermal Advantage” initiative in 2006 as an independent third-party verification of installations to encourage the adaption of solar heating and cooling in commercial and residential facilities. At that time, Eneref recognized the US solar heating and cooling industry was a group of regional companies lacking the wherewithal to organize a common, positive message. Eneref Institute jumped at this challenge, as our methodology was perfectly suited to bring the industry together as a group, and publicize the benefits of the technology to the media. In 2007, we created and self-funded our “Solar Thermal Advantage” initiative. In 2010 we went a step further, and asked the industry to help increase our annual budget for the initiative, and the positive response we received was industry-wide.

Sponsor

Benefactor

Contributor

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of

Cinco Solar
Chromasun
Pacific Energy Testing

Latest STA News

The second phase of Eneref Institute’s “Solar Thermal Advantage” initiative—designed to promote the benefits of solar heating and cooling to the trade media—launched on March 1st 2012. Phase II of the initiative begins with an extensive search for media opportunities to promote successful case studies in the trade press. Eneref’s initial efforts will focus on effective solar heating and cooling stories of industry-leading manufacturers and installers, including, Caleffi, AET, Skyline Innovations, Sunnovations, and SunEarth as well as the industry associations, SEIA and IAPMO.

“Many of the editors we’re speaking with are unfamiliar with both the technology and the brands” explains Eneref Institute’s Managing Director, Seth Warren Rose. “We’re working on educating the media about the various brands and about the tremendous benefits of solar heating technology, so that in time the press will reach out for these stories without our help.”

Inaugurating this effort is a story to be published in Resort + Recreation Magazine about a solar hot water installation on Utah’s popular Park City Mountain Ski Resort using panels manufactured by Caleffi Hydronic Solutions. Immediately following the Caleffi article will be numerous case studies published in the press about solar heating installed on single and mulit-family housing, as well as on commercial facilities, including university buildings, health clubs, hospitality, military, municipal buildings and restaurants. Process heating stories will be published in trade magazines covering breweries, farming, and healthcare. As part the initiative to promote solar heating and cooling, Eneref Institute will launch an industry-wide website www.shc.eneref.org featuring successful case studies demonstrating the benefits of using the sun’s energy for heat. A promotional effort for the website will begin in the second quarter of 2012. Solar heating installers and manufacturers are invited to submit their successful case studies online, at www.casestudy.eneref.org.