[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]by Erin Cox:  The Baltimore Sun

At one of Annapolis’ public housing buildings last week, new solar panels on the roof collected energy to heat hot water for more than two dozen apartments below.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WASHINGTON, DC:  Skyline Innovations, a third party solar developer, engaged Solar Energy Services, Inc. to design and install a solar water heating system on an apartment building on MacArthur Blvd. in downtown Washington, DC.

The solar thermal system will include 20 thermal panels on the south facing roof of the building, as well as a 1,000 gallon solar storage tank.  The system will act as a pre-heat to the building’s existing gas water heater, reducing their utility costs by around 30% annually.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]FREDERICK, MD:   Solar Energy Services, Inc., (SES) a leading solar energy products and services provider, announced today that it will begin work this week on a large solar water heating system for the Frederick County Adult Detention Center in Frederick, Maryland.

The renewable energy system, equivalent to approximately 130kW of power, will consist of 57 Apricus (AP-30C) evacuated tube solar thermal collectors, collecting thermal energy to deliver to the building’s water heating system. With each collector holding 30 tubes, the completed system will generate more than 2,500 gallons of hot water per day for the facility, using a total of more than 1,700 solar tubes.

SES Vice President and founder Roger Perry noted that prisons make excellent applications for solar water heating. “The occupancy is constant and all the hot water needs for laundry, bathing, cooking and cleaning are substantial.  Aside from the environmental benefits, this system will pay for itself in a short period of time.”

The solar project is funded in part by ARRA funds, but also from the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). In 2011, Governor O’Malley signed a bill into law to include solar water heating in the state’s solar goals, thus allowing solar water heating systems to benefit from the sale of SRECs.

About Solar Water Heating

A very mature solar technology, solar water heating is 3 to 4 times as efficient as solar electric (photovoltaic) technology and therefore can be very cost effective where there is a regular, daily requirement for hot water. Residential, multifamily, prisons, hotels, dormitories, military barracks, industrial processing, health clubs, car washes and restaurants are all very good candidates for solar water heating systems. The solar systems are designed to provide preheating for all domestic hot water, allowing the traditional heating source to provide any supplemental thermal energy as required.

About Solar Energy Services, Inc. and Solar Water Heating:

With more than 30 years of experience, Solar Energy Services (solarsaves.net) is a leading solar firm in the mid-Atlantic, with a unique expertise on commercial scale solar water heating. Based in Millersville MD, SES provides design, installation and service for commercial, institutional and residential applications.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WASHINGTON, DC:  The installation of a solar water heating system was completed today at an apartment building on Tunlaw Road in downtown Washington, DC.

The solar thermal system was designed and installed by Solar Energy Services, Inc., a Maryland- based solar installer, in partnership with Skyline Innovations, a DC-based third party solar developer.

The system includes 58 flat plate solar thermal collectors, a 3,200 gallon solar storage tank, and a 200 gallon buffer tank.  It is expected to greatly offset the building’s natural gas water heating system.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Maryland Solar Water Heating Bill Moves Forward

The House of Delegates voted 132-5 Saturday, following the Senate’s unanimous 47-0 vote March 17.

The legislation would allow owners of solar water-heating systems to sell renewable energy credits. The credits are bought by utilities and power companies that need to meet government quotas of renewable energy generation; if they can’t generate enough green power on their own, they can buy credits from someone else who has.

The ability to generate credits via solar water heating makes those systems a more attractive investment and rewards the buyers for using less fossil fuel. That is expected to be a boon for the green power industry, seen as a growing source of new jobs.

Gov. Martin O’Malley pitched the legislation along with dozens of lawmakers as co-sponsors. House and Senate versions of the bill still must be passed by the opposite chamber, which is expected since the two bills are identical. O’Malley is then expected to sign off.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

WASHINGTON, DC:  Solar Energy Services, Inc. installed and commissioned a solar thermal system at Tiber Island, a waterfront condomimium community in Washington, DC.

SES was contracted by Skyline Innovations, a third party solar developer, to design and install the solar water heating system that acts as a pre-heat to the facility’s natural gas water heating system.

The solar system consists of 76 solar arrays mounted to the building’s roof.  Each array has 30 evacuated tube collectors that are closed-loop plumbed to a 5,000 gallon solar storage tank.

The system is expected to offset a large portion of the facility’s conventional utility bill.

WASHINGTON, DC:  Earlier this week, Solar Energy Services, Inc. completed the installation of three separate solar water heating systems on the campus of American University…

 The Mary Graydon Center, which houses a dining hall as well as various administrative offices, was outfitted with a rooftop solar thermal collection system which included 16, 30-tube solar collectors.  These collectors are closed-loop, plumbed to 7, 120-gallon pressurized tanks for a total storage capacity of 8,406 gallons.

Anderson Hall, the largest of AU’s dormitories housing over 770 students, was outfitted with 81, 30-tube solar collectors closed-loop plumbed to a unpressurized 5,000 gallon storage tank.

Letts Hall, housing dormitories and a fitness center, was outfitted with 55, 30-tube solar collectors closed-loop plumbed to 1, 3,111 gallon storage tank.

All three solar water heating systems will serve as a pre-heat to the buildings existing conventional water heating systems.

Click HERE for post-installation pics

WASHINGTON, DC:  Solar Energy Services, Inc. completed installation of a fully automatic solar water heating system at Park Tower, an apartment building located in the historic Adams Morgan neighborhood.

The building is home to 125 apartment units throughout its five floors.  SES was contracted by Skyline Innovations, a third party solar developer, to install and commission the solar thermal system.  It consists of 48 solar thermal panels and three 1000 gallon thermal storage tanks.  The system is slated to offset a huge portion of the building’s conventional water heating system.

WASHINGTON, DC:  Solar Energy Services, Inc. began work today on the installation of a solar water heating system at Webster House, a condominium complex in downtown Washington, DC.

The building houses 175 units on its 9 floors, and contracted with Skyline Innovations, a third party solar developer, to offset its large heating load with solar.  The building will be outfitted with 44 solar thermal collectors and a 3,111 gallon thermal storage tank.  The system promises to offset a huge portion of the building’s conventional water heating system.

WASHINGTON, DC:  Solar Energy Services, Inc. of Millersville, MD has been contracted by Skyline Innovations, Inc., a Washington, DC third-party solar developer, to install two solar water heating systems at the George Washington University campus in downtown DC.

The systems include a ballasted 30-panel evacuated tube system on the flat rooftop of one dormitory and a similar 60-panel system on the flat rooftop of another dormitory. The 30-panel system design will utilize an existing 2,500 gallon storage tank in the penthouse for solar storage, while the 60-panel system design utilizes an existing 2,500 gallon tank in the basement mechanical room.

Click HERE for post-installation pics