VELUX Expands Solar Water Heating Product Line in U.S.

FORT MILL, SC, June 09, 2011 (Press-News.org) VELUX America has expanded its solar water heating product line in the U.S. to include packaged solar water heating systems for homeowners in all markets across the country.

Jim Cika, manager, solar products for VELUX America, says VELUX has three major additions to the solar product line that will open the solar water heating market to U.S. homeowners. He says that the addition of gas backup solar systems, rack mounted collector systems, and smaller size, one-collector/60 gallon tank solar systems, will provide most homeowners with a solar thermal option to meet their water heating needs. Each solar water heating system installed in the U.S. will help to reduce the nation's reliance on fossil fuels while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "With the addition of these new systems, we are enabling a greater number of individual homeowners to support the green movement in our country while realizing benefits now and for years to come," Cika says.

"Until now, VELUX solar water heating systems have been limited primarily to electric water heating markets in this country, accounting for roughly 50 percent of the residential water heating market," he says. "Our systems could not be used by many homeowners in gas markets due to space limitations that prohibited the installation of our solar storage tank in addition to their existing gas water heater. With the availability of our gas backup systems, VELUX now has a solar water heating solution for both gas and electric markets throughout the U.S.," he says.

"Another important addition to the VELUX solar product line is our new rack mounted solar collector systems. While the focus of our business continues to be solar systems utilizing our roof integrated collector systems with the same low profile look and performance as VELUX skylights and roof windows, we now have packaged systems with racks for mounting our collectors. These new rack mounted systems allow VELUX solar collectors to be mounted on flat roofs, metal roofs, reverse pitch applications, or any other situation where roof integration is not feasible.

"The third major addition to our solar product line is the one-collector/60 gallon tank system. Until now, VELUX solar systems have utilized two-collector/80 gallon tank and three-collector/120 gallon tank systems, which meet the hot water needs of most 3-4 person and 5-6 person households. Our one-collector/60 gallon tank system will meet the hot water requirements of most 1-2 person households," Cika says.

VELUX, long a global leader in skylights and other solar control technology, is the only company in the U.S. providing an integrated solution for solar water heating, daylighting, and passive ventilation. In many instances, VELUX solar collectors can be installed in combination with VELUX skylights or roof windows to minimize energy consumption while maximizing daylight and passive ventilation.

Cika says that federal tax credits can help pay 30 percent of solar water heating system costs, including installation, and that many states and utilities now offer additional support resulting in credits that could offset up to half the cost. This, combined with savings on home energy bills, he says, should result in an anticipated payback period of three to seven years in most areas depending on geographic location, utility rates and other factors.

The U.S. Department of Energy, in it's EERE Consumer's Guide, says that, "On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50 to 80 percent. Also, because sunlight is free, you're protected from future fuel shortages and price hikes."

Solar energy systems can take advantage of this free energy source throughout the year as solar energy can be produced even at low temperatures. According to Cika, the capacity for widespread use is a particularly attractive feature of the VELUX systems.

"We use a glycol, or antifreeze solution, in our systems," Cika says, "so they are suitable for use anywhere in the United States, with the exception of some parts of Alaska, which is not the case with all solar water heating systems."

For more information on the VELUX solar water heating system, visit veluxusa.com/solar or call 1-800-888-3589.

VELUX is the world leader in skylights and roof windows and is one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector. VELUX America products are available nationwide through home centers, building material suppliers, lumberyards, and independent door, window, or roofing retailers. Consumers can access complete product information and can locate local suppliers and installation information, at veluxusa.com. VELUX will mail consumers literature on the benefits of bringing more natural light and ventilation into the home and workplace and on skylight selection, as well as on solar water heating systems. Call 1-800-283-2831 or request via e-mail at www.veluxusa.com.

Media Contact:
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Raleigh, NC 27615-2306 - Phone - 919.844.0064 - E-mail - khobbs@nc.rr.com