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The installation of a solar hot-water heating system in a commercial building can reduce long-term costs and environmental impacts by using renewable, rather than fossil fuel, energy. Hooper Corporation's Plumbing Department is an approved service provider as recognized by Focus on Energy, having had employees complete both classroom and hands-on training courses. Focus on Energy is a program that works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficient and renewable energy projects.
Solar hot-water systems are a proven technology that can have an internal rate of return as high as 20 percent. Wisconsin’s climate allows for mostly sunny weather six months out of the year and the remaining six months are filled with mostly sun for about half of the daylight hours. Because this free energy source is not a constant, traditional gas or electric systems are generally required as backup systems. In general, solar hot-water systems are designed to supply 30-50 percent of a site’s hot water needs. Hooper is capable of installing both solar and traditional systems on any commercial project.
Maximizing fuel efficiency in a building is the first step toward a more eco-friendly facility. The next step is selecting the right site and system size. Businesses using large quantities of hot water are more likely to see an immediate return on investment in the form of decreased overall monthly energy costs. Hot water needs also boost a business’s return on investment. Examples of businesses where the highest return on investment would be seen include:
- Health care facilities
- Hotels and motels
- Health clubs and spas
- Restaurants and bakeries
- Apartment buildings
- Correctional facilities and similar government facilities
- Agriculture
- Food processing and similar industries
- Water parks and campgrounds
- Car washes
- Laundries and Laundromats
Financial incentives are abundant in the state of Wisconsin for the installation of solar hot-water systems. Visiting http://www.focusonenergy.com/Incentives/Renewable will give you a current listing of Focus incentives. A comprehensive list of state, local, utility, and federal incentives are located at http://www.dsireusa.org.
If you are interested in converting to or adding a solar hot-water system in your commercial building, contact your Hooper Corporation representative today at 608.249.0451 or contact Hooper Corporation's Plumbing Department.
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