According to the U.S. Department of Energy, roughly 430 quintillion Joules of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth each hour. The Sun’s raw energy can be absorbed in two ways: Either the conversion of sunlight into electricity or the utilization of the sun’s energy as a direct source of heat. The latter has been in use since 1891 and has recently become mainstream again due to various incentives and pressures to utilize renewable energy sources.
The solar industry now has to serve a seemingly insatiable demand. It was only natural this movement towards renewable energy would become prevalent in all hot water applications, including those such as heating pools. With various benefits including efficiency as well as simple design and installation, solar pool heating systems have become a more eco-conscious way for providing a means of human comfort. The Uniform Solar, Hydronics & Geothermal Code (USHGC) is a key component to properly installing such systems. The USHGC can be utilized for proper installation of solar pool heating systems as it lists provisions for materials, installation and prevention of corrosion and heat loss.