Solar Water Heat

Solar Contractor Licensing

Michigan offers a solar heating contractor specialty license to individuals who have at least three years of experience installing solar equipment under the direction of a licensed solar contractor and have passed the state examination. Students or graduates of a recognized trade school can count one year of school toward the three year requirement. Contact the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to apply. There is no equivalent specialty license for solar-electric (PV) installers. When solar equipment is installed as a heating element a mechanical contractors license is required in accordance with the state of Michigan Forbes Mechanical Contractors

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City of Boulder - Solar Access Ordinance

The City of Boulder enacted an ordinance in 1982 to guarantee access to sunlight for homeowners and renters.

Solar Access

Solar access is guaranteed setting limits on the amount of permitted shading by new construction. The degree of solar access protection is defined by either a 12 foot or 25 foot hypothetical "solar fence" on the property lines of the protected buildings. The ordinance is designed to protect access for a 4-hour period on December 21st. Under most circumstances, new structures will not be allowed to shade adjacent lots to a greater extent than the applicable solar fence.

There are

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Solar Contractor Licensing

Utah's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing requires installers of solar energy systems to be licensed contractors. General electrical contractors carrying an S200 or an S201 license are authorized to install solar photovoltaic systems. The Division has also established solar-specific license classifications. License classification S202 is for Solar Photovoltaic Contractors, and S215 is for Solar Thermal Systems Contractors. A Solar Photovoltaic Contractor is licensed for the fabrication, construction, installation, and replacement of photovoltaic cell panels and related components including battery storage systems, distribution panels, switch gear, electrical wires, inverters, and other electrical apparatus for solar photovoltaic systems. A Solar Thermal

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City of Madison - Solar and Wind Access and Planning Laws

Madison, Wisconsin, has established several local laws to facilitate the planning and permitting of solar and wind systems. The planning guidelines are specific to solar, while the permitting laws and procedures include wind as well.

Planning
To facilitate solar access, Madison’s land subdivision regulations require streets to be "oriented in an east-west direction to the maximum extent possible or to within 20 degrees of such orientation." There are some exceptions based on topography, property size and shape, existing street patterns, and other considerations. In addition, subdivision lots should be oriented to maximize solar access for buildings, and open space lots

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City of Aspen and Pitkin County - Building Energy Codes

Building Codes

The City of Aspen and Pitkin County have adopted both the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)—with some amendments—and an Efficient Building Code.

The Efficient Building ordinance was adopted in 2003 with the intent to encourage cost-effective and sustainable building methods that, among other goals, conserve energy. The code applies to new, remodeled, or additions to one- and two-family dwellings and multiple family dwellings not more than 3 stories in height. These dwellings are required to earn a specific number of points by completing sustainable building practices that can include energy efficiency measures, including installing ENERGY STAR appliances

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SMUD - Solar Water Heater Rebate Program

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District's (SMUD) Solar Domestic Hot Water Program provides rebates and/or loan financing to customers who install solar water heating systems. The amount of the rebate depends on how much electricity the system will offset annually:

  • 800 - 1,399 kWh: $500
  • 1,400 - 2,199 kWh: $1,000
  • 2,200 kWh or greater: $1,500

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All solar water-heating units must meet standards set by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC), be installed by a SMUD-approved solar contractor, and pass inspection by SMUD representatives.

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City of Madison - Contractor Licensing

Although the State of Wisconsin does not have any specific laws for contractors dealing with renewable energy, the City of Madison has issued rules for contractor licensing and equipment standards for solar thermal installations. In the City’s Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Code is a requirement for a Class A-4 license for "a person desiring to enter into the business of installing, altering or repairing active solar heating equipment" as well as fee and examination details. As a result of a 2008 amendment (Ordinance No. 08-00122), the A-4 certification is not required if the contractor is certified as a solar

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JEA - Solar Incentive Program

The JEA Solar Incentive Program provides rebates to JEA's residential customers who install new and retrofit solar hot water heaters on their homes. The rebate is worth $400 for new solar thermal systems installed by an approved contractor.

The incentive applies to the installation of solar water heating systems. Pool heating systems and photovoltaic (PV) systems are not eligible for the rebate. If other incentives (rebates, grants, etc.) are used to fund a solar hot water system, total funding, including JEA funding, cannot exceed the cost of the system.

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Town of Chapel Hill - Energy Conservation Requirements for Town Buildings

The Town of Chapel Hill’s energy-conservation ordinance requires all new or expanded buildings constructed by and for the town to achieve a Silver level certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and be designed to meet the applicable Architecture 2030 fossil fuel energy reduction target from the 2030 Challenge, unless the council grants a waiver. Renovated buildings with additions of five thousand (5,000) square feet of gross occupied area must also be designed to achieve no less than half of the applicable Architecture 2030 fossil fuel reduction target from The 2030 Challenge

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