Solar Technology for Pools

A "Green Machine" made a pit stop this week in Surprise, showing off the latest in solar hot-water technology.

City building inspectors got a sneak peek at how the SunGrabber Electric Hot Water System works and how it's installed. Fafco, the manufacturer, brought the mobile model to the site of the environmentally friendly City Hall building under construction near Bullard Avenue and Bell Road

"Surprise is noted for their desire to go green," said David Wells, OneSolar marketing director. "It has developed an incentive program that stripped away most of the costs associated with a permit for solar projects."

The Surprise City Council last fall waived both building-permit and plan-review fees for residents and business owners who install solar-power systems. The city also is actively trying to recruit solar companies to locate in Surprise.

City officials want Surprise to be one of the state's foremost communities in solar use, said Forrest Fielder, the city's building official. "It's part of our overall strategic plan strategy to highlight sustainability as one of our core values," Fielder said. "The use of alternative energy is certainly part of sustainability for our community."

The Arizona Department of Commerce estimated that the solar industry could spur as many as 3,000 new jobs and reduce emissions by about 400,000 tons a year by 2020.

This week's solar demonstration will help the city to streamline the permitting process.

"When inspectors know what they are looking for and understand what they are seeing, the installation can proceed without any unnecessary delays and costs," Fielder said. And "one of the things the building department can do to try and promote this technology is become familiar with it."

Fielder said he was impressed with Fafco's product, which was developed to heat swimming pools and adapted for use in buildings. The company is one of many that promote solar-energy products.

"It seems to have all the necessary components but not a lot of expensive frills," Fielder said.

The California-based manufacturer uses a new polymer-based technology for its solar panels, which representatives said are less intrusive because the black, flexible strips are mounted flush with the roof. "This produce is new and has only been on the market for the past year and a half," Wells said. "Pricewise it's competitive."

Fafco collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy on the SunGrabber technology, said Jeff Wedge, company vice president of sales and marketing. The panels can heat water from 65 degrees to 120 degrees in two to three hours, he said.

Wedge said the company's technology is in use on 1,000 rooftops in Maricopa County, including three in Surprise.

Fielder said in the past three months the city on average issued one solar permit a week.

"A year ago there weren't any," he said. "The change is pretty significant."

He credited public awareness and the city's fee-waiver program for the increase.

That Arizona with its year round sunshine isn't a leader in solar energy has to do with public policy, Fielder said.

"Other states got a lead on use in terms of incentives for developing alternative energy," he said.

Manufacturers and distributors are drawn to those other states, he said.

"Ultimately this technology will have to be tested in the market without subsidization," Fielder said. "If it's ever going to be part of the normal part of development it has to be done without a lot of tax credit and incentives. "This technology will have to stand on its own two feet eventually."

GOING GREEN

Surprise wants to take the lead when it comes to alternative energy use. Surprise is a member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council's "Greening Greater Phoenix Initiative," a regional effort to attract more solar and other sustainable businesses to the Valley. The city has taken several “green” steps, including those outlined below.

GREEN BUILDING

A central energy plant for heating and cooling will serve both the new City Hall and the existing public safety building. The City Hall's green feature also will include light switches with low-voltage sensors that will automatically turn lights off when a room is not in use.

ALTERNATIVE FUEL

Surprise Fleet Management crews are phasing in alternative-fuel vehicles to reduce emissions among the city's fleet of more than 200 vehicles. ARTIFICIAL TURFSurprise replaced water-guzzling grass with synthetic turf at the current City Hall. Approximately 12,000 square feet of grass was replaced with synthetic turf, saving nearly $20,000 a year in water and lawn maintenance costs.