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Solar Hot Water for Farmers and Ranchers

Photo of a house with a pool.

The Black Butte Ranch in Oregon heats its swimming pool with solar thermal collectors.

The following resources will help you learn how solar water heating systems on farms and ranches can supply hot water to outbuildings, homes, or even swimming pools. If you are unfamiliar with this technology, see the introduction to solar hot water.

General Information

A Consumer's Guide: Heat Your Water with the Sun (PDF 603 KB) Download Adobe Reader.

U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Solar Water Heaters
Basic information about solar water heating for the home.

U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Solar Swimming Pool Heaters
Basic information about using solar energy for pool heating.

U.S. Department of Energy Million Solar Roofs Initiative
Find out how to register your installation as one of the million solar roofs.

Harvesting Clean Energy
Features information on renewable energy technologies, like PV, for rural landowners, including farms, ranches, and communities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

CADDET: Energy-Efficient Farming and Forestry in Norway
Explains a farm's use of biomass energy, hydroelectric power, and solar energy to significantly reduce energy costs.

Evaluation Tools

NREL Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors
Allows you to find out the average, minimum, and maximum amount of solar energy available at your location, by month or for the entire year.

Training and Workshops

Solar Energy International: Solar Thermal Workshops
Learn how to design and install domestic solar hot water systems.

Financing

U.S. Department of Agriculture 2002 Farm Bill: Section 9006
A grant and loan program to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses invest in energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

U.S. Department of Energy Financial Opportunities
Offers financial assistance opportunities for the development and demonstration of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
Provides information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

The Borrowers Guide to Financing Solar Energy Systems (PDF 501 KB) Download Adobe Reader.