In California’s Silicon Valley, innovation has long been the catalyst that propels products, technologies and companies from the garage or lab to the dizzying heights of success. Achieving that success requires innovators to first catch lightning in a bottle, and then find the right partners to help release it one spark at a time. This holds true in the realm of solar air-conditioning just as it does for many other technologies.
SunWater Solar, Santa Clara University (SCU) and San Jose-based Chromasun, whose innovation resulted in the creation of the Micro-Concentrator (MCT) solar collector, today announced the successful completion of a solar air conditioning project at the 2007 SCU Solar Decathlon House. This solar-powered house is well-known locally as a showcase for 21st century green technologies, and a venue for collaboration between students and organizations promoting sustainable living.
SunWater Solar’s expertise was key to the success of the Solar Decathlon House solar cooling project. Chromasun selected SunWater Solar as the team with the expertise to remove the House’s original solar thermal system, install three sleek new MCT collectors and other system components, and then link them with the absorption chiller that produces cold water used in the air conditioning process.
We at SunWater Solar are excited to offer innovative solar cooling technology to our clients, and look forward to working closely with Chromasun on additional projects in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Renowned vintners Williams Selyem Winery 
During the late 1970′s and early 1980′s thousands of solar water heating systems were installed all across the US. This boom was brought on by generous tax credits and the energy crisis of the 1970′s. Many solar water heating systems that were installed in this period are now needing to be replaced. Solar collectors typically have a 25 to 30 year life span although many of the systems that were professionally installed with high-quality materials and components are still working well today.