by Brianna Crandall — April 20, 2015—The International Code Council (ICC) says there is great news for manufacturers that already have solar products certified by the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) to qualify for federal tax credits and ENERGY STAR program listings, as well as installers and users of the products. New and expanded financial incentives in New York and Minnesota have also added requirements for products to be certified by ICC-SRCC.
“The new programs demonstrate the value of Solar Rating & Certification Corporation certification for states and municipalities seeking to promote the use of solar technology,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “Programs requiring ICC-SRCC certification increase the value of our current certification holders’ products. We encourage manufacturers that do not have ICC-SRCC certification to consider it to ensure their products qualify for financial incentives and to expand their markets.”
New incentive programs
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has broadened its Solar Thermal (Hot Water) Program. The changes are expected to increase the number of households and businesses that choose to install solar hot water systems. According to ICC, in announcing new funding guidelines for the program, NYSERDA specified: To qualify, equipment must be certified by ICC’s Solar Rating & Certification Corporation.
In addition, the state of Minnesota Department of Commerce now offers solar thermal rebates for the installation of Made in Minnesota solar thermal if components of the system are manufactured in Minnesota and the solar thermal system is certified by the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation.
Existing incentive programs
These latest state incentives join dozens of existing programs that specify equipment certified by ICC-SRCC, notes the organization. At the federal level, the IRS indicates that federal residential tax credits for solar energy systems require ICC-SRCC product certification: The system must be certified by the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
In addition, the federal ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Residential Water Heaters references and requires the use of solar type units which have received an OG-300 rating from the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation.
According to ICC, solar hot water systems can provide approximately 50 to 80 percent of a homeowner’s hot water; they can also be a good choice for commercial installations, especially for businesses that heat large amounts of water such as hospitals, dialysis centers, farms, hotels, motels, inns, restaurants, laundries and car washes.
