Rushforth Solar LLC is committed to reducing Green House Gas Emissions by bringing cost effective large solar hot water systems to commercial users of hot water in greater Philadelphia. Rushforth Solar promoted, designed, and installed 4 large apartment building and condo building installations in 2008, with a hotel installation scheduled for early 2009.

1) Environmental quality: Our 4 solar commercial hot water installations are improving local air quality, by reducing CO2 emissions by 93,000 lbs/year – equivalent to removing 8 cars from the road. Economic feasibility: By exclusively focusing on large solar hot water systems, Rushforth Solar has been able to refine techniques for building better, more effective, and less expensive large systems, that make financial sense.

2. Innovation: The systems that Rushforth Solar designs and installs utilize:

a) EPDM lined non-pressurized drainback tanks – less expensive than steel tanks, more efficient, longer lived, and less common.

b) Drainback system design – more efficient, less common than glycol systems.

c) Simple effective submersed heat exchangers.

d) Custom designed remote data monitoring.

e) 5 year system warranty.

The combination of our refined large tank building techniques, our custom remote data monitoring system, and the guaranteed professional design/installation package, together represent a positive innovation that is making large solar hot water systems more cost effective and more available for Philadelphia and vicinity.

3. Positive Impact Lasting: Our solar collector racks and tank structures are all maintenance free, professional engineered, and built to last a lifetime. The EPDM tank linings are thought to last indefinitely in this type of application. If and when needed, such linings can be replaced inexpensively. The solar collectors are generally expected to last 30 to 40 years, at which point replacement of the collectors should extend the system life for another 30 to 40 years.

4. Additional sustainability elements:

Partnerships: Rushforth Solar partnered with the Sustainable Development Fund, (The Reinvestment Fund) to promote, subsidize, and install 4 commercial scale solar hot water systems in apartment buildings, 20 units and up. Rushforth Solar is actively partnering with a local company (Emerald Electronics) in refining innovative remote data monitoring equipment that provides remote data. Alan Rushforth has partnered with community organizers to reach out to communities and speak at various solar workshops such as “Do Solar Panels Make Cents for You?” sponsored by State Rep Greg Vitali on 1/25/08, and “Cutting Fuel Use With Solar Hot Water” sponsored by CCEDC on March 14, 2008.

Replication: The designs used by Rushforth Solar can and should be replicated in other parts of the country. We submitted a detailed description of how our first system was built to www.builditsolar.com. Additionally our website www.rushforthsolar.com shares apartment building system sizing parameters we learned and tested through experience. These parameters help others (including competitors) install better systems. Alan Rushforth submitted an abstract to present additional information on large solar hot water systems at the ASES conference this year in Buffalo in 2009.

Regional Impact: Our goal is to have commercial solar hot water installations commonplace in the Greater Philadelphia area and even across the country, to reduce CO2 emissions, and to inspire others with these beautiful clean energy systems. On average, each of our 4 installations reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to the removal of 2 cars off the road for the life of each system.

Rushforth Solar measures its results. Our data monitoring shows that on average, the net output from each square foot of collector we install displaces approximately 600 net BTUs of fossil fuels/day. Based on .6 energy factor (per the Department of Energy), this equates to ~ 1,000 BTUs gross fossil fuel/day saved. Based on 11.7 lbs. CO2/ 100,000 BTU natural gas, the 2176 sq.ft. of collectors installed in 2008 on 4 systems equates to about 93,000 lbs/year of CO2 emission reductions (1,000 btu/ sq.ft/ day x 2176 sq.ft. x 365 days x 11.7 lbs.CO2/ 100,000BTU = 92,926 lbs CO2/ year removed) equivalent to removal of 8 cars, each traveling 12,000 miles per year. The installation at Elkins Court Condominium has reportedly fostered a sense of pride and 'green' consciousness among the 21 condo owners.