When we began publishing Solar Installer in 2008, our intent was to educate the readers of Plumbing & Mechanical about systems that use the renewable energy source of the sun to heat water and buildings. We recognized that for the solar thermal industry to grow, plumbing and heating contractors would have to know how to correctly install these systems because the number of contractors doing only solar installations was limited.
We also saw the proliferation of products such as solar panels, tanks and controls that were either coming into the United States from overseas or being produced domestically. As was the case again this year, exhibitors at the ISH trade show held March 12-16 in Frankfurt, Germany, displayed the latest in solar thermal technology from Germany, Italy and other nations.