Commercial Hot Water is an Energy Strategy
Buildings with meaningful hot water demand have an energy decision to make: how that heat is generated, stored, controlled, and delivered.
SunEarth designs and manufactures commercial solar thermal systems that help reduce conventional energy use while supporting reliable, long-term hot water performance. From multifamily and hospitality to healthcare, food service, agriculture, and process applications, our systems are engineered around the load, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Since 1978, SunEarth has helped commercial project teams turn solar energy into usable heat.
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Does Your Building Have the Right Load?
Solar thermal delivers the greatest value where hot water demand is consitent, significant, and part of everyday operations.
As energy costs rise and environmental concerns grow, businesses are turning to renewable energy to manage expenses and reduce their carbon footprint. SunEarth’s solar hot water systems and high-performance solar thermal collectors offer a cost-effective, long-term solution for organizations looking to improve efficiency while maintaining operational excellence.
Multifamily communties, hotels, hospitals, food service facitlities, agriculture, laundries, and industrial or process applications are nautral candidates becuase hot water isn't an occasional need, it's an ongoing energy load.
SunEarth systems are designed around that demand, integrating solar thermal collectors, storage, controls, and existing water-heating equipment to reduce conventional energy use while maintaining reliable hot water performance.
Industries We Serve
Our commercial solar water heating solutions are ideal for:
- Hotels & Resorts – Reliable hot water for guests while lowering energy costs.
- Apartments & Multi-Family Housing – Cost-efficient heating for high-demand buildings.
- Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities – Sustainable energy solutions for critical operations.
- Restaurants – Hot water solutions designed for kitchens and food service operations.
- Gyms, Spas & Fitness Centers – Consistent hot water for showers, pools, and wellness facilities.
- Wineries & Breweries – Energy-efficient solutions for production and processing needs.
- Laundromats & Laundry Facilities – Scalable systems for high-volume water heating.
- Government & Military – Durable and reliable solutions for public sector facilities.
- Car Washes – Reduce energy costs with high-efficiency solar hot water.
- Schools & Universities – Scalable systems for educational institutions, from small schools to large campuses.
- Food Processing Centers – Efficient hot water solutions for meeting production demands and maintaining quality control.
- Greenhouse – Reliable heating systems to optimize growing conditions and enhance plant health.
- Agriculture – Sustainable energy solutions for irrigation and processing operations.
- Dairy Farms – Cost-effective heating for milk processing and equipment sanitation.
Explore the System
Every commercial hot-water project is different. SunEarth provides the core components needed to build a complete solar thermal system around the application, load, storage requirements, and existing mechanical infrastructure.
Explore the technologies that capture, move, store, and control renewable heat.
- Flat Plate Solar Collectors – High-efficiency, durable solar thermal collectors.
- Controllers & Pumps – Optimized for seamless system performance.
- Storage Tanks – Engineered for maximum efficiency and longevity.
- Innovative Pre-Engineered Solar Stations
- SolarStation XL – Designed for commercial applications up to 720 ft² of collector area, factory-assembled and tested for hydraulic integrity.
- SolarStation XXL – Engineered for large-scale systems over 720 ft², featuring multi-speed pumps for compatibility across various configurations.
Store the Heat. Use it when it Matters.
Solar thermal doesn't have to produce heat at the exact moment hot water is needed. Thermal storage allows captured solar energy to be held as heated water and used as building demand changes throughout the day.
Properly sized storage helps align solar production with hot-water demand, supports system performance, and gives commercial facilities greater flexibility in how renewable heat is used.
SunEarth offers commercial solar storage solutions designed to integrate with complete solar thermal systems and existing hot-water infrastructure.
Discover our Solar Tanks to see how they can benefit your operations, reduce energy costs, and support sustainability goals.
Benefits of SunEarth's Hot Water Storage:
- Match production to demand - store renewable heat for use beyond peak solar hours.
- Support system performance - properly sized storage helps the collector field operate effectively.
- Integrate with existing equipment - storage can work alongside conventional backup water heating.
- Design around the load - tank volume and configuration should reflect actual building demand, not a one-size-fits-all formula.
Explore our solar hot water storage solutions today to learn how they can enhance your commercial systems.
Measured Heat Matters
Larkspur Commons | Bozeman, Montana
At Larkspur Commons, hot water was treated as an energy strategy from the start. The 136-unit affordable housing community uses 16 solar thermal systems equipped with SunEarth EC-40 collectors to preheat domestic hot water before it reaches each apartment's conventional water heater.
The 4,000-square-foot solar hot-water installation now supplies 60–75% of the property's annual hot-water demand, demonstrating what renewable heat can contribute when a building has a large, consistent thermal load.
Design. Documentation. Compliance.
Commercial solar thermal projects require more than equipment. SunEarth supports engineers, contractors, developers, and building owners with certified products, performance documentation, design resources, and project-specific technical guidance to help move projects from design through permitting and installation.
For California projects, SunEarth also supports compliance with the California Energy Code - Title 24, Part 6 - including solar water heating documentation and performance-based compliance strategies where applicable.
Project Support Includes:
- ICC-SRCC - OG-100 certified collectors and OG-300 certified systems
- ENERGY STAR certified solar water heating system options
- Support for Title 24 prescriptive and performance compliance pathways, where applicable
- Performance data and documentation for use with approved energy-modeling tools
- CAD, Revit, specifications, submittals, and technical design resources
- Project-specific guidance for multifamily, hospitality, institutional, public-sector, and commercial applications
For California Projects
Solar water heating can be incorporated into Title 24 compliance strategies where applicable. SunEarth provides the performance ratings, certifications, system documentation, and technical support project teams need to evaluate solar thermal within the building’s overall energy design.
Documentation & Support Available:
- Specification sheets
- SRCC third-party performance ratings and certifications
- Integration details for compliance software
- Design assistance and value engineering options
Why SunEarth?
Commercial renewable heat requires experience across the entire system.
Since 1978, SunEarth has designed and manufactured solar thermal equipment for residential and commercial applications. Our approach extends beyond the collector - from system components and storage to controls, technical resources, and project support.
We help project teams design around the load, integrate with existing infrastructure, and build systems for reliable long-term performance.
- Industry Expertise Since 1978 – Over four decades of leadership in solar thermal innovation.
- Proven Performance – Longest-lasting, low-maintenance solar water heating systems in the industry.
- Custom Solutions – Tailored designs for commercial, industrial, and institutional applications.
- Cost Savings & Sustainability – Reduce utility bills while supporting clean energy initiatives.
Let's Talk About the Load
Tell us what you're heating, where the project is located, and where you are in the design process. We'll help determine whether solar thermal belongs in the strategy.
Commercial Solar Thermal FAQ
Solar thermal is a strong fit for buildings with consistent, year-round hot water demand. Common applications include multifamily housing, hotels, hospitals, food service, laundries, agriculture, campuses, and industrial or process facilities.
Start with the load. Daily hot water use, operating hours, occupancy, incoming water temperature, and required delivery temperature all help determine whether solar thermal is a good fit. SunEarth can help evaluate project conditions and system requirements.
Not necessarily. Commercial solar thermal systems are often designed to preheat water before it reaches conventional water-heating equipment. The existing boiler, water heater, or other backup system remains available when additional heat is required.
Yes. Solar thermal can be integrated with a variety of conventional and high-efficiency water-heating technologies. The system design depends on the application, existing mechanical infrastructure, storage strategy, and project goals.
Commercial systems are typically designed with backup water heating so hot water remains available regardless of solar conditions. Solar thermal reduces the amount of energy the backup equipment must provide rather than eliminating the need for backup altogether.
Storage is sized around the collector array, hot water load, operating schedule, and system configuration. Proper storage helps align solar heat production with building demand and supports overall system performance.
System performance can be evaluated using temperature sensors, flow measurement, BTU metering, controls, and monitoring equipment. These tools can help project teams understand renewable heat production, system operation, and long-term performance.
Helpful information includes the project location, building type, daily hot water demand, required water temperatures, existing water-heating equipment, available roof or ground area, project stage, and any available plans or specifications.
