About SRCC

General

The modern solar industry was founded in 1974, following the original oil embargo of the previous year. In the years which followed, energy in all its forms became a national priority.

While commercial and residential solar systems were available on a limited regional basis, a mechanism had to be put in place which would encourage consumers to purchase these relatively unknown products and new technology with confidence that the technology was valid and that the products would perform in terms of energy and dollar savings.

States with potentially large solar markets, such as California and Florida, were the first entities to establish such a mechanism by establishing state testing and rating programs for solar collectors. However, since there was little consistency between each state’s testing requirements and approach to rating solar equipment, such programs soon became an impediment to manufacturers who marketed in more than one state.

The need for a single national program which manufacturers could test their equipment to and which would benefit consumers by providing a uniform, national approach for rating and comparing solar equipment soon became evident. In an unprecedented move, the trade association for the solar energy industry and a national consortium of state energy offices and regulatory bodies joined together to lay the groundwork for such a program which would soon lead to the founding of the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation.

In 1980 the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) was incorporated as a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is the development and implementation of certification programs and national rating standards for solar energy equipment.

The corporation is an independent third-party certification entity. It is unique in that it is the only national certification program established solely for solar energy products. It is also the only national certification organization whose programs are the direct result of combined efforts of state organizations involved in the administration of standards and an industry association.

Purpose

The Solar Rating and Certification corporation currently administers a certification, rating, and labeling program for solar collectors and a similar program for complete solar water heating systems.

SRCC’s certification program operating guidelines, test methods and minimum standards, and rating methodologies require the performance of nationally accepted equipment tests on solar equipment by independent laboratories which are accredited by SRCC. The test results and product data are evaluated by SRCC to determine the product’s compliance with the minimum standards for certification and to calculate the performance ratings.

Equipment which has been certified and rated by SRCC is required to bear the SRCC certification label which shows the performance rating for that product.

In addition, each certified product is published by SRCC in a directory. Each product’s directory listing contains information on the product’s material and specifications as well as the certified thermal performance rating.

Benefits

Solar equipment manufacturers benefit from SRCC certification and rating in three fundamental ways: the ability to have a product certified only once; national recognition and/or reciprocity of the certification; and a reliable means for judging product durability and performance on a relative standard basis.

The solar contractor benefits from the SRCC certification in three fundamental ways also: certification provides product credibility; provides one with a standard of comparison to be used in sales literature; and provides a defense against unethical competition and false claims.

The solar consumer also benefits from the SRCC programs. These benefits include obtaining a measurement of quality, a measurement of performance, third-party independent corroboration, and a national standardized method to compare solar equipment and thereby determine the best buy.

Finally the government and states benefit from SRCC’s programs in that certification provides a rational basis for tax credit qualifying regulation as well as a basis for setting codes and standards. A variety of documents are provided for program managers who are implementing solar energy programs.