TrendSetter Introduces New Solar Tank Product The

TrendSetter Introduces New Solar Tank Product The PiggyBack System A solar water heating system. by Staff Writers Fairhaven CA (SPX) Jul 30, 2007 TrendSetter Solar Products has announced the introduction of its new Solar Tank Product, named the "PiggyBack", for the fact that a traditional hot water heater sits on top of this new solar hot water tank and works by circulating solar heated water into the traditional hot water heater. This new tank has several key advantages over the standard TrendSetter residential systems and will prove to be a highly efficient and more affordable solar hot water solution for most homeowners using traditional water heaters. Although the new PiggyBack system is not designed to replace the larger more comprehensive TrendSetter systems, it is designed to fulfill the needs of a specific sector of the retrofit market and allow customer to benefit from the current Federal Tax Credit program. One advantage is the retail price; the new system has been value engineered so TrendSetter can offer an entry level priced system to existing homeowners. The new system has an expected retail price of approximately $6,700 installed in a single family residence; and will qualify the customer for up to $2,000 in federal tax credits in addition to any state, utility and local rebates. The final price for the customer after tax credits will be less than $5,000 which, if financed, the payments should prove to be less than the cost of the utilities that they are replacing for heating domestic hot water. Another advantage is the improvement in technology that allows the system to operate off of a Photovoltaic (PV) panel which is included with the system. The combination of proprietary electronics and a 12 volt solar water pump make the system highly efficient and independent of the homeowner's electrical utility. The simplicity and elegance of the system's engineering and design to give the new product an extended life cycle with little maintenance estimated to be in excess of the life cycle of a traditional hot water heater. Norm Ehrlich, CTO and TrendSetter Founder, stated, "The PiggyBack tank has several advantages including a 12 volt pump which is powered by a Photovoltaic (PV) panel and a new proprietary controller. The 12 volt pump is powered by the sun thus freeing the system from traditional home electricity. The new controller will allow the pump to work with the Photovoltaic panel while the sun is shining." Dirk Atkinson, CEO, stated, "This product has a more attractive price point for the customer and is easier to install. The combination of price point and ease of installation is expected to help drive new sales for the company. We expect this product to become one of the mainstream products in the solar hot water heater market."