(740,3,'2012-08-31 16:06:33','2012-08-31 16:06:33','Well, for the second time this year we have the same Top 3 for both number of collectors and sales!  With 49 sales and 364 collectors <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> of <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> dominated the top spot for July – way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> of <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> had an impressive month with 193 collectors and 26 sales - fabulous month Terry! Rounding out the Top 3 for July is <strong>Bill Park </strong>of <strong>Central Florida Solar </strong>with 119 collectors sold and 17 sales – congratulations on a great month Bill!\r\n\r\nAquatherm Industries celebrated its <strong>20<sup>th</sup> Summer Sales Retreat</strong> this year in New York City. Invitees were first treated to a tour of the factory in Lakewood (photo to the right), and then whisked off to The Big Apple for four days of sights, sounds and shows! While in New York, the group toured the 911 Memorial, as well as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, before taking in a performance of “Once” on Broadway – winner of 8 Tony Awards. Our farewell night together was a dinner and dancing cruise, where guests were treated to sweeping views of the city and fun onboard entertainment.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_727\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Dave leading the way on a portion of the tour\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Factory-Visit-0201.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-727\" title=\"Factory Visit 020\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Factory-Visit-0201-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We recently received a call from a Master Dealer in California who was alerted to a customer complaint on <strong>Yelp</strong>, a site that allows consumers to post reviews of businesses (for better or worse). For those of you who don’t follow Yelp.com for your own business, we certainly think it is a good idea to at least claim your business and respond to any complaints and positive comments alike.</p>\r\nOnce you get to Yelp.com you can easily search for your business in the bar at the top of the screen and this will show you if there are any reviews posted about your business. It takes about five minutes to claim your business and that will allow you to post comments as well. Should you need any help with Yelp, please don’t hesitate to contact Dan or myself and we would be happy to walk you through the process.\r\n\r\nA couple of reminders - Aquatherm will be exhibiting at the following shows:\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Power International: Sep. 11<sup>th</sup> – 13th in Orlando, Booth #4163</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>International Pool and Spa Expo: Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th</sup> in New Orleans, Booth #1051</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Piscine 2012: Nov. 13<sup>th</sup> – 16<sup>th</sup> in Lyon, France, Stand #5B32</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these shows or are in need of a badge, please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nAlso, Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 27th.\r\n\r\nDuring this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal our business hours.\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 3rd in observance of Labor Day.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','July Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','733-revision-3','','','2012-08-31 16:06:33','2012-08-31 16:06:33','',733,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=740',0,'revision','',0),(741,3,'2012-08-31 16:08:17','2012-08-31 16:08:17','Congratulations to <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists </strong>for another great month with 385 collectors sold in June! <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> also had an impressive month with 238 collectors - fabulous month Terry! We have a battle of the Bills for 3<sup>rd</sup> place; <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>and <strong>Central Florida Solar</strong> both ended the month with 133 collectors sold. Excellent job gentlemen!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor’s</strong> 49 sales lands him in the Top Salesman spot for June – nice job Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor </strong>from came in second for the month with 30 sales. Way to go Terry! And, in 3rd place is <strong>Bill Park</strong> with 19 sales. Congratulations Bill! At the halfway point into 2012, everyone in the Top 10 Club is at least halfway to 100 sales for the year.\r\n\r\nIt’s never too early to start planning for next year and we have been doing just that. I am pleased to announce that Aquatherm Industries will be hosting a <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas next January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>,<strong> 2013</strong> and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>.\r\n\r\nHere are just a few reasons you will want to join us for this productive event:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Opening night reception will feature key vendors from the industry</li>\r\n	<li>Introduction of our New Master Dealer Coop Leadership Pool Program</li>\r\n	<li>Breakout Sales &amp; Marketing sessions</li>\r\n	<li>Updated Master Dealer Programs for 2013</li>\r\n	<li>New Online RMR for Master Dealers</li>\r\n	<li>New Online Installation manual with embedded video</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWe will be updating you as more details become available, but wanted to let you know as early as possible so you can start setting this time aside in your schedules. We look forward to seeing all of your there for a few days of camaraderie.\r\n\r\nHere are the trade shows Aquatherm will be exhibiting at for the remainder of the year:\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Power International: September 11<sup>th</sup> – 13th in Orlando;                            Booth #4163</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>International Pool and Spa Expo: November 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th</sup> in New Orleans          Booth #1051</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these shows or are in need of a badge please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you. We hope to see you all there.\r\n\r\nAnd for those of you attending the Summer Sales Retreat in New York City in a couple of weeks, I’ll see you there!\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','June Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','736-revision-2','','','2012-08-31 16:08:17','2012-08-31 16:08:17','',736,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=741',0,'revision','',0),(759,2,'2012-10-22 18:38:55','2012-10-22 18:38:55','Fall is officially upon us and with the change in the air we finally have a shake up in the top three numbers this month. With 27 sales, <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> remains at the top Salesperson spot for September. Way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 14 sales for the month – nice job Terry. In 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Gerry Kilgore</strong> of Suncatcher of Atlanta with 13 sales for September. Gerry shared with me that he had one of his best months ever in business in September. Fantastic job Gerry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> stayed in the top spot for September with 217 collectors sold. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>took the 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 126 collectors sold for September. Great month Bill and Scott – your fall season is just about to rev up! And rounding out the top three with 113 collectors sold is <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong>. Excellent September Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Richard Good</strong> and his team at <strong>Solar Services</strong> recently participated in the 2012 National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society. In the last two years of participation, they have had more than 80 visitors tour their facility, his home and the homes of his employees that have installed solar technologies.  Now in its 17<sup>th</sup> year, the ASES National Solar Tour offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how homeowners can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills. This is a <strong>FREE</strong> open house to all homeowners and each business is able to be the expert on-hand to answer questions and set the stage for a follow up appointment with all interested leads.\r\n\r\nMore than 165,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S. Most tours occur on a Saturday in early October, but be sure to check for earlier dates and even some week-long celebrations in your community! There are also sponsorship opportunities and promotion help for those that participate and wave the solar flag to make this a successful event for everyone involved. For more information on how you can participate in this event in the future please visit <a href=\"http://www.nationalsolartour.org/\">www.nationalsolartour.org</a>.\r\n\r\nThe <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas </strong>is starting to take shape and we are getting excited to share the details with you. Look for my detailed memo the week of October 22<sup>nd</sup> that will include the agenda and particulars for this event. As a reminder the dates of the meeting will be <strong>January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>, <strong>2013 </strong>and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>. We look forward to seeing you all there and starting 2013 off with a bang!\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the following upcoming shows:\r\n\r\n<strong>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th\r\n</sup></strong>New Orleans, LA - Booth #1051\r\n\r\n<strong>Piscine 2012 Show Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 16th\r\n</strong>Lyon, France - Stand # 5B32\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all have a safe and fun Halloween!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','September 2012 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','september-2012-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:53','2013-06-11 15:57:53','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=759',0,'post','',0),(743,3,'2012-08-28 18:33:25','2012-08-28 18:33:25','<em>This is a re-post from RenewableEnergyWorld.com (<a title=\"ASES Solar Tour\" href=\"http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/08/sign-up-for-the-ases-solar-tour-free-solar-thermal-tour-marketing-plan-included\">original article</a>) -Dan</em>\n\nThe solar thermal industry is notoriously treated as “the other solar” in the United States, despite it being widely used and appreciated in other parts of the world. The ASES National Solar Tour is not only an opportunity to educate home owners and businesses, it’s also an opportunity to create business relationships and leads for solar thermal companies, but there’s a catch: You must participate.\n<div>\n<div id=\"bodyContainer\">\n\nIf you’re not convinced this is up your alley, then let me entice you with a free solar thermal marketing action plan to get attention for your hosted solar thermal tour and for your business, generating leads and sales. (Can be adapted for solar PV too.)\n\n<img title=\"ASES Tour logo\" src=\"http://02e9b8a.netsolhost.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ASES-Tour-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"432\" height=\"74\" />\n<h4>ASES Solar Thermal Tour Marketing Plan</h4>\n<strong>Step 1.</strong> Find a host or several hosts. If you’re in the solar pool heating business or the residential sector or commercial solar thermal side, contact your best customers and ask them if they’d like to be a part of a national solar thermal tour.\n\nObviously, these should be very satisfied customers who appreciate your work and their solar hot water savings. And why would they participate? From a residential customer, it may be purely for solar advocacy and the environment, helping to educate kids and the neighborhood about solar. Additionally, you can offer them a referral fee for any leads from the tour that gets turned into a sale. (More about this later.)\n\nSimilarly, if you’ve installed a solar thermal system for an apartment building, hotel, Laundromat, nursing home, hospital, restaurant, etc, these are all businesses that appreciate publicity and the PR that goes with being a green/sustainable business. Tell them about ASES and your plan for conducting and publicizing the tour. You also can offer them a referral fee for any confirmed sales.\n\n<strong>Step 2. </strong>Now that you have a host or several hosts, <a href=\"http://ases.org/solar-tour/\" target=\"_blank\">sign up for the tour</a><strong>.</strong> You can join <a href=\"http://ases.org/solar-tour/find-a-tour/\" target=\"_blank\">an existing tour</a> that includes solar PV. As long as you’re on the map and included in a tour, that’s what counts. If there are certain per-aranged hours with hosts, of course mention these to existing tour organizers and put those hours into their info packs.\n\n<strong>Step 3.</strong> This is optional, but make it fun, as well as educational. Create a theme around your tour. If the residential host is up for it, make it a solar pool party. Or perhaps do a solar herbal tea party with tea or coffee and baked pastries/cookies (provided by you) served. The point is to attract the community. On the commercial side, perhaps the apartment building, condo, school, restaurant, Laundromat, or hotel can host a similar theme. Of course, businesses on the tour could also provide some kind of unique discount for solar tour goers.\n\n<strong>Step 4. </strong>Time for publicity. Write a press release, put it out into PR Web or other press release service. In addition, spread the word on Twitter, your blog, Facebook page, newsletter, or any other social network. Make sure the language is local and relates to introducing your town or city to the cost-effective and environmental benefits of solar hot water for homes and/or businesses. Include the tour schedule, addresses, contact info, and any perks/themes that you’ve created. Materials should also mention ASES, that it’s a 50+ year old solar advocacy organization, that this is a national tour, and that it\'s a once-a-year event.\n\nAlso, send the press release to local media, including print, radio, T.V. and community bloggers. Follow up with a phone call to the reporters or editors. The worst they can say is no. Again, highlight that this it’s a national once-a-year event.\n\nCertainly give flyers and/or email PDF versions to your hosts with the tour info, especially businesses. Encourage them to share it on their social and business networks. Also, see if you can leave pamphlets at farmers markets and coffee houses and school even boards.\n\n<strong>Step 5. </strong>Hopefully, word-of-mouth has spread and you’ll have a decent turnout on the day of the tour. Be ready with business cards and brochures. Also, create a one-sheet of solar hot water FAQs. Be informative and transparent about prices and local utility incentives. Don’t just provide a sales pitch. If you’ve done your job right, people are attending this tour for more information, not to be pressured into a sale that day.\n\nHave an optional sign-up sheet. Only ask for their name and email, so it’s quick and painless. This is crucial. If people don’t want to sign up, let it go. Later, use the sign up info to send each person a follow-up email or e-newsletter to offer them a free quote and/or more information or to answer questions. You might also ask them to “like” you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter or LinkedIn.\n\nIf you’ve arranged for a referral fee for hosts, include a unique discount code, like “ASES,” in your tour marketing materials. When they mention this code via email or phone, ask where/from whom they received the flyer or code so that you can properly credit your host for the referral fee if a sale is completed.\n\n<strong>Step 6. </strong>Do the tour every year. Consistency is everything in marketing. So is patience. It often takes many touch points of useful information until a buyer is ready to move forward. In fact, the people on the tour may never actually even buy a solar system from you, but months later, they may later refer you to several friends who do.\n\nGood luck, and let us know how it turns out!\n\n<em><a href=\"http://www.freehotwater.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Free Hot Water</a> is an <a href=\"http://www.freehotwater.com/engineering.html\" target=\"_blank\">engineer</a>, manufacture, and distributor of high quality solar thermal systems for commercial and residential applications.</em>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div><img title=\"Content Technologies\" src=\"http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/images/template/tag_orange.png;jsessionid=B82B933CB5CC6CF2554A6F20C4CA175A\" alt=\"Content Technologies\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" /></div>\n<div><a title=\"More Green Power articles\" href=\"http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/green-power;jsessionid=B82B933CB5CC6CF2554A6F20C4CA175A\">Green Power</a>, <a title=\"More Other articles\" href=\"http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/other-technology;jsessionid=B82B933CB5CC6CF2554A6F20C4CA175A\">Other</a>, <a title=\"More Solar Energy articles\" href=\"http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/solar-energy;jsessionid=B82B933CB5CC6CF2554A6F20C4CA175A\">Solar Energy</a>, <a title=\"More Solar Tech articles\" href=\"http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/solar-tech;jsessionid=B82B933CB5CC6CF2554A6F20C4CA175A\">Solar Tech</a></div>\n</div>\nThe information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.\n\n&nbsp;','ASES Solar Tour (Includes 6 Step Marketing Plan)','','inherit','open','open','','729-revision-4','','','2012-08-28 18:33:25','2012-08-28 18:33:25','',729,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=743',0,'revision','',0),(745,3,'2012-09-04 16:54:43','2012-09-04 16:54:43','','Solstice Email Header','','inherit','open','open','','solstice-email-header','','','2012-09-04 16:54:43','2012-09-04 16:54:43','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Solstice-Email-Header.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(746,3,'2012-09-04 17:01:13','2012-09-04 17:01:13','','timthumb','','inherit','open','open','','timthumb','','','2012-09-04 17:01:13','2012-09-04 17:01:13','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/timthumb.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(747,3,'2012-09-18 19:08:38','2012-09-18 19:08:38','','Company Overview (19701)','','inherit','open','open','','company-overview-19701','','','2012-09-18 19:08:38','2012-09-18 19:08:38','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Company-Overview-19701.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(750,3,'2012-09-19 20:13:00','2012-09-19 20:13:00','','Dave Sizelove','','inherit','open','open','','dave-sizelove-5','','','2012-09-19 20:13:00','2012-09-19 20:13:00','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Dave-Sizelove.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(753,3,'2012-10-04 20:22:31','2012-10-04 20:22:31','<strong>Lakewood, NJ -</strong> The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\r\n\r\nThe newly released commercial heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring. The valve can be completely rebuilt in the field.\r\n\r\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers. The slide locking cap will be introduced on the 1.5\" vacuum relief valve in the first quarter of 2013.','Press Release: Design Upgrade for 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker ','','publish','open','open','','press-release-aquatherm-industries-releases-design-upgrade-for-its-2-solar-pool-vacuum-breaker-assembly-new-design-now-compatible-with-all-makes-and-models-of-solar-pool-heaters','','','2012-11-09 21:06:13','2012-11-09 21:06:13','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=753',0,'post','',0),(793,3,'2012-11-09 21:06:00','2012-11-09 21:06:00','<strong>Lakewood, NJ -</strong> The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\r\n\r\nThe newly released commercial heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring. The valve can be completely rebuilt in the field.\r\n\r\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\nWhen used with Aquatherm\'s own dual-durometer EPDM connector hoses,  improvements on the design permits higher stagnation temperatures.\r\n\r\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers. The slide locking cap will be introduced on the 1.5\" vacuum relief valve in the first quarter of 2013.','Press Release: Design Upgrade for 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker ','','inherit','open','open','','753-revision-5','','','2012-11-09 21:06:00','2012-11-09 21:06:00','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=793',0,'revision','',0),(754,3,'2012-10-04 20:19:55','2012-10-04 20:19:55','','VRV','','inherit','open','open','','vrv','','','2012-10-04 20:19:55','2012-10-04 20:19:55','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(755,3,'2012-10-04 20:21:46','2012-10-04 20:21:46','The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\n\nThe newly released heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring.\n\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\nWhen used with Aquatherm\'s own dual-durometer EPDM connector hoses,  improvements on the design permits higher stagnation temperatures.\n\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers.\n\nAbout Aquatherm\n<a title=\"Aquatherm Solar Pool Heaters\" href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/\">Aquatherm Industries</a> is the largest manufacturer of solar pool heating systems in the United  States, the only U.S. manufacturer of NSF listed solar pool heaters,  and the only U.S. solar collector manufacturer to achieve the ISO  9001:2008 quality standard.  Aquatherm manufactures several of the  industry’s leading brands of solar pool heating collectors, including  the Solar Industries and Ecosun collectors.\n\nAquatherm’s entire manufacturing process takes place at its  50,000-square foot technology center in Lakewood, NJ - the most modern  facility of its kind in the world.  For more information on Aquatherm  Industries, its products or its dealer network, contact Molly Friar,  Aquatherm’s Sales &amp; Marketing Manager at 1-800-535-6307, extension  226.\n\n&nbsp;','Press Release: Aquatherm Industries Releases Design Upgrade for its 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker Assembly; New Design Now Compatible with All Makes and Models of Solar Pool Heaters ','','inherit','open','open','','753-revision','','','2012-10-04 20:21:46','2012-10-04 20:21:46','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=755',0,'revision','',0),(756,3,'2012-10-04 20:22:02','2012-10-04 20:22:02','The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\r\n\r\nThe newly released heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring.\r\n\r\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\nWhen used with Aquatherm\'s own dual-durometer EPDM connector hoses,  improvements on the design permits higher stagnation temperatures.\r\n\r\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers.\r\n\r\nAbout Aquatherm\r\n<a title=\"Aquatherm Solar Pool Heaters\" href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/\">Aquatherm Industries</a> is the largest manufacturer of solar pool heating systems in the United  States, the only U.S. manufacturer of NSF listed solar pool heaters,  and the only U.S. solar collector manufacturer to achieve the ISO  9001:2008 quality standard.  Aquatherm manufactures several of the  industry’s leading brands of solar pool heating collectors, including  the Solar Industries and Ecosun collectors.\r\n\r\nAquatherm’s entire manufacturing process takes place at its  50,000-square foot technology center in Lakewood, NJ - the most modern  facility of its kind in the world.  For more information on Aquatherm  Industries, its products or its dealer network, contact Molly Friar,  Aquatherm’s Sales &amp; Marketing Manager at 1-800-535-6307, extension  226.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Press Release: Aquatherm Industries Releases Design Upgrade for its 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker Assembly; New Design Now Compatible with All Makes and Models of Solar Pool Heaters ','','inherit','open','open','','753-revision-2','','','2012-10-04 20:22:02','2012-10-04 20:22:02','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=756',0,'revision','',0),(757,3,'2012-11-09 21:07:16','2012-11-09 21:07:16','<strong>Lakewood, NJ -</strong> The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\n\nThe newly released commercial heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring. The valve can be completely rebuilt in the field.\n\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers. The slide locking cap will be introduced on the 1.5\" vacuum relief valve in the first quarter of 2013.','Press Release: Design Upgrade for 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker ','','inherit','open','open','','753-autosave','','','2012-11-09 21:07:16','2012-11-09 21:07:16','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=757',0,'revision','',0),(794,3,'2011-09-01 18:58:51','2011-09-01 18:58:51','<strong>And we have a winner!!</strong> Thank you to all that took the time to send in your best\r\n“PPP photos”. We have reviewed both past and present photos and have come up with the cream of the crop. We definitely have some new gems to add to our arsenal! You can view any of the photos larger by clicking on them, and to save them to your computer just right-click and \"save as.\"\r\n\r\n<strong>First, a review of the prizes!</strong>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignright\" style=\"border-style: initial; border-color: initial;\" title=\"flipcamera copy\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/flipcamera-copy1-300x289.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"231\" />\r\n\r\n<strong>1<sup>st</sup> – 5<sup>th</sup> place finishers</strong> will receive an easy to use Flip HD Video Camera      to be able to capture video of your systems and testimonials from your customers to post      on your website, Facebook, or even upload to YouTube\r\n\r\n<strong>6<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> place finishers</strong> will receive a free 4’ x 12’ panel\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul></ul>\r\n<strong>Drum roll please………….</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>\r\n</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>In 7<sup>th</sup> place is a picture that we have used in the past but couldn’t help recognize again. While it doesn’t have the people in the shot it has a different P….Picturesque! A beautiful system by Brent Gunderson in Oregon. Nice job Brent.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/7-Gen-Con.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"7 Gen-Con\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/7-Gen-Con-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" /></a>\r\n<ul>\r\n<div></div>\r\n	<li>6th place goes to another picture we have seen before but just can’t help smile every time we look. This residential job done for the Bragg family in Fayetteville, GA by Suncatcher of Atlanta is a classic with one happy kid jumping into the pool for joy because the pool is warm. Thanks Gerry!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/6-Suncatcher.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"6 Suncatcher\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/6-Suncatcher-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Breaking into the top five in 5<sup>th</sup> place is another shot that has all the “P’s”. The Camp America project in New Jersey by Solar Living is a winner. Not only did Solar Living heat one pool at the camp, they were heating it so well they bypassed to another pool and heated that one too. A two for one solar system – a first for Solar Living and definitely a winning photo. Nice job Rich!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/5-Solar-Living.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"5 Solar Living\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/5-Solar-Living-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>In 4<sup>th</sup> place is a great shot by Rick Vasquez of Vasco Solar. Talk about a great place to have a Staycation. A little solar Oasis in their own backyard. Great pic Rick!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4-Vasco-Solar.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"4 Vasco Solar\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/4-Vasco-Solar-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The 3<sup>rd</sup> place winner is for a photo we have dubbed “Aquatherm Solar Pool Heating as far as the eye can see.” Congratulations to Terry Naylor of Naylor Solar Specialists. All of these systems seen in the photo are Aquatherm collectors and are located in Las Vegas, NV.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/3-Terry-Naylor.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"3 Terry Naylor\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/3-Terry-Naylor-300x179.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"179\" /></a>\r\n</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The 2<sup>nd</sup> place winner is actually two photos that come together to create a great story of how you can enjoy all the benefits of solar pool heating without having to see it. This “Picture in Picture” by Todd Franzen of Todd Solar shows you can have your cake and eat it too in So. Cal. Nice job Todd!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Todd-Solar-Entry-pip-2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Todd Solar Entry pip (2)\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Todd-Solar-Entry-pip-2-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a>\r\n</span>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>And finally, in 1<sup>st</sup> place, a photo that hits on all 3 P’s….The Villages job sent in by Tom Lane of Energy Conservation Services. What a fabulous picture Tom! Everyone looks mighty happy in their warm pool!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<span><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/1-ECS-Villages.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"1 ECS Villages\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/1-ECS-Villages-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n</span>\r\n\r\nThank you again for all that participated. We are always looking for more pictures so please continue to pass them along to Dan at jdsizelove@warmwater.com.\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Winners: Pools, Panels & People Photo Contest','','inherit','open','open','','348-revision-29','','','2011-09-01 18:58:51','2011-09-01 18:58:51','',348,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=794',0,'revision','',0),(772,4,'2012-11-09 20:46:45','2012-11-09 20:46:45','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\nLastly, the material used to manufacture Heliocol collectors is in fact NSF-61 listed, but only since 2011, not 2009. This listing is based an “open method” test with potable water – not in a closed recirculating system under swimming pool water conditions. This listing has no validity in a swimming pool environment.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','publish','open','open','','the-buck-stops-here-november-2012','','','2012-11-09 21:22:11','2012-11-09 21:22:11','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=772',0,'post','',1),(771,3,'2012-11-01 19:13:53','2012-11-01 19:13:53','','Aquatherm Company Overview','','inherit','open','open','','aquatherm-company-overview','','','2012-11-01 19:13:53','2012-11-01 19:13:53','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Aquatherm-Company-Overview.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(760,3,'2012-10-22 18:37:16','2012-10-22 18:37:16','','September Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','759-revision','','','2012-10-22 18:37:16','2012-10-22 18:37:16','',759,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=760',0,'revision','',0),(761,3,'2012-10-22 18:38:18','2012-10-22 18:38:18','Fall is officially upon us and with the change in the air we finally have a shake up in the top three numbers this month. With 27 sales, <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> remains at the top Salesperson spot for September. Way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 14 sales for the month – nice job Terry. In 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Gerry Kilgore</strong> of Suncatcher of Atlanta with 13 sales for September. Gerry shared with me that he had one of his best months ever in business in September. Fantastic job Gerry!\n\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> stayed in the top spot for September with 217 collectors sold. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>took the 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 126 collectors sold for September. Great month Bill and Scott – your fall season is just about to rev up! And rounding out the top three with 113 collectors sold is <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong>. Excellent September Terry!\n\n<strong>Richard Good</strong> and his team at <strong>Solar Services</strong> recently participated in the 2012 National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society. In the last two years of participation, they have had more than 80 visitors tour their facility, his home and the homes of his employees that have installed solar technologies.  Now in its 17<sup>th</sup> year, the ASES National Solar Tour offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how homeowners can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills. This is a <strong>FREE</strong> open house to all homeowners and each business is able to be the expert on-hand to answer questions and set the stage for a follow up appointment with all interested leads.\n\nMore than 165,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S. Most tours occur on a Saturday in early October, but be sure to check for earlier dates and even some week-long celebrations in your community! There are also sponsorship opportunities and promotion help for those that participate and wave the solar flag to make this a successful event for everyone involved. For more information on how you can participate in this event in the future please visit <a href=\"http://www.nationalsolartour.org/\">www.nationalsolartour.org</a>.\n\nThe <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas </strong>is starting to take shape and we are getting excited to share the details with you. Look for my detailed memo the week of October 22<sup>nd</sup> that will include the agenda and particulars for this event. As a reminder the dates of the meeting will be <strong>January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>, <strong>2013 </strong>and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>. We look forward to seeing you all there and starting 2013 off with a bang!\n\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the following upcoming shows:\n\n<strong>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th\n</sup></strong>New Orleans, LA - Booth #1051\n\n<strong>Piscine 2012 Show Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 16th\n</strong>Lyon, France - Stand # 5B32\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMay you all have a safe and fun Halloween!\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\n<strong>Best,</strong>\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\n<strong>Molly</strong>\n\n&nbsp;','September Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','759-revision-2','','','2012-10-22 18:38:18','2012-10-22 18:38:18','',759,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=761',0,'revision','',0),(762,3,'2012-10-22 18:38:27','2012-10-22 18:38:27','Fall is officially upon us and with the change in the air we finally have a shake up in the top three numbers this month. With 27 sales, <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> remains at the top Salesperson spot for September. Way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 14 sales for the month – nice job Terry. In 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Gerry Kilgore</strong> of Suncatcher of Atlanta with 13 sales for September. Gerry shared with me that he had one of his best months ever in business in September. Fantastic job Gerry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> stayed in the top spot for September with 217 collectors sold. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>took the 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 126 collectors sold for September. Great month Bill and Scott – your fall season is just about to rev up! And rounding out the top three with 113 collectors sold is <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong>. Excellent September Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Richard Good</strong> and his team at <strong>Solar Services</strong> recently participated in the 2012 National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society. In the last two years of participation, they have had more than 80 visitors tour their facility, his home and the homes of his employees that have installed solar technologies.  Now in its 17<sup>th</sup> year, the ASES National Solar Tour offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how homeowners can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills. This is a <strong>FREE</strong> open house to all homeowners and each business is able to be the expert on-hand to answer questions and set the stage for a follow up appointment with all interested leads.\r\n\r\nMore than 165,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S. Most tours occur on a Saturday in early October, but be sure to check for earlier dates and even some week-long celebrations in your community! There are also sponsorship opportunities and promotion help for those that participate and wave the solar flag to make this a successful event for everyone involved. For more information on how you can participate in this event in the future please visit <a href=\"http://www.nationalsolartour.org/\">www.nationalsolartour.org</a>.\r\n\r\nThe <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas </strong>is starting to take shape and we are getting excited to share the details with you. Look for my detailed memo the week of October 22<sup>nd</sup> that will include the agenda and particulars for this event. As a reminder the dates of the meeting will be <strong>January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>, <strong>2013 </strong>and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>. We look forward to seeing you all there and starting 2013 off with a bang!\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the following upcoming shows:\r\n\r\n<strong>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th\r\n</sup></strong>New Orleans, LA - Booth #1051\r\n\r\n<strong>Piscine 2012 Show Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 16th\r\n</strong>Lyon, France - Stand # 5B32\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all have a safe and fun Halloween!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','September Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','759-revision-3','','','2012-10-22 18:38:27','2012-10-22 18:38:27','',759,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=762',0,'revision','',0),(763,3,'2012-10-22 18:38:28','2012-10-22 18:38:28','Fall is officially upon us and with the change in the air we finally have a shake up in the top three numbers this month. With 27 sales, <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> remains at the top Salesperson spot for September. Way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 14 sales for the month – nice job Terry. In 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Gerry Kilgore</strong> of Suncatcher of Atlanta with 13 sales for September. Gerry shared with me that he had one of his best months ever in business in September. Fantastic job Gerry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> stayed in the top spot for September with 217 collectors sold. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>took the 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 126 collectors sold for September. Great month Bill and Scott – your fall season is just about to rev up! And rounding out the top three with 113 collectors sold is <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong>. Excellent September Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Richard Good</strong> and his team at <strong>Solar Services</strong> recently participated in the 2012 National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society. In the last two years of participation, they have had more than 80 visitors tour their facility, his home and the homes of his employees that have installed solar technologies.  Now in its 17<sup>th</sup> year, the ASES National Solar Tour offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how homeowners can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills. This is a <strong>FREE</strong> open house to all homeowners and each business is able to be the expert on-hand to answer questions and set the stage for a follow up appointment with all interested leads.\r\n\r\nMore than 165,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S. Most tours occur on a Saturday in early October, but be sure to check for earlier dates and even some week-long celebrations in your community! There are also sponsorship opportunities and promotion help for those that participate and wave the solar flag to make this a successful event for everyone involved. For more information on how you can participate in this event in the future please visit <a href=\"http://www.nationalsolartour.org/\">www.nationalsolartour.org</a>.\r\n\r\nThe <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas </strong>is starting to take shape and we are getting excited to share the details with you. Look for my detailed memo the week of October 22<sup>nd</sup> that will include the agenda and particulars for this event. As a reminder the dates of the meeting will be <strong>January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>, <strong>2013 </strong>and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>. We look forward to seeing you all there and starting 2013 off with a bang!\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the following upcoming shows:\r\n\r\n<strong>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th\r\n</sup></strong>New Orleans, LA - Booth #1051\r\n\r\n<strong>Piscine 2012 Show Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 16th\r\n</strong>Lyon, France - Stand # 5B32\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all have a safe and fun Halloween!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','September Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','759-revision-4','','','2012-10-22 18:38:28','2012-10-22 18:38:28','',759,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=763',0,'revision','',0),(764,3,'2012-10-22 18:45:38','2012-10-22 18:45:38','<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Solar heating systems installed on California commercial pools will now qualify for the states current solar rebate incentive program. Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law Assembly Bill 2249, an expansion on the Solar Water heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for solar water heating systems throughout the state. The bill, which had previously excluded swimming pools from eligibility under the program, redefines \"solar water heating systems\" to include solar pool heating systems at multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit facilities.</em></p>\r\n\r\n<div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n</div>\r\nAquatherm Industries, U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters, applauds the California State Legislature\'s successes in the introduction and subsequent passing of a Bill that will qualify commercial pool facilities to earn a rebate for the installation of a solar pool heating system.\r\n\r\n“Swimming pools at businesses such as hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs, camps, waterparks, and schools often have no choice but to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature,\" says Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO of Aquatherm.\r\n\r\n\"This makes commercial pools perfect candidates for solar pool heating systems. Solar can provide a clean, domestic and affordable way to reduce the monthly energy bill for heating these facilities. It\'s been said, \'As California goes, so goes the country.\' We certainly hope that the California program will serve as a roadmap for other States to follow in the future.”\r\n\r\nHaving passed the California State Legislature in early September, Assembly Bill Number 2249 (AB2249) – which will extend eligibility for solar thermal incentives to public and semi-private commercial swimming pool solar heating– has been signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) was instrumental in aiding the state Legislature’s efforts to introduce and pass the bill.\r\n\r\nAs part of the larger California Solar Initiative Thermal program, AB2249 is an amendment to the existing Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.\r\n\r\nWhile the exact amount of the rebate has not yet been determined, early estimates among the industry indicate it will be between 35 and 50% of the cost of the system. Since performance of solar thermal systems is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), actual rebate figures will be determined by a price per averted therm.\r\n\r\nThough the Act specifically had excluded solar pool heaters in its definition of eligible solar water heating systems, AB2249 expands the current definition to include “multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit solar pool heating systems.” Single-family residential solar pool heating systems will continue to be excluded from the definition, and consequently, the rebate program.\r\n\r\nAccording to PK Data – which keeps statistics on the U.S. pool industry – there are over 186,000 heated commercial pools nationwide (approximately 45,000 in California – the most of any state). Of these pools, approximately 39%, or 115,540 are indoor; meaning they must be heated twelve months per year. Most of these pools are heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, or heat pumps. This increases the U.S. dependence on imported fuels and pollutes the air. Assuming natural gas is used to heat these pools, the annual load of 261 trillion BTU’s is the equivalent CO2 of 6.6 millions of cars on the road per year.\r\n\r\nBased on the findings of the Legislature, “solar water heating systems represent the largest untapped natural gas saving potential remaining in California. The state is heavily dependent on natural gas, importing more than 80 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost entirely on natural gas and accounts for a significant percentage of the state’s natural gas consumption. Rising worldwide demand for natural gas and a shrinking supply create rising and unstable prices that can harm California consumers and the economy. Lastly, growing demand for these technologies will create jobs in California as well as promote greater energy independence, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and result in cleaner air.”\r\n\r\nRead the full text of Assembly Bill 2249 <a title=\"AB2249_Full_Text.pdf\" href=\"http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/10/09/9997362/AB2249_Full_Text.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.','Press Release: California\'s New Commercial Solar Pool Leglistation','','publish','open','open','','press-release-californias-new-commercial-solar-pool-rebate-legislation-ab2249','','','2013-06-11 15:58:29','2013-06-11 15:58:29','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=764',0,'post','',0),(765,3,'2012-10-22 18:43:02','2012-10-22 18:43:02','<h2>Solar heating systems installed on California commercial pools will now qualify for the states current solar rebate incentive program. Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law Assembly Bill 2249, an expansion on the Solar Water heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for solar water heating systems throughout the state. The bill, which had previously excluded swimming pools from eligibility under the program, redefines \"solar water heating systems\" to include solar pool heating systems at multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit facilities.</h2>\n<div>\n<div></div>\n</div>\n&nbsp;\n\nAquatherm Industries, U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters, applauds the California State Legislature\'s successes in the introduction and subsequent passing of a Bill that will qualify commercial pool facilities to earn a rebate for the installation of a solar pool heating system.\n\n“Swimming pools at businesses such as hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs, camps, waterparks, and schools often have no choice but to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature,\" says Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO of Aquatherm.\n\n\"This makes commercial pools perfect candidates for<a title=\"All About Solar Pool Heating Systems\" href=\"http://www.solarindustries.com/faq-swimming-pool-solar-heater-panel-heating.htm\">solar pool heating systems</a>. Solar can provide a clean, domestic and affordable way to reduce the monthly energy bill for heating these facilities. It\'s been said, \'As California goes, so goes the country.\' We certainly hope that the California program will serve as a roadmap for other States to follow in the future.”\n\nHaving passed the California State Legislature in early September, Assembly Bill Number 2249 (AB2249) – which will extend eligibility for solar thermal incentives to public and semi-private<a title=\"commercial swimming pool solar heating\" href=\"http://www.solarindustries.com/commercial-installation-information-solar-pool-heater.htm\">commercial swimming pool solar heating</a>– has been signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) was instrumental in aiding the state Legislature’s efforts to introduce and pass the bill.\n\nAs part of the larger California Solar Initiative Thermal program, AB2249 is an amendment to the existing Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.\n\nWhile the exact amount of the rebate has not yet been determined, early estimates among the industry indicate it will be between 35 and 50% of the cost of the system. Since performance of solar thermal systems is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), actual rebate figures will be determined by a price per averted therm.\n\nThough the Act specifically had excluded <a title=\"Aquatherm Solar Pool Heaters\" href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/\">solar pool heaters</a> in its definition of eligible solar water heating systems, AB2249 expands the current definition to include “multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit solar pool heating systems.” Single-family residential solar pool heating systems will continue to be excluded from the definition, and consequently, the rebate program.\n\nAccording to PK Data – which keeps statistics on the U.S. pool industry – there are over 186,000 heated commercial pools nationwide (approximately 45,000 in California – the most of any state). Of these pools, approximately 39%, or 115,540 are indoor; meaning they must be heated twelve months per year. Most of these pools are heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, or heat pumps. This increases the U.S. dependence on imported fuels and pollutes the air. Assuming natural gas is used to heat these pools, the annual load of 261 trillion BTU’s is the equivalent CO2 of 6.6 millions of cars on the road per year.\n\nBased on the findings of the Legislature, “solar water heating systems represent the largest untapped natural gas saving potential remaining in California. The state is heavily dependent on natural gas, importing more than 80 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost entirely on natural gas and accounts for a significant percentage of the state’s natural gas consumption. Rising worldwide demand for natural gas and a shrinking supply create rising and unstable prices that can harm California consumers and the economy. Lastly, growing demand for these technologies will create jobs in California as well as promote greater energy independence, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and result in cleaner air.”\n\n&nbsp;','PRESS RELEASE: California\'s New Commercial Solar Pool Rebate Legislation (AB2249)','','inherit','open','open','','764-revision','','','2012-10-22 18:43:02','2012-10-22 18:43:02','',764,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=765',0,'revision','',0),(766,3,'2012-10-22 18:43:12','2012-10-22 18:43:12','<blockquote><em>Solar heating systems installed on California commercial pools will now qualify for the states current solar rebate incentive program. Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law Assembly Bill 2249, an expansion on the Solar Water heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for solar water heating systems throughout the state. The bill, which had previously excluded swimming pools from eligibility under the program, redefines \"solar water heating systems\" to include solar pool heating systems at multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit facilities.</em></blockquote>\r\n<div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n</div>\r\nAquatherm Industries, U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters, applauds the California State Legislature\'s successes in the introduction and subsequent passing of a Bill that will qualify commercial pool facilities to earn a rebate for the installation of a solar pool heating system.\r\n\r\n“Swimming pools at businesses such as hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs, camps, waterparks, and schools often have no choice but to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature,\" says Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO of Aquatherm.\r\n\r\n\"This makes commercial pools perfect candidates for<a title=\"All About Solar Pool Heating Systems\" href=\"http://www.solarindustries.com/faq-swimming-pool-solar-heater-panel-heating.htm\">solar pool heating systems</a>. Solar can provide a clean, domestic and affordable way to reduce the monthly energy bill for heating these facilities. It\'s been said, \'As California goes, so goes the country.\' We certainly hope that the California program will serve as a roadmap for other States to follow in the future.”\r\n\r\nHaving passed the California State Legislature in early September, Assembly Bill Number 2249 (AB2249) – which will extend eligibility for solar thermal incentives to public and semi-private<a title=\"commercial swimming pool solar heating\" href=\"http://www.solarindustries.com/commercial-installation-information-solar-pool-heater.htm\">commercial swimming pool solar heating</a>– has been signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) was instrumental in aiding the state Legislature’s efforts to introduce and pass the bill.\r\n\r\nAs part of the larger California Solar Initiative Thermal program, AB2249 is an amendment to the existing Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.\r\n\r\nWhile the exact amount of the rebate has not yet been determined, early estimates among the industry indicate it will be between 35 and 50% of the cost of the system. Since performance of solar thermal systems is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), actual rebate figures will be determined by a price per averted therm.\r\n\r\nThough the Act specifically had excluded <a title=\"Aquatherm Solar Pool Heaters\" href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/\">solar pool heaters</a> in its definition of eligible solar water heating systems, AB2249 expands the current definition to include “multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit solar pool heating systems.” Single-family residential solar pool heating systems will continue to be excluded from the definition, and consequently, the rebate program.\r\n\r\nAccording to PK Data – which keeps statistics on the U.S. pool industry – there are over 186,000 heated commercial pools nationwide (approximately 45,000 in California – the most of any state). Of these pools, approximately 39%, or 115,540 are indoor; meaning they must be heated twelve months per year. Most of these pools are heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, or heat pumps. This increases the U.S. dependence on imported fuels and pollutes the air. Assuming natural gas is used to heat these pools, the annual load of 261 trillion BTU’s is the equivalent CO2 of 6.6 millions of cars on the road per year.\r\n\r\nBased on the findings of the Legislature, “solar water heating systems represent the largest untapped natural gas saving potential remaining in California. The state is heavily dependent on natural gas, importing more than 80 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost entirely on natural gas and accounts for a significant percentage of the state’s natural gas consumption. Rising worldwide demand for natural gas and a shrinking supply create rising and unstable prices that can harm California consumers and the economy. Lastly, growing demand for these technologies will create jobs in California as well as promote greater energy independence, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and result in cleaner air.”\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','PRESS RELEASE: California\'s New Commercial Solar Pool Rebate Legislation (AB2249)','','inherit','open','open','','764-revision-2','','','2012-10-22 18:43:12','2012-10-22 18:43:12','',764,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=766',0,'revision','',0),(767,3,'2012-10-22 18:44:01','2012-10-22 18:44:01','<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Solar heating systems installed on California commercial pools will now qualify for the states current solar rebate incentive program. Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law Assembly Bill 2249, an expansion on the Solar Water heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for solar water heating systems throughout the state. The bill, which had previously excluded swimming pools from eligibility under the program, redefines \"solar water heating systems\" to include solar pool heating systems at multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit facilities.</em></p>\n\n<div>\n<div></div>\n</div>\nAquatherm Industries, U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters, applauds the California State Legislature\'s successes in the introduction and subsequent passing of a Bill that will qualify commercial pool facilities to earn a rebate for the installation of a solar pool heating system.\n\n“Swimming pools at businesses such as hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs, camps, waterparks, and schools often have no choice but to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature,\" says Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO of Aquatherm.\n\n\"This makes commercial pools perfect candidates for solar pool heating systems. Solar can provide a clean, domestic and affordable way to reduce the monthly energy bill for heating these facilities. It\'s been said, \'As California goes, so goes the country.\' We certainly hope that the California program will serve as a roadmap for other States to follow in the future.”\n\nHaving passed the California State Legislature in early September, Assembly Bill Number 2249 (AB2249) – which will extend eligibility for solar thermal incentives to public and semi-private commercial swimming pool solar heating– has been signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) was instrumental in aiding the state Legislature’s efforts to introduce and pass the bill.\n\nAs part of the larger California Solar Initiative Thermal program, AB2249 is an amendment to the existing Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.\n\nWhile the exact amount of the rebate has not yet been determined, early estimates among the industry indicate it will be between 35 and 50% of the cost of the system. Since performance of solar thermal systems is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), actual rebate figures will be determined by a price per averted therm.\n\nThough the Act specifically had excluded solar pool heaters in its definition of eligible solar water heating systems, AB2249 expands the current definition to include “multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit solar pool heating systems.” Single-family residential solar pool heating systems will continue to be excluded from the definition, and consequently, the rebate program.\n\nAccording to PK Data – which keeps statistics on the U.S. pool industry – there are over 186,000 heated commercial pools nationwide (approximately 45,000 in California – the most of any state). Of these pools, approximately 39%, or 115,540 are indoor; meaning they must be heated twelve months per year. Most of these pools are heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, or heat pumps. This increases the U.S. dependence on imported fuels and pollutes the air. Assuming natural gas is used to heat these pools, the annual load of 261 trillion BTU’s is the equivalent CO2 of 6.6 millions of cars on the road per year.\n\nBased on the findings of the Legislature, “solar water heating systems represent the largest untapped natural gas saving potential remaining in California. The state is heavily dependent on natural gas, importing more than 80 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost entirely on natural gas and accounts for a significant percentage of the state’s natural gas consumption. Rising worldwide demand for natural gas and a shrinking supply create rising and unstable prices that can harm California consumers and the economy. Lastly, growing demand for these technologies will create jobs in California as well as promote greater energy independence, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and result in cleaner air.”\n\n&nbsp;','PRESS RELEASE: California\'s New Commercial Solar Pool Rebate Legislation (AB2249)','','inherit','open','open','','764-revision-3','','','2012-10-22 18:44:01','2012-10-22 18:44:01','',764,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=767',0,'revision','',0),(768,3,'2012-10-22 18:46:42','2012-10-22 18:46:42','<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Solar heating systems installed on California commercial pools will now qualify for the states current solar rebate incentive program. Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law Assembly Bill 2249, an expansion on the Solar Water heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for solar water heating systems throughout the state. The bill, which had previously excluded swimming pools from eligibility under the program, redefines \"solar water heating systems\" to include solar pool heating systems at multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit facilities.</em></p>\n\n<div></div>\nAquatherm Industries, U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heaters, applauds the California State Legislature\'s successes in the introduction and subsequent passing of a Bill that will qualify commercial pool facilities to earn a rebate for the installation of a solar pool heating system.\n\n“Swimming pools at businesses such as hotels, resorts, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs, camps, waterparks, and schools often have no choice but to keep their pools at a comfortable temperature,\" says Dave Sizelove, President &amp; CEO of Aquatherm.\n\n\"This makes commercial pools perfect candidates for solar pool heating systems. Solar can provide a clean, domestic and affordable way to reduce the monthly energy bill for heating these facilities. It\'s been said, \'As California goes, so goes the country.\' We certainly hope that the California program will serve as a roadmap for other States to follow in the future.”\n\nHaving passed the California State Legislature in early September, Assembly Bill Number 2249 (AB2249) – which will extend eligibility for solar thermal incentives to public and semi-private commercial swimming pool solar heating– has been signed by California Governor Jerry Brown. The California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) was instrumental in aiding the state Legislature’s efforts to introduce and pass the bill.\n\nAs part of the larger California Solar Initiative Thermal program, AB2249 is an amendment to the existing Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007. The Act tasked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with the design and implementation of a program of incentives for the installation of 200,000 solar water heating systems in homes and businesses throughout the state by 2017.\n\nWhile the exact amount of the rebate has not yet been determined, early estimates among the industry indicate it will be between 35 and 50% of the cost of the system. Since performance of solar thermal systems is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs), actual rebate figures will be determined by a price per averted therm.\n\nThough the Act specifically had excluded solar pool heaters in its definition of eligible solar water heating systems, AB2249 expands the current definition to include “multifamily residential, governmental, educational, and nonprofit solar pool heating systems.” Single-family residential solar pool heating systems will continue to be excluded from the definition, and consequently, the rebate program.\n\nAccording to PK Data – which keeps statistics on the U.S. pool industry – there are over 186,000 heated commercial pools nationwide (approximately 45,000 in California – the most of any state). Of these pools, approximately 39%, or 115,540 are indoor; meaning they must be heated twelve months per year. Most of these pools are heated with fossil fuels such as natural gas, propane, or heat pumps. This increases the U.S. dependence on imported fuels and pollutes the air. Assuming natural gas is used to heat these pools, the annual load of 261 trillion BTU’s is the equivalent CO2 of 6.6 millions of cars on the road per year.\n\nBased on the findings of the Legislature, “solar water heating systems represent the largest untapped natural gas saving potential remaining in California. The state is heavily dependent on natural gas, importing more than 80 percent of the natural gas it consumes. Water heating for domestic and industrial use relies almost entirely on natural gas and accounts for a significant percentage of the state’s natural gas consumption. Rising worldwide demand for natural gas and a shrinking supply create rising and unstable prices that can harm California consumers and the economy. Lastly, growing demand for these technologies will create jobs in California as well as promote greater energy independence, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and result in cleaner air.”\n\nRead the full text of Assembly Bill 2249 <a title=\"AB2249_Full_Text.pdf\" href=\"http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/10/09/9997362/AB2249_Full_Text.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.','PRESS RELEASE: California\'s New Commercial Solar Pool Rebate Legislation (AB2249)','','inherit','open','open','','764-autosave','','','2012-10-22 18:46:42','2012-10-22 18:46:42','',764,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=768',0,'revision','',0),(769,3,'2012-10-04 20:22:31','2012-10-04 20:22:31','<strong>Lakewood, NJ -</strong> The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\r\n\r\nThe newly released heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring.\r\n\r\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\nWhen used with Aquatherm\'s own dual-durometer EPDM connector hoses,  improvements on the design permits higher stagnation temperatures.\r\n\r\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers.\r\n\r\nAbout Aquatherm\r\n<a title=\"Aquatherm Solar Pool Heaters\" href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/\">Aquatherm Industries</a> is the largest manufacturer of solar pool heating systems in the United  States, the only U.S. manufacturer of NSF listed solar pool heaters,  and the only U.S. solar collector manufacturer to achieve the ISO  9001:2008 quality standard.  Aquatherm manufactures several of the  industry’s leading brands of solar pool heating collectors, including  the Solar Industries and Ecosun collectors.\r\n\r\nAquatherm’s entire manufacturing process takes place at its  50,000-square foot technology center in Lakewood, NJ - the most modern  facility of its kind in the world.  For more information on Aquatherm  Industries, its products or its dealer network, contact Molly Friar,  Aquatherm’s Sales &amp; Marketing Manager at 1-800-535-6307, extension  226.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Press Release: Aquatherm Industries Releases Design Upgrade for its 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker Assembly; New Design Now Compatible with All Makes and Models of Solar Pool Heaters ','','inherit','open','open','','753-revision-3','','','2012-10-04 20:22:31','2012-10-04 20:22:31','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=769',0,'revision','',0),(773,3,'2012-11-09 20:24:14','2012-11-09 20:24:14','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\n\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with their “Heliocol vs.” page on their website. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\n\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.\n\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\n\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\n\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\n\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\n\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\n\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\n\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\n\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\n\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\n\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\n\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\n\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\n\nAttached are the SRCC ratings for each of these products. Referring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\n\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision','','','2012-11-09 20:24:14','2012-11-09 20:24:14','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=773',0,'revision','',0),(775,3,'2012-11-09 20:35:40','2012-11-09 20:35:40','','New HC Product SRCC Ratings','','inherit','open','open','','new-hc-product-srcc-ratings','','','2012-11-09 20:35:40','2012-11-09 20:35:40','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(774,3,'2012-11-09 20:30:01','2012-11-09 20:30:01','','Eco-Flare 3M','','inherit','open','open','','eco-flare-3m','','','2012-11-09 20:30:01','2012-11-09 20:30:01','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Eco-Flare-3M.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(776,3,'2012-11-09 20:36:26','2012-11-09 20:36:26','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\n\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with their “Heliocol vs.” page on their website. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\n\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.\n\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\n\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\n\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\n\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\n\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\n\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\n\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\n\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\n\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\n\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\n\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\n\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\n\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link:\n\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\n\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\n\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-2','','','2012-11-09 20:36:26','2012-11-09 20:36:26','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=776',0,'revision','',0),(777,3,'2012-11-09 20:44:19','2012-11-09 20:44:19','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with their “Heliocol vs.” page on their website. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-3','','','2012-11-09 20:44:19','2012-11-09 20:44:19','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=777',0,'revision','',0),(778,3,'2012-11-09 20:46:45','2012-11-09 20:46:45','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-4','','','2012-11-09 20:46:45','2012-11-09 20:46:45','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=778',0,'revision','',0),(779,3,'2012-11-09 20:47:00','2012-11-09 20:47:00','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-5','','','2012-11-09 20:47:00','2012-11-09 20:47:00','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=779',0,'revision','',0),(780,3,'2012-11-09 20:48:07','2012-11-09 20:48:07','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-6','','','2012-11-09 20:48:07','2012-11-09 20:48:07','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=780',0,'revision','',0),(781,3,'2012-04-05 16:13:09','2012-04-05 16:13:09','Just a reminder that Aquatherm Industries will be closed tomorrow, April 6th and will reopen on Monday, April 9th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Reminder: Aquatherm Closed this Friday, April 6th','','inherit','open','open','','614-revision-2','','','2012-04-05 16:13:09','2012-04-05 16:13:09','',614,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=781',0,'revision','',0),(782,3,'2012-08-14 17:20:21','2012-08-14 17:20:21','Aquatherm’s annual maintenance shut-down will begin on Monday, August 27th. During this time there will be no production or shipping, however the office will be open during normal business hours.\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be closed on Monday, September 3rd in observance of Labor Day.','Aquatherm\'s Annual Maintenance Shut-down','','inherit','open','open','','723-revision-2','','','2012-08-14 17:20:21','2012-08-14 17:20:21','',723,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=782',0,'revision','',0),(783,3,'2012-04-03 15:26:13','2012-04-03 15:26:13','As most of you know, each year Aquatherm Industries participates in the Polar Bear Plunge.  The PBP is a fundraising event for the New Jersey Special Olympics with more than 5000 participants each year “plunging” into the freezing Atlantic Ocean every February.  Last year, Dave announced at the National Dealer Meeting he would offer up ten collectors to anyone who could stay in the water as long as he could.  Ethan Horvitz and Rich Bonte took that challenge and Ethan walked away with ten collectors.  But wait – there’s more…\r\n\r\nThis year, Dave upped the ante! He offered 20 collectors to any first timer who could brave the water with him on February 25<sup>th</sup>.  At first there was just a little rumbling and poking at each other, but then I got the call.  Out of the blue, just days before the plunge, Matt Mitera from Tenco Solar was calling to get more information.  Now, for those of you who don’t know, Matt lives in Southern California and the Plunge takes place in New Jersey – a 2,500 mile trek.  I told Matt all of the details, but really didn’t think another thing of it… until the morning of the plunge.  I got a text from Dave saying he just heard from Matt and he was just an hour away from meeting them.  Matt had taken a red-eye into Philly and was driving to Seaside Heights to make the event!\r\n\r\nThe air and water temperatures were both 42 degrees, but there were 40 mph winds and snow showers.  Matt showed up with a towel, wearing his 2012 Dealer Meeting tee-shirt, board shorts and water shoes.  He took the plunge with the group, but could this warm water surfer make it through?  Matt took to the water with Dave and went the distance – amazing!  In the words of Matt, “I thought it over and realized, it’s just one day of your life – I’ll do anything for a day.”  Thank you Matt, for taking this challenge in the spirit of which it was intended.  Oh, and your 20 collectors are on their way – congratulations!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_591\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\" caption=\"Team Aquatherm with Matt and his new Polar Bear Plunge sweatshirt.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/PolarBearPlunge.jpg\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-591\" title=\"PolarBearPlunge\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/PolarBearPlunge-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow for the February numbers.  Congratulations to<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>for claiming the top spot for February with 385 collectors! Way to go Bill and Scott – what a month! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 273 collectors for the month.  Great job Mark! <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> finished with 191 collectors installed for the month for 3<sup>rd</sup> place.  A job well done to Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> from <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> is the top salesman in the country with 37 sales for February.  Nice job Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 34 sales for February – that’s 9 more than the same month last year.  Fabulous job Bill! <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> takes the no.  3 spot for the month with 21 sales.  Great job Scott and Bill, combined together with January, Stilwell Solar has a total of 93 sales YTD!  FANTASTIC!!\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the World Renewable Energy Forum (formerly ASES) in Denver, Colorado in May.  The dates of the show are May 15 - 17 and we will be in booth 1016.  We hope to see some of you there!\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','February Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','604-revision-2','','','2012-04-03 15:26:13','2012-04-03 15:26:13','',604,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=783',0,'revision','',0),(784,3,'2012-04-05 14:56:41','2012-04-05 14:56:41','Aquatherm is pleased to announce that we are now an approved Silver Associate Member of the Independent Pool and Spa Service Association. With almost 4000 members nationwide, IPSSA offers many benefits including educational events, local chapter meetings, discount advantages and networking opportunities. We have a list of the Chapter Presidents and have been contacting them to set up presentation opportunities for the dealer network. These meetings will give you access to many of the service businesses in your area for relationship building and future solar pool heating referral opportunities.\r\n\r\nThe Independent Pool and Spa Service Association, Inc promotes the mutual professional benefit and growth of its members and for the continued improvement of the pool and spa industry.\r\n\r\nFor more information on how you can apply to become a member, visit <a href=\"http://www.ipssa.com/\">www.ipssa.com</a> or contact me for more information on how to get in touch with your local chapter.\r\n\r\n  <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LogocolorIPSSA.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-473 alignleft\" title=\"LogocolorIPSSA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LogocolorIPSSA-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" /></a>','Aquatherm Announces Silver Membership to IPSSA','','inherit','open','open','','472-revision-4','','','2012-04-05 14:56:41','2012-04-05 14:56:41','',472,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=784',0,'revision','',0),(785,3,'2011-08-22 13:03:27','2011-08-22 13:03:27','<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Aquatherm.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-287\" title=\"Aquatherm\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Aquatherm-300x180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" /></a>Aquatherm’s annual production shut-down will occur next week beginning on Monday, August 29. During this time there will be no production or shipping.\r\n\r\nThe office will be open during normal business hours.\r\n\r\nThe office will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Annual Production Shut-down','','inherit','open','open','','286-revision-2','','','2011-08-22 13:03:27','2011-08-22 13:03:27','',286,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=785',0,'revision','',0),(786,3,'2011-08-23 15:02:21','2011-08-23 15:02:21','[cincopa AAAAzt6WTMdb]','Video Tutorial: Introduction to the AI Network Dealer Portal','','inherit','open','open','','250-revision-6','','','2011-08-23 15:02:21','2011-08-23 15:02:21','',250,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=786',0,'revision','',0),(787,3,'2011-08-04 20:46:41','2011-08-04 20:46:41','With quality as our masthead and a passion for customer-intimate relationships as our sail, Aquatherm has become the largest and most trusted producer of low- temperature polymer solar collectors in the United States.\r\n\r\nTo that end, we’re thrilled to announce that today Aquatherm passed its ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System inspection! Our registration covers not just production and quality control, but the entire operation including customer service, purchasing and vendors and management.<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', \'Bitstream Charter\', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;\"><img class=\"alignright\" style=\"border-style: initial; border-color: initial;\" title=\"ISO 9001:2008\" src=\"http://www.control-pt.com/wp-content/uploads/iso_9001_2008.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"319\" height=\"205\" /></span>\r\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">Though it won’t be official until we get our certificate in the next couple of weeks, [edit: <a title=\"Aquatherm Corporate Blog - Aquatherm Achieves ISO...\" href=\"http://aquathermindustries.com/blog/2011/07/26/aquatherm-achieves-iso-90012008-registration/\" target=\"_blank\">we\'ve received our certificate!</a>] and we won’t be making a formal announcement until then, we just had to share this with you. As far as we know, Aquatherm is the first and only U.S. solar manufacturer to be awarded ISO accreditation.</span></div>\r\nAs the inspector was leaving, she told us that we have one of the best quality systems she’s ever seen. Kudos to our entire staff for making this happen and especially to Kevin, who was the point person for this effort.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','We\'ve Passed Our ISO Inspection!','','inherit','open','open','','228-revision-7','','','2011-08-04 20:46:41','2011-08-04 20:46:41','',228,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=787',0,'revision','',0),(788,3,'2011-04-25 12:55:19','2011-04-25 12:55:19','<h3><strong>The Polar Bear Plunge</strong></h3>\r\nWe double-dared you to join us for this year’s Plunge with the incentive of ten free collectors if you could stay in the water as long as Dave. Ethan Horowitz of Solar Living and Rich Bonte of Sun Source showed up and followed Dave into a 38 degree ocean on a bright February afternoon with air temperatures in the low 40’s. While Rich never made it in past his waist, Ethan hung in there as long as Dave did and while they were still in the water, shook hands and the deal was done.\r\n\r\nThe Polar Bear Plunge is Aquatherm’s biggest fundraiser of the year which benefits Special Olympics. Rumor has it that Dave may up the ante’ next year, so if you want to take home some free collectors form next year’s Plunge, you might want to start practicing by taking a cold shower or two!\r\n<h3><strong>Reduced Price Panels for Charity</strong></h3>\r\nWe‘re often asked if there’s anything we can do to help out a charitable organization like the boy scouts or girl scouts, like if we have factory seconds for their camp pool. Well, yes we do have seconds, but up till now it was just easier to cut them up, grind them up and see them again one day as headers.\r\n\r\nWe will now start saving them up and if you come across a bona fide 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, give Dave a call, he’ll check our inventory and make them available for a reduced price.\r\n<h3><strong>Industry Notes</strong></h3>\r\nA year after Don Harter passed away, <strong>Harter Industries</strong> has shut their doors. For over 10 years we had sold them a private-label of the 2” SI collector they called Hi-Deluxe. They also sold an EPDM mat named Hi-Temp / E-Z Heat.\r\n\r\nLeverEdge, producers of Hi-Tec, SM Plus and Guardian solar pool heating products are rebranding themselves under the name of <strong>Solar Hydronics</strong>.\r\n<h3><strong>Upcoming Shows</strong></h3>\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the<strong> ASES Solar 2011 </strong>show in Raleigh, North Carolina in May. The dates of the show are May 19 – 21 and we will be in booth 1101. <strong>Solar Power International</strong>, October 17-20<strong> </strong>is moving to a new home in Dallas this year after it outgrew every exhibition hall in California. We hope to see some of you there!<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>Summer Sales Retreat</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nCongratulations are in order to <strong>Mark and Lori Naylor, Scott and Lisa Bologna, Terry and Sue Naylor, Bill and Trina Long, Brandon Chase </strong>and his new fiancé<strong> Michelle Stewart, </strong>who joined us in Cabo last year<strong>, Rich and Karen Bonte, Richard and Diana Good, Rick and Maureen Vasquez, Rob and Lisa Shepherd and Dave and Marilyn Setter</strong> for making it to this year’s exciting five day Summer Sales Retreat at the Loews Hotel and Resort in the heart of South Beach from July 26 through the 30<sup>th</sup>. A well deserved break for all of you!','Happenings Around Aquatherm','','inherit','open','open','','77-revision-6','','','2011-04-25 12:55:19','2011-04-25 12:55:19','',77,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=788',0,'revision','',0),(789,3,'2012-01-12 21:07:55','2012-01-12 21:07:55','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SI-site-thumbnail.png\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-559\" title=\"SI site thumbnail\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SI-site-thumbnail-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>We’ve just gone live with our newly revised <a href=\"http://www.solarindustries.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.solarindustries.com</a>! I’d like to invite you to take a look around, and welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvement for the site.\r\n\r\nOne key change is a complete reversal in the way we capture leads. For years, we’ve asked visitors to give us their information before handing over any Dealer contact information.\r\n\r\nNow, as you’ll notice, we are offering up our Dealers’ contact information from the get-go.   Once a visitor lands on the Dealer Directory, there are call-to-action buttons offering the $200 coupon/savings certificate. That’s where we have an opportunity to capture their information and pass it along to you as a lead.\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing your thoughts on the new site, and seeing many of you next week in Orlando (and others in San Diego in February) at the <a title=\"2012 Master Dealer Kick-Off Meetings\" href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=541\" target=\"_blank\">2012 Master Dealer Kick-Off Meetings</a>!\r\n\r\n-Dan','SolarIndustries.com Redesign is Live!','','inherit','open','open','','560-revision-4','','','2012-01-12 21:07:55','2012-01-12 21:07:55','',560,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=789',0,'revision','',0),(790,3,'2011-06-30 14:39:21','2011-06-30 14:39:21','For years we\'ve maintained individual <strong>\"partial dealer listing\"</strong> pages on our two flagship brand sites - www.warmwater.com and www.solarindustries.com.  The idea behind these pages is to provide a point of reference for your potential customer that <strong>adds credibility to your business</strong> as a recognized Ecosun / Solar Industries Dealer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_160\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Screenshot of the former &quot;View Partial List&quot; navigation link.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Partial-Dealer-List-Ecosun.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-160\" title=\"Partial Dealer List Ecosun\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Partial-Dealer-List-Ecosun-300x290.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"290\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhile I still think these pages are important tools for our Dealer Network, I saw them <strong>causing more harm than good in their current location</strong> as part of the navigation bar on each site.  From tracking inbound emails generated by the website, it became clear to me <strong>consumers were becoming confused</strong>.\r\n\r\nSome wondered where the actual Dealer contact information was, not realizing this was simply a partial listing of recognized Dealers.  Others might not have seen their potential Dealer on the list, which could harm credibility (currently, we only add Dealers if requested by a Distributor).\r\n\r\n<strong>Effective today, the partial dealer listing pages are only accessible by adding \"/dealers\" to the end of either website.  (<a href=\"http://www.warmwater.com/dealers\" target=\"_blank\">www.warmwater.com/dealers</a> &amp; <a href=\"http://www.solarindustries.com/dealers\" target=\"_blank\">www.solarindustries.com/dealers</a>).</strong>\r\n\r\nBy relocating these pages as what we\'d call \"backdoor\" pages, we\'re able to continue providing credibility and trust for our Dealer Network while simplifying the process for interested visitors to contact you.\r\n\r\nCall it \"Phase One\" in my plan to ultimately <strong>shorten the distance between an interested website visitor and you</strong>.\r\n\r\nWarmest Regards,\r\n\r\nDan Sizelove\r\nMarketing Coordinator\r\n\r\nPS - If any Distribution Center would like their Dealers added to the list, please call (732/ 905-9002 x228) or email (jdsizelove@warmwater.com) and I will gladly add them.','Dealer Listings On the Website','','inherit','open','open','','159-revision-10','','','2011-06-30 14:39:21','2011-06-30 14:39:21','',159,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=790',0,'revision','',0),(791,3,'2011-02-01 20:25:25','2011-02-01 20:25:25','Aquatherm is pleased to announce our new AI Network Portal for dealers and distributors. The new online software application provides:<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/AI_Network.gif\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-25\" title=\"AI_Network\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/AI_Network.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" /></a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>A tool for online reporting of sales data and the viewing of sales reports and warranty reports</li>\r\n	<li>A tool for Aquatherm dealer and distributor communications</li>\r\n	<li>An forum for dealers and distributors to share ideas</li>\r\n	<li>A resource for all Aquatherm related marketing materials (logo, specs, brochures, install photos)</li>\r\n	<li>Ordering of products (distributors only), literature and wearables</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nDemos of the new tool are being provided at the Regional Dealer Meetings. Launch and training to occur before the end of the quarter.','Aquatherm Announces the AI Network','Aquatherm is pleased to announce our new AI Network Portal for dealers and distributors. See a demo at your Regional Dealer Meetings. Launch and training to occur before the end of the quarter.','inherit','open','open','','12-revision-5','','','2011-02-01 20:25:25','2011-02-01 20:25:25','',12,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=791',0,'revision','',0),(792,3,'2012-10-23 16:02:58','2012-10-23 16:02:58','<strong>Lakewood, NJ -</strong> The largest U.S. manufacturer of solar pool heating systems has just released a redesigned vacuum breaker which is now compatible  with all brands of solar pool heating systems, including FAFCO Sunsaver  and Revolution, Techno-Solis, Solar Hydronics Hi-Tec, Guardian and  Suntrek collectors.\r\n\r\nThe newly released commercial heavy duty vacuum breaker includes a reinforced  housing, corrosion-free  stainless steel spring and filter screens, and a  chemical resistant Viton o-ring. The valve can be completely rebuilt in the field.\r\n\r\nPreviously, Aquatherm\'s design could not be used with competitive  systems due to the varying types of coupler hoses used to connect those  collectors. The addition of a proprietary slide-lock on the solar pool  vacuum breaker housing allows the part to be used in and make and model  collector with 2\" header manifolds.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_754\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rendering of the improved design shows the new slide-locking cap.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-754\" title=\"VRV\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VRV-300x248.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\nWhen used with Aquatherm\'s own dual-durometer EPDM connector hoses,  improvements on the design permits higher stagnation temperatures.\r\n\r\nThe new vacuum breakers are currently available from all Aquatherm Regional Distribution Centers. The slide locking cap will be introduced on the 1.5\" vacuum relief valve in the first quarter of 2013.','Press Release: Aquatherm Industries Releases Design Upgrade for its 2\" Solar Pool Vacuum Breaker Assembly; New Design Now Compatible with All Makes and Models of Solar Pool Heaters ','','inherit','open','open','','753-revision-4','','','2012-10-23 16:02:58','2012-10-23 16:02:58','',753,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=792',0,'revision','',0),(795,3,'2012-11-09 20:48:12','2012-11-09 20:48:12','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-7','','','2012-11-09 20:48:12','2012-11-09 20:48:12','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=795',0,'revision','',0),(796,3,'2012-11-09 21:21:19','2012-11-09 21:21:19','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\r\n\r\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\r\n\r\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\r\n\r\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\r\n\r\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\r\n\r\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\r\n\r\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\r\n\r\nLastly, the material used to manufacture Heliocol collectors is in fact NSF-61 listed, but only since 2011, not 2009. This listing is based an “open method” test with potable water – not in a closed recalculating system under swimming pool water conditions. This listing has no validity in a swimming pool environment.\r\n\r\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\r\n\r\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\r\n\r\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\r\n\r\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\r\n\r\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\r\n\r\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\r\n\r\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\r\n\r\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-revision-8','','','2012-11-09 21:21:19','2012-11-09 21:21:19','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=796',0,'revision','',0),(797,3,'2012-11-28 13:48:21','2012-11-28 13:48:21','My Mom used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” - but apparently, not all Mom’s say that.\n\nLast February, UMA / Heliocol released their 2012 Solar Pool Heating Comparison vs. Aquatherm products which we rebutted with our own counterclaim comparison. Next, Heliocol took a stab at additional competitors with a <a title=\"Compare Heliocol to Others\" href=\"http://www.heliocol.com/heliocol-vs\" target=\"_blank\">“Heliocol vs.” page on their website</a>. I addressed the inaccuracies repeatedly with Victor Eyal, who at the time was the President and CEO of UMA / Heliocol USA, but to no avail. After a heated conversation with Victor at Intersolar in July that went nowhere, I decide to take to take it up with Victor’s apparent successor, Itzik Amar from Magen Eco-Energy in Israel. I met with Itzik briefly at the SLASH Show in Brisbane at the end of July and he indicated that he would address any issues I had. Four months later, nothing on the site has changed.\n\nI will be seeing Itzik again next week at Piscine in Lyon, but I am not optimistic. To that end, we have put together the following counterclaims to the false and misleading information on the Heliocol site.<!--more-->\n\n<strong>More Heat</strong> – As stated in the disclaimer, Heliocol is using the SRCC Category A (-9 degrees F) / Clear Day (2,000 Btu’s per day) rating. As I’m sure you are aware, these conditions would represent a pool temperature of 85 degrees F with an air temperature of 9 degrees higher, or 94 degrees F with 2,000 Btu’s per day of insolation. These conditions can be compared to Florida in June in terms of both temperature and solar radiation; hardly a set of circumstances where pool heating is even necessary.\n\nCategory B (+9 degrees F) / 1,500 Btu’s would mimic a pool temperature of 85 degrees and an air temperature of 76 degrees F; a time when pool heating is needed the most. At this rating, Aquatherm products are rated <strong>85% more efficient than Heliocol.</strong>\n\n<strong> </strong><strong>Better Warranty</strong> – Heliocol states that an Aquatherm panel is covered by a ten-year warranty with labor and that Heliocol covers the panel, plus parts and labor. As you know, any of our flagship collectors and parts are warranted for 12 years when installed by an authorized Aquatherm Industries Master Dealer. Additionally, Aquatherm does offer an optional 12-year labor warranty when a system is purchased through an authorized Master Dealer.\n\n<strong>No Muss, No Fuss </strong>– Heliocol states that all Heliocol components are manufactured using “medical grade plastic” and that Aquatherm connects its panel with “radiator type hoses”. I have inquired with numerous industry sources about what makes a plastic “medical grade” and have found that there is no such accepted designation within the industry. In other words, it appears that this claim is completely made up. As for the description of our collector connectors, they are made from a specially formulated, dual-durometer material and are patent-pending, not corded-reinforced radiator hose as implied.\n\n<strong>More Choices</strong> – Initially, Heliocol’s terracotta and grey collectors require as much as 30% more surface area when compared to black collectors. Additionally, because they can not use carbon black, a proven UV degradation blocker, they have been known to fade, which will further reduce performance.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\n<strong>Follow the Leader</strong> – Heliocol indicates that they are an ISO registered company. We attempted to verify their claim with the International Standards Organization, but they do not list Heliocol as an ISO registered company. Only a company can be ISO registered – not a product.\n\nMagen Eco-Energy is listed as being ISO 14000 registered, which is when a company agrees to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion; turn off lights, recycle, etc. This registration has nothing to do with product quality. Heliocol as a product again, is not ISO registered.\n\nHeliocol further indicates that Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 listing in 2011, the same year as the Helicol product. In fact, Aquatherm products received their NSF-50 system listing in September of 2010 and the Helicol product was not listed until June of 2011. And mind you, that listing occurred only after Heliocol was issued two regulatory actions by NSF for falsely promoting the Helicol product as being NSF-50 listed.\n\nLastly, the material used to manufacture Heliocol collectors is in fact NSF-61 listed, but only since 2011, not 2009. This listing is based an “open method” test with potable water – not in a closed recirculating system under swimming pool water conditions. This listing has no validity in a swimming pool environment.\n\n<strong>More Satisfied Customers</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm has produced only 25 million square feet of panel area vs. 60 million for Helicol. Their source for this information was an Aquatherm press release that was for only two of our product lines, Sunlite and Ecolite produced between 2000 and 2011. Though we do not openly disclose Aquatherm’s total sales, our total collector sales for all of our solar pool heating product lines has far exceed the 60 million square feet that Helicol claims it has produced.\n\n<strong>Protect Your Roof</strong> – Heliocol indicates that Aquatherm panels are of a “monolithic” design. The definition of monolithic is a solid or impenetrable shape. Aquatherm panels are not monolithic, but vented to allow for wind relief and venting of the mounting surface, such as a roof.\n\nThey also claim that their plastic Gator clamp allows for fewer penetrations to the roof. In fact, each Gator clamp requires two penetrations, and Heliocol recommends four per collector, for a total of eight penetrations per collector. Aquatherm’s standard installation with stainless steel mounting hardware requires just four penetrations and up to eight for high-wind installations.\n\nLastly, we would like to address two new Heliocol collectors; the <strong>eco-Flare </strong>and <strong>ECO-Spark</strong>. The Flare is a glazed, vented box version of the SunStar product – it was certified in May of 2011 and is being marketed as a domestic water heating product. The Spark, just introduced this summer, is a semi-glazed version of the Heliocol collector. This product is being heavily marketed as a “super-collector” for solar pool heating. The product uses a rectangular polycarbonate glazing over the loose tubes which end several inches from each header. This product has also entered the DIY market in a 2 x 4 ft. size through Maytronics – an Israeli pool cleaner manufacturer. They are promoting that one unit can heat an above ground pool up to 21 ft. diameter and two units for a 21 ft. or over, or a 15 x 30 ft. oval pool. We’ve even seem them marketed for inground pool with three recommended for a 16 x 32 ft. pool and four, for an 18 x 36 ft. pool.\n\nEven with a pool temperature at 85 degrees and the air at 76 degrees F, the only thing a glazing does is block sunlight from hitting the absorber surface. There is no “greenhouse effect” as claimed. As time goes on, the glazing will even begin to loose some of its transmitivity, so performance will even get worse.\n\nThe SRCC ratings for each of these products can be downloaded using this link: <a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/New-HC-Product-SRCC-Ratings.pdf\">Heliocol New Product SRCC Ratings</a>\n\nReferring again to Category B at 1,500 Btu’s, the Flare is rated at 15,400 Btu’s / 24.22 sq. ft., or .6 and the Spark at 30,600 Btu’s / 42.64 sq. ft., or .7. Since Aquatherm’s rating in this category is .9, <strong>our rating is 50% higher than the Flare and 29% higher than the Spark</strong>.\n\nAs I mentioned, I’ll be in Lyon, France next week at Piscine 2012 – the largest swimming pool show in the world, which only occurs every two years. This is the 10<sup>th</sup> time since 1994 that Aquatherm has exhibited. I know it sounds glamorous, but the Expo is four days, from 9 to 6 everyday. Add to that an hour metro / bus ride to the convention center, plus a six-hour time difference and some of the glamour starts to fade. Speaking of the time difference (Jim, Tom Lane, and Bill Park – listen up), no 5 pm cell phone calls please!','The Buck Stops Here - November 2012','','inherit','open','open','','772-autosave','','','2012-11-28 13:48:21','2012-11-28 13:48:21','',772,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=797',0,'revision','',0),(805,3,'2012-11-28 18:14:40','2012-11-28 18:14:40','','Aquatherm Company Overview','','inherit','open','open','','aquatherm-company-overview-2','','','2012-11-28 18:14:40','2012-11-28 18:14:40','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Aquatherm-Company-Overview1.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(808,2,'2012-11-17 18:47:41','2012-11-17 18:47:41','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October 2012 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','october-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:43','2013-06-11 15:57:43','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=808',0,'post','',0),(800,2,'2012-11-20 17:29:03','2012-11-20 17:29:03','Greetings!  In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Aquatherm will be closed this Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23.  We will reopen Monday, November 26th. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!','Holiday Closure Notice','','publish','open','open','','holiday-closure-notice','','','2012-11-20 17:29:03','2012-11-20 17:29:03','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=800',0,'post','',0),(801,2,'2012-11-20 17:27:59','2012-11-20 17:27:59','Greetings!  In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Aquatherm will be closed this Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23.  We will reopen Monday, November 26.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave\na safe and happy holiday weekend!','Holiday Closure Notice','','inherit','open','open','','800-revision','','','2012-11-20 17:27:59','2012-11-20 17:27:59','',800,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=801',0,'revision','',0),(803,2,'2012-11-20 17:28:57','2012-11-20 17:28:57','Greetings!  In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Aquatherm will be closed this Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23.  We will reopen Monday, November 26th. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!','Holiday Closure Notice','','inherit','open','open','','800-revision-3','','','2012-11-20 17:28:57','2012-11-20 17:28:57','',800,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=803',0,'revision','',0),(802,2,'2012-11-20 17:28:24','2012-11-20 17:28:24','Greetings!  In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Aquatherm will be closed this Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23.  We will reopen Monday, November 26.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave\r\na safe and happy holiday weekend!','Holiday Closure Notice','','inherit','open','open','','800-revision-2','','','2012-11-20 17:28:24','2012-11-20 17:28:24','',800,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=802',0,'revision','',0),(809,3,'2012-12-17 18:48:44','2012-12-17 18:48:44','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\n\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\n\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.\n\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\n<ul>\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\n</ul>\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\n\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\n\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events: </strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the</strong></li>\n</ul>\n<strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in</strong></li>\n</ul>\n<strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\nBest,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMolly\n\n&nbsp;','October Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision','','','2012-12-17 18:48:44','2012-12-17 18:48:44','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=809',0,'revision','',0),(811,3,'2012-12-17 18:52:44','2012-12-17 18:52:44','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\n\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\n\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.\n\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\n<ul>\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\n</ul>\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\n\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\n\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\n</ul>\n<strong> </strong>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\n\n<strong> </strong>\n\nBest,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMolly\n\n&nbsp;','October Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-3','','','2012-12-17 18:52:44','2012-12-17 18:52:44','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=811',0,'revision','',0),(810,3,'2012-12-17 18:51:56','2012-12-17 18:51:56','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events: </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-2','','','2012-12-17 18:51:56','2012-12-17 18:51:56','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=810',0,'revision','',0),(813,3,'2012-12-17 18:53:14','2012-12-17 18:53:14','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-5','','','2012-12-17 18:53:14','2012-12-17 18:53:14','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=813',0,'revision','',0),(812,3,'2012-12-17 18:52:59','2012-12-17 18:52:59','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-4','','','2012-12-17 18:52:59','2012-12-17 18:52:59','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=812',0,'revision','',0),(814,2,'2012-12-17 18:55:26','2012-12-17 18:55:26','Happy Holidays everyone!\r\n\r\nLast year it took<strong> </strong>until December for <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar to knock Mark Naylor off the number one salesman perch. Bill is the top salesman for November in the country with 31 sales. Way to go Bill! Staying strong in California is <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> in that 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 23 sales - great finish to November Mark. Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> for the month of is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar<strong>. </strong>Well done, Scott!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to<strong> Stilwell Solar</strong> who claimed the top dealer spot two months in a row with 336 collectors installed for November. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 175 collectors - Mark, great job! And in 3<sup>rd</sup> place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 77 collectors for November. Back in the top three two months in a row – Go Jim!\r\n\r\nSix members of the Top 10 Club have already hit 100 sales for the year and three more are within striking distance. Dave hasn’t divulged the location of our 2012 Summer Sales Retreat yet, but he’s hinted that it’s one of the locations he visited during his international travels this year.\r\n\r\nI recently spoke with Rob Shepherd from Daystar Energy and he shared a new marketing technique he tried in Canada. Rob’s season normally comes to a halt in early October but this year has been particularly tough in his market. Rob tried to think outside the box to do something that would add additional installs before winter kicked-in up in Canada. He ran an ad in his local newspaper for under $50 that offered <strong>“Free Installation”</strong> with the purchase of a system. Well, it worked! Rob has sold 6 systems from this ad and received additional referrals as well from this one advertisement. He has priced the systems in such a way that he is still profiting well from each sale and is extremely excited to do this again next year. He stated, “This was just one newspaper imagine the sales opportunities once I try five or six of my area papers!” Thanks for sharing your success story Rob.\r\n\r\nOur <strong>Distribution Center and</strong> <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-Off Meeting</strong> is fast approaching and we’re excited for the opportunity for you to connect with other dealers and distributors from throughout the Aquatherm Network. Be on the look-out for the formal agenda and memo with additional travel details shortly. The Distribution Center Meeting will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup> with a reception for all that evening; the National Dealer Kick-Off Meeting is from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24th with an Awards Dinner and speaker to follow. There will be also be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25th from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd - 25th at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th- 31st in Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>MiaGreen Expo and Conference, January 31<sup>st</sup> – February 1<sup>st</sup> in Miami Beach, Booth #428</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm will be closed</strong> on Monday, December 24<sup>th</sup> and Tuesday, December 25<sup>th</sup> for the Christmas holiday and Monday, December 31<sup>st</sup> and Tuesday, January 1<sup>st</sup> for New Year’s. We wish you all a fabulous holiday season with your friends and families! We thank you for your continued relationship with Aquatherm and appreciate your business. Here’s to a strong start to 2013!\r\n\r\nBest to you all,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','November 2012 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','november-2012-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:38','2013-06-11 15:57:38','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=814',0,'post','',0),(815,3,'2012-12-17 18:53:49','2012-12-17 18:53:49','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-6','','','2012-12-17 18:53:49','2012-12-17 18:53:49','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=815',0,'revision','',0),(816,3,'2012-12-17 18:54:56','2012-12-17 18:54:56','Happy Holidays everyone!\n\nLast year it took<strong> </strong>until December for <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar to knock Mark Naylor off the number one salesman perch. Bill is the top salesman for November in the country with 31 sales. Way to go Bill! Staying strong in California is <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> in that 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 23 sales - great finish to November Mark. Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> for the month of is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar<strong>. </strong>Well done, Scott!\n\nCongratulations to<strong> Stilwell Solar</strong> who claimed the top dealer spot two months in a row with 336 collectors installed for November. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 175 collectors - Mark, great job! And in 3<sup>rd</sup> place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 77 collectors for November. Back in the top three two months in a row – Go Jim!\n\nSix members of the Top 10 Club have already hit 100 sales for the year and three more are within striking distance. Dave hasn’t divulged the location of our 2012 Summer Sales Retreat yet, but he’s hinted that it’s one of the locations he visited during his international travels this year.\n\nI recently spoke with Rob Shepherd from Daystar Energy and he shared a new marketing technique he tried in Canada. Rob’s season normally comes to a halt in early October but this year has been particularly tough in his market. Rob tried to think outside the box to do something that would add additional installs before winter kicked-in up in Canada. He ran an ad in his local newspaper for under $50 that offered <strong>“Free Installation”</strong> with the purchase of a system. Well, it worked! Rob has sold 6 systems from this ad and received additional referrals as well from this one advertisement. He has priced the systems in such a way that he is still profiting well from each sale and is extremely excited to do this again next year. He stated, “This was just one newspaper imagine the sales opportunities once I try five or six of my area papers!” Thanks for sharing your success story Rob.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur <strong>Distribution Center and</strong> <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-Off Meeting</strong> is fast approaching and we’re excited for the opportunity for you to connect with other dealers and distributors from throughout the Aquatherm Network. Be on the look-out for the formal agenda and memo with additional travel details shortly. The Distribution Center Meeting will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup> with a reception for all that evening; the National Dealer Kick-Off Meeting is from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24th with an Awards Dinner and speaker to follow. There will be also be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25th from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\n\nWe look forward to seeing you all in January!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd - 25th at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas</strong></li>\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th- 31st in Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\n	<li><strong>MiaGreen Expo and Conference, January 31<sup>st</sup> – February 1<sup>st</sup> in Miami Beach, Booth #428</strong></li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n<strong>Aquatherm will be closed</strong> on Monday, December 24<sup>th</sup> and Tuesday, December 25<sup>th</sup> for the Christmas holiday and Monday, December 31<sup>st</sup> and Tuesday, January 1<sup>st</sup> for New Year’s. We wish you all a fabulous holiday season with your friends and families! We thank you for your continued relationship with Aquatherm and appreciate your business. Here’s to a strong start to 2013!\n\nBest to you all,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMolly\n\n&nbsp;','November 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','814-revision','','','2012-12-17 18:54:56','2012-12-17 18:54:56','',814,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=816',0,'revision','',0),(817,3,'2012-12-17 18:55:14','2012-12-17 18:55:14','Happy Holidays everyone!\r\n\r\nLast year it took<strong> </strong>until December for <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar to knock Mark Naylor off the number one salesman perch. Bill is the top salesman for November in the country with 31 sales. Way to go Bill! Staying strong in California is <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> in that 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 23 sales - great finish to November Mark. Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> for the month of is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar<strong>. </strong>Well done, Scott!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to<strong> Stilwell Solar</strong> who claimed the top dealer spot two months in a row with 336 collectors installed for November. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 175 collectors - Mark, great job! And in 3<sup>rd</sup> place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 77 collectors for November. Back in the top three two months in a row – Go Jim!\r\n\r\nSix members of the Top 10 Club have already hit 100 sales for the year and three more are within striking distance. Dave hasn’t divulged the location of our 2012 Summer Sales Retreat yet, but he’s hinted that it’s one of the locations he visited during his international travels this year.\r\n\r\nI recently spoke with Rob Shepherd from Daystar Energy and he shared a new marketing technique he tried in Canada. Rob’s season normally comes to a halt in early October but this year has been particularly tough in his market. Rob tried to think outside the box to do something that would add additional installs before winter kicked-in up in Canada. He ran an ad in his local newspaper for under $50 that offered <strong>“Free Installation”</strong> with the purchase of a system. Well, it worked! Rob has sold 6 systems from this ad and received additional referrals as well from this one advertisement. He has priced the systems in such a way that he is still profiting well from each sale and is extremely excited to do this again next year. He stated, “This was just one newspaper imagine the sales opportunities once I try five or six of my area papers!” Thanks for sharing your success story Rob.\r\n\r\nOur <strong>Distribution Center and</strong> <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-Off Meeting</strong> is fast approaching and we’re excited for the opportunity for you to connect with other dealers and distributors from throughout the Aquatherm Network. Be on the look-out for the formal agenda and memo with additional travel details shortly. The Distribution Center Meeting will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup> with a reception for all that evening; the National Dealer Kick-Off Meeting is from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24th with an Awards Dinner and speaker to follow. There will be also be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25th from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd - 25th at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th- 31st in Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>MiaGreen Expo and Conference, January 31<sup>st</sup> – February 1<sup>st</sup> in Miami Beach, Booth #428</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm will be closed</strong> on Monday, December 24<sup>th</sup> and Tuesday, December 25<sup>th</sup> for the Christmas holiday and Monday, December 31<sup>st</sup> and Tuesday, January 1<sup>st</sup> for New Year’s. We wish you all a fabulous holiday season with your friends and families! We thank you for your continued relationship with Aquatherm and appreciate your business. Here’s to a strong start to 2013!\r\n\r\nBest to you all,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','November 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','814-revision-2','','','2012-12-17 18:55:14','2012-12-17 18:55:14','',814,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=817',0,'revision','',0),(841,2,'2013-01-15 13:30:50','2013-01-15 13:30:50','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>Distribution Center and Master Dealer Kick-off Meetings </strong>last week in Las Vegas! It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. I will review the meeting highlights in the next sales report, but I wanted to take the time to recognize all of the award winners this month.\r\n\r\nNow it\'s on to a fresh start for 2013, but first let\'s wrap up the numbers for 2012.\r\n\r\nWow, what a strong finish to the year! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for December with 27 sales. Way to go, Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Congratulations Bill! Rounding out the top 3 for the second month in a row is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 18 sales for December. Nice job, Scott! A combined 37 total sales for Stilwell - awesome!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> who came out on top with 287 collectors installed for December. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2nd with 196 collectors - that\'s even more than last month Mark - Fantastic! 3rd place goes to <strong>Vasco Solar</strong> with 75 collectors for December. Way to go Rick and Maureen.\r\n\r\nWe had seven dealers hit the 100 sales mark for the year and one get really close! Also, based on your reporting, Aquatherm Master Dealers finished the year with 50 more systems installed than last year. Congratulations to you all and thank you for a great year.\r\n\r\nA big congratulations to <strong>Suncatcher of Atlanta</strong>, a Master Dealer since 1993, they officially achieved <strong>Lifetime Silver Master Dealer</strong> status in 2012. Congratulations to Gerry and his team and thank you for your years of commitment to Aquatherm Industries.\r\n\r\nHere\'s a summary of the awards from our meeting:\r\n\r\nThe <strong>2012 Top Ten Salesman</strong> in the Nation:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Mark Naylor</strong> of Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Bill Long</strong> of Stilwell Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Terry Naylor</strong> of Naylor Solar Specialists</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Bill Park</strong> of Central Florida Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Scott Bologna</strong> of Stilwell Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Brandon Chase </strong>of SunChaser, Inc.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Richard Good </strong>of Solar Services</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Jim Roark </strong>of Roark Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Dave Setter </strong>of M &amp; K Solar</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Rick Vasquez </strong>of Vasco Solar</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Top Salesman of 2012</strong> in the Nation was presented to <strong>Mark Naylor</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Top SI Salesman </strong>in the Nation was <strong>Bill Long</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Top Ecosun Salesman </strong>in the Nation was presented to <strong>Bill Park</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Number One SI Dealer</strong> in the Nation was <strong>Stilwell Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Number One Ecosun Dealer</strong> in the Nation was presented to <strong>Central Florida Solar</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Rising Star Award</strong> for Outstanding Sales was presented to <strong>Roy Aghdam</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>The High Impact Award</strong> for Largest Percentage Increase over last year was presented to <strong>Todd Franzen</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Customer Satisfaction Awards</strong> based on submitted on-line registration comments were awarded to <strong>Solar Services, Vasco Solar and M &amp; K</strong> for Solar Industries and <strong>United Solar, Central Florida Solar and Compass Solar</strong> for Ecosun.\r\n\r\nFinally, the invitees were announced to the <strong>2013 Summer Sales Retreat</strong> which will be at the <strong>RUI Guanacaste in Costa Rica</strong>, July 29 to August 3. Attending will be Mark Naylor, Bill Long, Terry Naylor, Bill Park, Brandon Chase, Richard Good, Jim Roark and Dave Setter.\r\n\r\nCongratulations to all of our award winners and retreat invitees. Thank you again for your continued business - we are lucky to have such a talented group of individuals to call our Master Dealers!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Orlando Pool &amp; Spa Show, February 15 &amp; 16 in Orlando, Booth #1018</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','December 2012 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','december-2012-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:30','2013-06-11 15:57:30','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=841',0,'post','',0),(820,4,'2013-01-02 20:19:19','2013-01-02 20:19:19','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke to the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\r\n\r\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\r\n\r\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\r\n\r\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be the same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool heating to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool hearing system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\r\n\r\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\r\n\r\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\r\n\r\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\r\n\r\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\r\n\r\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they, themselves, may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\r\n\r\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','publish','open','open','','the-buck-stops-here-january-2013','','','2013-01-02 22:07:13','2013-01-02 22:07:13','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=820',0,'post','',0),(821,3,'2013-01-02 19:10:21','2013-01-02 19:10:21','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\n\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\n\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\n\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\n\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\n\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\n\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\n\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\n\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\n\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\n\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.\n\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision','','','2013-01-02 19:10:21','2013-01-02 19:10:21','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=821',0,'revision','',0),(823,3,'2013-01-02 19:25:21','2013-01-02 19:25:21','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\n\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\n\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\n\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\n\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\n\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\n\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\n\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\n\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\n\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\n\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-3','','','2013-01-02 19:25:21','2013-01-02 19:25:21','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=823',0,'revision','',0),(822,3,'2013-01-02 19:24:40','2013-01-02 19:24:40','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\r\n\r\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\r\n\r\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\r\n\r\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\r\n\r\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\r\n\r\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\r\n\r\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\r\n\r\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\r\n\r\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\r\n\r\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-2','','','2013-01-02 19:24:40','2013-01-02 19:24:40','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=822',0,'revision','',0),(824,3,'2013-01-02 19:25:53','2013-01-02 19:25:53','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\r\n\r\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\r\n\r\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\r\n\r\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\r\n\r\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\r\n\r\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\r\n\r\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\r\n\r\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\r\n\r\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\r\n\r\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-4','','','2013-01-02 19:25:53','2013-01-02 19:25:53','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=824',0,'revision','',0),(825,3,'2013-01-02 19:26:21','2013-01-02 19:26:21','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\r\n\r\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\r\n\r\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\r\n\r\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\r\n\r\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\r\n\r\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\r\n\r\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\r\n\r\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\r\n\r\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\r\n\r\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-5','','','2013-01-02 19:26:21','2013-01-02 19:26:21','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=825',0,'revision','',0),(826,3,'2013-01-02 19:27:02','2013-01-02 19:27:02','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\r\n\r\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\r\n\r\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\r\n\r\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\r\n\r\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\r\n\r\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\r\n\r\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\r\n\r\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\r\n\r\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\r\n\r\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-6','','','2013-01-02 19:27:02','2013-01-02 19:27:02','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=826',0,'revision','',0),(827,3,'2013-01-02 20:19:19','2013-01-02 20:19:19','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\r\n\r\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\r\n\r\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\r\n\r\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool heating system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\r\n\r\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\r\n\r\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\r\n\r\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\r\n\r\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\r\n\r\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\r\n\r\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\r\n\r\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-7','','','2013-01-02 20:19:19','2013-01-02 20:19:19','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=827',0,'revision','',0),(828,3,'2013-01-02 21:34:53','2013-01-02 21:34:53','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\n\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\n\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\n\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be he same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool hearing to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool hearing system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\n\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\n\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\n\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\n\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\n\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\n\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\n\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-8','','','2013-01-02 21:34:53','2013-01-02 21:34:53','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=828',0,'revision','',0),(829,3,'2013-01-02 21:36:32','2013-01-02 21:36:32','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke to the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\n\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\n\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\n\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be the same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool heating to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool hearing system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\n\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\n\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\n\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\n\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\n\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\n\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they, themselves, may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\n\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-revision-9','','','2013-01-02 21:36:32','2013-01-02 21:36:32','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=829',0,'revision','',0),(830,3,'2013-01-02 22:08:16','2013-01-02 22:08:16','I\'d like to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope everyone had a good holiday and was able to find some time to relax with family and friends. Pat and I went to San Diego for a few days to visit family – I even got in a fun round of golf. We stayed in the Old Town section and each morning woke to the smell of freshly cooked tortillas in the air. It’s a great place to walk around with plenty of shops and restaurants - we may even have found a location for a future Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting.\n\nI\'m a regular follower of Seth Godin, and the title of his New Year’s post yesterday caught my eye;\n\n<strong>\"Do you remember?\" A year ago, do you remember where you stood? </strong>\n\nI do. It seemed like the bottom had dropped out of the economic recovery and I wondered if Aquatherm and our industry would ever be the same. Well the gloom and doom passed, we all survived and many of us even flourished. Aquatherm\'s international business grew to new heights and in California, AB 2249, which will add commercial solar pool heating to the existing California Solar Initiative Program was passed and signed into law. This program, which is scheduled to begin by the end of the second quarter, is legislated to continue until 2017. The program will provide rebates per displaced therm of natural gas that could equal as much as 50 to 60% of the cost of a solar pool hearing system. There are nearly 50,000 commercial pools in California and Aquatherm - along with our Network of Distributors and Dealers - is in the best position to make the most of this program.\n\nSeth goes on to ask (compared to last year) if we are more trusted? More skilled? More connected to people who care about our work?\n\nHave you become more trusted, more skilled at what you do and more connected than you were last year? I think Aquatherm has - I believe that the work we\'re doing today is better than the work we\'ve done in the past - and the work we\'ll be doing in the future will be even better than the work we\'re doing today. Maybe it can be phrased as trust, plus skill, equals better connections to those whom our work really matters.\n\nIf you’re not more trusted, more skilled and more connected than you were a year ago, what can you do so that by this time next year, you will be?\n\nWhile New Year\'s resolutions may rarely work, this is still an opportunity to take stock of where you are and set some goals in writing for the New Year.\n\nPersonally, in 2013 I plan on continuing to make more time for myself. Arriving at the office before everyone else, being the last to leave, taking work home at night and not taking a vacation rarely leads to getting ahead like we think it will.\n\nWe\'ve all heard the safety briefing when we fly reminding us what to do if an oxygen mask drops down in front of us, right? I ask this question a lot of others - especially if they are a parent and have flown with their child. Their first thought of course is to put their child\'s mask on first - not realizing that they, themselves, may pass out while trying. You’re supposed to put your mask on first, so you can then help others around you. It’s good advice in life too.\n\nI’m looking forward to seeing most of you in Las Vegas later this month. Every one of our Distribution Centers will be represented and all but three our Master Dealers will be in attendance. We realize this is a commitment of your time and effort – a responsibility we don’t take lightly, so we\'ve been putting together what we feel will be one of our best Kick-off Meetings ever.','The Buck Stops Here - January 2013','','inherit','open','open','','820-autosave','','','2013-01-02 22:08:16','2013-01-02 22:08:16','',820,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=830',0,'revision','',0),(831,3,'2013-01-04 15:31:38','2013-01-04 15:31:38','','Meeting Agenda - Final','','inherit','open','open','','meeting-agenda-final','','','2013-01-04 15:31:38','2013-01-04 15:31:38','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Meeting-Agenda-Final.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(832,3,'2013-01-09 17:35:36','2013-01-09 17:35:36','','Aquatherm Company Overview','','inherit','open','open','','aquatherm-company-overview-3','','','2013-01-09 17:35:36','2013-01-09 17:35:36','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Aquatherm-Company-Overview.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(833,3,'2013-01-09 21:26:17','2013-01-09 21:26:17','Family at Pool --- Image by © Tom Grill/Corbis','Family at Pool','','inherit','open','open','','family-at-pool','','','2013-01-09 21:26:17','2013-01-09 21:26:17','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CB104900_220x148.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(834,3,'2013-01-11 16:17:16','2013-01-11 16:17:16','','SI Logo_Color','','inherit','open','open','','si-logo_color-2','','','2013-01-11 16:17:16','2013-01-11 16:17:16','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/SI-Logo_Color.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(835,3,'2013-01-11 16:25:25','2013-01-11 16:25:25','','SI_Logo_Color_smaller','','inherit','open','open','','si_logo_color_smaller','','','2013-01-11 16:25:25','2013-01-11 16:25:25','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/SI_Logo_Color_smaller.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(836,3,'2013-01-11 16:59:53','2013-01-11 16:59:53','','SI-system-label','','inherit','open','open','','si-system-label','','','2013-01-11 16:59:53','2013-01-11 16:59:53','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/SI-system-label.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(837,3,'2013-01-18 21:39:54','2013-01-18 21:39:54','','2013 Meeting Final Agenda and Attendees','','inherit','open','open','','2013-meeting-final-agenda-and-attendees','','','2013-01-18 21:39:54','2013-01-18 21:39:54','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-Meeting-Final-Agenda-and-Attendees.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(838,3,'2013-01-18 21:52:58','2013-01-18 21:52:58','','2013 Meeting Final Agenda and Attendees','','inherit','open','open','','2013-meeting-final-agenda-and-attendees-2','','','2013-01-18 21:52:58','2013-01-18 21:52:58','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-Meeting-Final-Agenda-and-Attendees1.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(842,3,'2013-05-23 13:30:13','2013-05-23 13:30:13','','December 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','841-revision','','','2013-05-23 13:30:13','2013-05-23 13:30:13','',841,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=842',0,'revision','',0),(843,2,'2013-02-15 13:31:45','2013-02-15 13:31:45','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting in Las Vegas</strong>! Since we all made it through the Mayan \"the end is near\", we decided the theme for our meeting should be \"The Beginning is Here\" and focused on a fresh start for a new year. It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. We covered many topics during the fast-paced meeting, so I wanted to take the time to review for those who may have missed something during this fast-paced event, and for those who were unable to attend.\r\n\r\nThe meeting started with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at the hotel on Wednesday evening. We had Quickmount PV and Pentair representatives on-hand to discuss the latest in pumps, controls, and collector mounting. The evening found many old friends catching up after time apart and some new faces in the crowd as well. As usual, three hours just isn\'t enough and many stayed on well after the event to chat.\r\n\r\nThursday, we kicked-off with introductions by Dave that led into industry and Aquatherm updates. Dave discussed the new dual-durometer couplings and that there have only been two reported failures to date with over 200,000 in the field since the product\'s introduction in 2009. He also mentioned that a completely serviceable version of our 2\" VRV with the locking retainer design has begun shipping.\r\n\r\nDave also shared with us a bit about Aquatherm\'s \"why\". What is that, you ask? Well it is about why we get up every day and do what we do. Dave recently had the chance to spend a day with Simon Sinek, author of \"Start with Why\" and digs deep into the \"whys\" of Aquatherm. Since then, we have updated our Company Overview to include a letter from Dave that encompasses more of the \"why\" regarding Aquatherm. If you haven\'t had a chance to see the new version yet you can <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjhyI7l_FSxRu9PMjBjUZ5pw4X5vB5csV4MEaehKbTsGX\" target=\"_blank\">download it here</a>.\r\n\r\nIn Kevin\'s Engineering update, he reviewed the differences in standard organizations, accredited laboratories and certification bodies that are used in the industry and updated us on Aquatherm\'s ISO quality statistics. He presented a new online commercial survey form that is available for use now by going to <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjnjXWHSSJJu_td2VQWiI2FfprfkARDKPfqDRGdINdVtptd71l6PtakY=\" target=\"_blank\">www.aquathermindustries.com/survey</a> and previewed the new on-line RMR / LAR form, which will be introduced in March. Aquatherm has also released a new installation manual that was presented and is available in PDF or in iBooks format. Kevin also showed us some new projects that Aquatherm is working on including a new polypropylene \"flashing base\" for the 50006 and 50069 mounting brackets; a collector rack that will be specifically designed with our mounting hardware in mind, and the concept of a ballast mounting system for those times when roof penetrations are not desirable.\r\n\r\nWe were treated to several \"Fifteen Minutes of Fame\" by a few of our dealers during the meeting. They included Ethan Horvitz from Solar Living who shared a presentation on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and how the Aquatherm systems fared far better than the competition during the storm; Daniel Garcia of Modulo Solar shared some of their recent large commercial projects that they have done; and Mark Turnbull of Ecosun Australia talked about his market and goals for the future. And, lastly, as a stand in for Rich Bonte, Ethan spoke about the Red Lion High School project that was done in Pennsylvania - a unique glycol based design. Thank you to all who participated in sharing your insights with us and some of the lessons you have learned along the way.\r\n\r\nIn the Sales breakout we spent time reviewing the sales presentation and we unveiled the updated Lessons Learned section for the presentation. The updates include new formatting and the information condensed to one sheet. We also reviewed the Heliocol BTU comparison sheets and handed out the new comparison showing the Eco-Spark from UMA. Should you need a copy of any of this information you will find it on the portal.\r\n\r\nWe continued the sales breakout with a rundown of the Master Dealer Status and levels for both yearly and lifetime status. We also covered the Master Dealer Coop Program and thank you and referrals gifts for homeowners. Lastly, we offered up the return of the Bounty Hunter Program for the month of February to start the year off right! Should you need additional information on any of the above please don\'t hesitate to reach out to me directly.\r\n\r\nDuring the Marketing Breakout, Dan reviewed some of the more popular social media and networking tools available today, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ (formerly Google Places), and YouTube. One key take away is to make sure you run a Google search for \"your business name here google plus\". You might be surprised to find your business already has a Google+ page, in which case you should claim it immediately by clicking the \"Manage this page\" button in the bottom right. Once you\'ve claimed your page, you\'ll unlock some features like the ability to add an \"About Us\" section and some photos. More importantly, claiming your page ensures you will be notified by email if a review is posted on your page.\r\n\r\nThere will always be a new social media tool popping up and generating hype - some of which may be helpful to your marketing efforts. However, there are also only so many hours in a day. By first researching a service\'s key user demographics, then considering potential marketing reach compared with time invested, you can maximize the effectiveness of social in your marketing plan. Dan went on to discuss current website best practices, such as making sure your website is \"mobile-friendly\" by pulling it up on your own smart phone and tablet. He also touched on how best to integrate social tools into your existing website, including the use of the Facebook \"Like\" and \"Share\" buttons.\r\n\r\nFinally, Dan and the groups discussed online review sites, including Yelp, Angie\'s List, Google+, and Facebook. These sites have the greatest potential to help or harm your businesses, and it\'s important to be aware of any reviews. Dan recounted a phone conversation with an exasperated Rick Vasquez of Vasco Solar last year, after Rick had just lost an all-but-closed sale due to a last minute search that turned up a negative review on Yelp. Unfortunately, much like Google+, businesses can often be listed on Yelp without any consent or knowledge from the business owner. It\'s a good idea to run a Google search for your business, as well as search on each of these sites individually. Claiming your listing on these sites allows you to respond to any reviews, whether positive or negative. If you have received a negative review for your business, Dan suggests the following: 1) Respond professionally by apologizing for their experience and asking them to call or email you directly. This response can benefit you two ways: you will have an opportunity to get your reviewer offline to resolve the conflict (many times they will agree to remove or edit their review if you resolve the issue; others will see you as an accountable business owner who doesn\'t hide from their problems.  2) Reach out to your best customers - start with those who have given you business through referrals - and ask them to leave a review on the site. When there are at least three or four positive reviews of your business, that one negative review is much less likely to scare away a potential customer.\r\n\r\nFeel free to contact Dan directly for any help with websites and social media.\r\n\r\nWe had several representatives from the industry come in to present and answer questions from the group. Tom from Pentair spoke about the Solar Touch control while Marshall from Quick Mount PV talked to us about the new flashing they will be offering to use with our systems. Lastly, Eric from EGIA spoke on the Geosmart financing program. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nThat evening we met for some fun, camaraderie, and our annual Dealer Awards Ceremony at the Brio Restaurant. After a great dinner, we culminated our time together with the awards ceremony, where our Master Dealers and Salesmen were recognized for the outstanding sales performances in 2012. Our guest speaker, Ed Murray, Treasurer of CalSEIA and Board Member of National SEIA updated us on what is happening on the national and California solar thermal scenes. Lastly, invitees were announced to the 2013 Summer Sales Retreat, which will be in Guanacaste, Costa Rica in late July.\r\n\r\nFriday morning the California dealers, along with Ed Murray, met for a special breakfast meeting to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program. Although the program has yet to be instituted dealers were able to learn more about the California commercial market and the potential opportunities once the program is online.\r\n\r\nThank you to all who participated in the meeting and making it a great start to 2013!\r\n\r\nWell, this year is off to a great start for many of you! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for January with 26 sales. Way to start the year Mark! <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Nice job Scott! Rounding out the top 3 for the January is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 16 sales for January. Great month Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> came out on top with 259 collectors installed for January. What a nice way to start the year for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2nd with 182 collectors. Well done Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 105 collectors for the month. Way to start the year off with a bang, Jim!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, March 2nd - 3rd in Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nThis year is off to a great start. Now let\'s keep up the momentum!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','January 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','january-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:25','2013-06-11 15:57:25','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=843',0,'post','',0),(844,3,'2013-05-23 13:31:05','2013-05-23 13:31:05','','January 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','843-revision','','','2013-05-23 13:31:05','2013-05-23 13:31:05','',843,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=844',0,'revision','',0),(845,3,'2013-05-23 13:31:45','2013-05-23 13:31:45','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting in Las Vegas</strong>! Since we all made it through the Mayan \"the end is near\", we decided the theme for our meeting should be \"The Beginning is Here\" and focused on a fresh start for a new year. It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. We covered many topics during the fast-paced meeting, so I wanted to take the time to review for those who may have missed something during this fast-paced event, and for those who were unable to attend.\r\n\r\nThe meeting started with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at the hotel on Wednesday evening. We had Quickmount PV and Pentair representatives on-hand to discuss the latest in pumps, controls, and collector mounting. The evening found many old friends catching up after time apart and some new faces in the crowd as well. As usual, three hours just isn\'t enough and many stayed on well after the event to chat.\r\n\r\nThursday, we kicked-off with introductions by Dave that led into industry and Aquatherm updates. Dave discussed the new dual-durometer couplings and that there have only been two reported failures to date with over 200,000 in the field since the product\'s introduction in 2009. He also mentioned that a completely serviceable version of our 2\" VRV with the locking retainer design has begun shipping.\r\n\r\nDave also shared with us a bit about Aquatherm\'s \"why\". What is that, you ask? Well it is about why we get up every day and do what we do. Dave recently had the chance to spend a day with Simon Sinek, author of \"Start with Why\" and digs deep into the \"whys\" of Aquatherm. Since then, we have updated our Company Overview to include a letter from Dave that encompasses more of the \"why\" regarding Aquatherm. If you haven\'t had a chance to see the new version yet you can <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjhyI7l_FSxRu9PMjBjUZ5pw4X5vB5csV4MEaehKbTsGX\" target=\"_blank\">download it here</a>.\r\n\r\nIn Kevin\'s Engineering update, he reviewed the differences in standard organizations, accredited laboratories and certification bodies that are used in the industry and updated us on Aquatherm\'s ISO quality statistics. He presented a new online commercial survey form that is available for use now by going to <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjnjXWHSSJJu_td2VQWiI2FfprfkARDKPfqDRGdINdVtptd71l6PtakY=\" target=\"_blank\">www.aquathermindustries.com/survey</a> and previewed the new on-line RMR / LAR form, which will be introduced in March. Aquatherm has also released a new installation manual that was presented and is available in PDF or in iBooks format. Kevin also showed us some new projects that Aquatherm is working on including a new polypropylene \"flashing base\" for the 50006 and 50069 mounting brackets; a collector rack that will be specifically designed with our mounting hardware in mind, and the concept of a ballast mounting system for those times when roof penetrations are not desirable.\r\n\r\nWe were treated to several \"Fifteen Minutes of Fame\" by a few of our dealers during the meeting. They included Ethan Horvitz from Solar Living who shared a presentation on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and how the Aquatherm systems fared far better than the competition during the storm; Daniel Garcia of Modulo Solar shared some of their recent large commercial projects that they have done; and Mark Turnbull of Ecosun Australia talked about his market and goals for the future. And, lastly, as a stand in for Rich Bonte, Ethan spoke about the Red Lion High School project that was done in Pennsylvania - a unique glycol based design. Thank you to all who participated in sharing your insights with us and some of the lessons you have learned along the way.\r\n\r\nIn the Sales breakout we spent time reviewing the sales presentation and we unveiled the updated Lessons Learned section for the presentation. The updates include new formatting and the information condensed to one sheet. We also reviewed the Heliocol BTU comparison sheets and handed out the new comparison showing the Eco-Spark from UMA. Should you need a copy of any of this information you will find it on the portal.\r\n\r\nWe continued the sales breakout with a rundown of the Master Dealer Status and levels for both yearly and lifetime status. We also covered the Master Dealer Coop Program and thank you and referrals gifts for homeowners. Lastly, we offered up the return of the Bounty Hunter Program for the month of February to start the year off right! Should you need additional information on any of the above please don\'t hesitate to reach out to me directly.\r\n\r\nDuring the Marketing Breakout, Dan reviewed some of the more popular social media and networking tools available today, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ (formerly Google Places), and YouTube. One key take away is to make sure you run a Google search for \"your business name here google plus\". You might be surprised to find your business already has a Google+ page, in which case you should claim it immediately by clicking the \"Manage this page\" button in the bottom right. Once you\'ve claimed your page, you\'ll unlock some features like the ability to add an \"About Us\" section and some photos. More importantly, claiming your page ensures you will be notified by email if a review is posted on your page.\r\n\r\nThere will always be a new social media tool popping up and generating hype - some of which may be helpful to your marketing efforts. However, there are also only so many hours in a day. By first researching a service\'s key user demographics, then considering potential marketing reach compared with time invested, you can maximize the effectiveness of social in your marketing plan. Dan went on to discuss current website best practices, such as making sure your website is \"mobile-friendly\" by pulling it up on your own smart phone and tablet. He also touched on how best to integrate social tools into your existing website, including the use of the Facebook \"Like\" and \"Share\" buttons.\r\n\r\nFinally, Dan and the groups discussed online review sites, including Yelp, Angie\'s List, Google+, and Facebook. These sites have the greatest potential to help or harm your businesses, and it\'s important to be aware of any reviews. Dan recounted a phone conversation with an exasperated Rick Vasquez of Vasco Solar last year, after Rick had just lost an all-but-closed sale due to a last minute search that turned up a negative review on Yelp. Unfortunately, much like Google+, businesses can often be listed on Yelp without any consent or knowledge from the business owner. It\'s a good idea to run a Google search for your business, as well as search on each of these sites individually. Claiming your listing on these sites allows you to respond to any reviews, whether positive or negative. If you have received a negative review for your business, Dan suggests the following: 1) Respond professionally by apologizing for their experience and asking them to call or email you directly. This response can benefit you two ways: you will have an opportunity to get your reviewer offline to resolve the conflict (many times they will agree to remove or edit their review if you resolve the issue; others will see you as an accountable business owner who doesn\'t hide from their problems.  2) Reach out to your best customers - start with those who have given you business through referrals - and ask them to leave a review on the site. When there are at least three or four positive reviews of your business, that one negative review is much less likely to scare away a potential customer.\r\n\r\nFeel free to contact Dan directly for any help with websites and social media.\r\n\r\nWe had several representatives from the industry come in to present and answer questions from the group. Tom from Pentair spoke about the Solar Touch control while Marshall from Quick Mount PV talked to us about the new flashing they will be offering to use with our systems. Lastly, Eric from EGIA spoke on the Geosmart financing program. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nThat evening we met for some fun, camaraderie, and our annual Dealer Awards Ceremony at the Brio Restaurant. After a great dinner, we culminated our time together with the awards ceremony, where our Master Dealers and Salesmen were recognized for the outstanding sales performances in 2012. Our guest speaker, Ed Murray, Treasurer of CalSEIA and Board Member of National SEIA updated us on what is happening on the national and California solar thermal scenes. Lastly, invitees were announced to the 2013 Summer Sales Retreat, which will be in Guanacaste, Costa Rica in late July.\r\n\r\nFriday morning the California dealers, along with Ed Murray, met for a special breakfast meeting to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program. Although the program has yet to be instituted dealers were able to learn more about the California commercial market and the potential opportunities once the program is online.\r\n\r\nThank you to all who participated in the meeting and making it a great start to 2013!\r\n\r\nWell, this year is off to a great start for many of you! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for January with 26 sales. Way to start the year Mark! <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Nice job Scott! Rounding out the top 3 for the January is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 16 sales for January. Great month Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> came out on top with 259 collectors installed for January. What a nice way to start the year for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2nd with 182 collectors. Well done Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 105 collectors for the month. Way to start the year off with a bang, Jim!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, March 2nd - 3rd in Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nThis year is off to a great start. Now let\'s keep up the momentum!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','January 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','843-revision-2','','','2013-05-23 13:31:45','2013-05-23 13:31:45','',843,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=845',0,'revision','',0),(846,2,'2013-03-15 13:32:25','2013-03-15 13:32:25','Happy first day of Spring everyone! Many of you are reporting that you\'ve already started to feel the season \"spring\" into action early this year. It is certainly a sign that we are starting to see glimmers in the economy coming back to life.\r\n\r\nWhen the recession hit five years ago, new pool construction abruptly stopped. Now that the economy is starting to recover, backhoes and workers are starting to fill backyards again and new pools are going in. Many of you know about Construction Monitor and more than likely stopped subscribing to the service after the economic downturn. For those of you who are not familiar with Construction Monitor, they are a web based company that has been in business since 1989 providing weekly building permit information to industry professionals. It is a subscription service and the reports are compiled by county. You can subscribe to one or all of the counties you service and compile a list of homeowners with pools for marketing purposes.\r\n\r\nI have heard many positive stories from those that already use the service. Getting this list gives them early access to those building a pool and the opportunity to sell the benefits of solar pool heating to them before their competition. Even if they don\'t buy initially, this same potential customer is perfect to market to after owning the pool for 2 -5 years since they are probably not enjoying it as much as they thought they would because the pool is just too cold.\r\n\r\nFor those of you interested in subscribing to Construction Monitor or learning more about their services their website is <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001BG74qGV779iNa1vaHjYKELy7u5_SDZyvxFBz2t-E1VLskggRux2DQUF1viTc6wH-wc4Iu7mYHAVgxRdFDCwIewRmtN2Jx3jZisRxtUrj4g_7ymG7jztuCBTggrxcj-6xyjyAEWeQwb0=\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.constructionmonitor.com/</a>\r\n\r\nNow for the numbers! First off - I try to get this memo and report out to you complete in a timely manner every month, but often find myself waiting weeks for just one or two more sales numbers. In the future, if I don\'t have your numbers by the 15th of the month I\'ll be using DNR, which will stand for DID NOT REPORT instead of a \"0\" from this point forward. Let\'s hope I\'ll never have to use it!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for February with 29 sales. Another great month Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 26 sales. Outstanding Bill! Rounding out the top 3 is <strong>Dennis Esposito</strong> from Performance Solar with 19 sales for February. Welcome back Dennis!!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> is the number one dealer with 301 collectors installed for the month. Congratulations to Bill and the entire team at Stilwell! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> Solar Specialists came in 2nd with 217 collectors. Nice job, Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Performance Solar</strong> with 133 collectors for the month. Fabulous February, Dennis!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Solar Power International, October 21st - 24th in Chicago, Illinois</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAs a reminder, Aquatherm will be closed on Friday, March 29th for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, April 1st.\r\n\r\nLastly, Dawn is out for eight weeks until mid-May. In her absence, Pati, Janet, Carol, Dan and I will all be doing their best to cover for her. Please be patient if we just don\'t get to something as quick as you\'re accustomed to. Dawn should be back just in time for the thick of the season.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','February 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','february-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:20','2013-06-11 15:57:20','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=846',0,'post','',0),(847,3,'2013-05-23 13:32:13','2013-05-23 13:32:13','','February 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','846-revision','','','2013-05-23 13:32:13','2013-05-23 13:32:13','',846,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=847',0,'revision','',0),(848,2,'2013-04-15 13:33:14','2013-04-15 13:33:14','Earlier this year at the Aquatherm National Dealer meeting Eric Howarth, from EGIA, presented an opportunity for all of you to sign up for their financing programs. Not only is financing a great way to offer homeowners additional options for payment with the CSI program looming in California, there are thousands of smaller commercial pools that could benefit from financing options.\r\n\r\nEric spoke about the <strong>Geosmart Financing Program</strong> that is available to all of you. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs including unsecured loan programs with financing of up to $40,000. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nAquatherm regularly sends out <strong>press releases</strong> to promote new projects, announce new products and happenings to the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to promote your noteworthy commercial projects as well. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for a future release.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers, amazingly enough the top three in each category were the same!<strong> Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman and Dealer in the country for March with 52 sales and 392 collectors sold! Amazing month Mark! Coming in 2nd with 25 sales and 294 collectors is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar. Fabulous job Bill and the entire team at Stilwell! Rounding out the top three is a tie between <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar and <strong>Dennis Esposito</strong> from Performance Solar with 23 sales and 161 collectors each for March. Marvelous March, Bill and Dennis!!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Stakeholders Meeting, April 23rd in San Francisco</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco</li>\r\n	<li>International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, November 12th - 14th in Las Vegas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','March 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','march-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:15','2013-06-11 15:57:15','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=848',0,'post','',0),(849,3,'2013-05-23 13:32:47','2013-05-23 13:32:47','','March 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','848-revision','','','2013-05-23 13:32:47','2013-05-23 13:32:47','',848,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=849',0,'revision','',0),(850,2,'2013-05-15 13:41:08','2013-05-15 13:41:08','Its official - the busy season is here! In my conversations with all of you it’s clear that this year is out pacing last year and the numbers agree. So far year to date you are reporting 162 systems and 1000 panels more than last year during the same time. A good sign that the economy is starting to recover and you are taking advantage of the pent up demand.\r\n\r\nThis pent up demand it is probably causing your voicemail and email boxes to fill up – a lot! But what about all the homeowners you reached out to over the last few years that you pitched and missed, or the ones who never called you back at all? Where are they now? Many of them are probably ripe for the picking! Well, you’re in luck!\r\n\r\nAquatherm keeps a database of all the past <strong>Internet sales leads</strong> we have forwarded to you, and we would be happy to share with you a spreadsheet of those in your market. These are warm leads – pool owners who have reached out to us at least once, requesting a Dealer in their area. Please let me know if you are interested, and I will make sure to get them in your hands quickly. They could be swimming in a warm pool by Memorial Day!\r\n\r\nSometimes, good things bear repeating: Aquatherm regularly sends out <strong>Press Releases</strong> – usually two each month – announcing new products and happenings in the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to get you some “free press” by promoting any noteworthy commercial projects. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release, so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for an upcoming release.\r\n\r\nLet’s see the numbers for April. Congratulations to <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA </strong>who dominated the top dealer spot with 420 collectors sold for April. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <strong>Stilwell Solar, FL</strong> with 308 collectors for April. Way to go Bill! And it’s a tie for 3<sup>rd</sup> between <strong>Central Florida Solar, FL</strong> and <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV</strong> with 182 collectors each - nice job Bill and Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> from Mark Naylor Solar Specialists is the top salesman in the country with 57 sales for April. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 31 sales for April - fabulous job Bill. And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar with 26 sales. Well done Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm\'s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup> in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28<sup>th</sup> – August      2<sup>nd</sup> at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed on Monday, May 27<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend and reopen on Tuesday, May 28<sup>th</sup>.</strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','April 2013 Sales Memo','','publish','open','open','','april-2013-sales-memo','','','2013-06-11 15:57:08','2013-06-11 15:57:08','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=850',0,'post','',0),(851,3,'2013-05-23 13:36:34','2013-05-23 13:36:34','Its official - the busy season is here! In my conversations with all of you it’s clear that this year is out pacing last year and the numbers agree. So far year to date you are reporting 162 systems and 1000 panels more than last year during the same time. A good sign that the economy is starting to recover and you are taking advantage of the pent up demand.\n\nThis pent up demand it is probably causing your voicemail and email boxes to fill up – a lot! But what about all the homeowners you reached out to over the last few years that you pitched and missed, or the ones who never called you back at all? Where are they now? Many of them are probably ripe for the picking! Well, you’re in luck!\n\nAquatherm keeps a database of all the past <strong>Internet sales leads</strong> we have forwarded to you, and we would be happy to share with you a spreadsheet of those in your market. These are warm leads – pool owners who have reached out to us at least once, requesting a Dealer in their area. Please let me know if you are interested, and I will make sure to get them in your hands quickly. They could be swimming in a warm pool by Memorial Day!\n\nSometimes, good things bear repeating: Aquatherm regularly sends out <strong>Press Releases</strong> – usually two each month – announcing new products and happenings in the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to get you some “free press” by promoting any noteworthy commercial projects. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release, so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for an upcoming release.\n\nLet’s see the numbers for April. Congratulations to <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA </strong>who dominated the top dealer spot with 420 collectors sold for April. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <strong>Stilwell Solar, FL</strong> with 308 collectors for April. Way to go Bill! And it’s a tie for 3<sup>rd</sup> between <strong>Central Florida Solar, FL</strong> and <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV</strong> with 182 collectors each - nice job Bill and Terry!\n\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> from Mark Naylor Solar Specialists is the top salesman in the country with 57 sales for April. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 31 sales for April - fabulous job Bill. And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar with 26 sales. Well done Bill!\n\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\n<ul>\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup> in San Francisco, California</li>\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28<sup>th</sup> – August      2<sup>nd</sup> at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\nPlease note that Aquatherm will be closed on Monday, May 27<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend and reopen on Tuesday, May 28<sup>th</sup>.\n\nBest,\n\nMolly\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','April 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','850-revision','','','2013-05-23 13:36:34','2013-05-23 13:36:34','',850,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=851',0,'revision','',0),(852,3,'2013-05-23 13:42:10','2013-05-23 13:42:10','Its official - the busy season is here! In my conversations with all of you it’s clear that this year is out pacing last year and the numbers agree. So far year to date you are reporting 162 systems and 1000 panels more than last year during the same time. A good sign that the economy is starting to recover and you are taking advantage of the pent up demand.\n\nThis pent up demand it is probably causing your voicemail and email boxes to fill up – a lot! But what about all the homeowners you reached out to over the last few years that you pitched and missed, or the ones who never called you back at all? Where are they now? Many of them are probably ripe for the picking! Well, you’re in luck!\n\nAquatherm keeps a database of all the past <strong>Internet sales leads</strong> we have forwarded to you, and we would be happy to share with you a spreadsheet of those in your market. These are warm leads – pool owners who have reached out to us at least once, requesting a Dealer in their area. Please let me know if you are interested, and I will make sure to get them in your hands quickly. They could be swimming in a warm pool by Memorial Day!\n\nSometimes, good things bear repeating: Aquatherm regularly sends out <strong>Press Releases</strong> – usually two each month – announcing new products and happenings in the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to get you some “free press” by promoting any noteworthy commercial projects. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release, so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for an upcoming release.\n\nLet’s see the numbers for April. Congratulations to <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA </strong>who dominated the top dealer spot with 420 collectors sold for April. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <strong>Stilwell Solar, FL</strong> with 308 collectors for April. Way to go Bill! And it’s a tie for 3<sup>rd</sup> between <strong>Central Florida Solar, FL</strong> and <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV</strong> with 182 collectors each - nice job Bill and Terry!\n\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> from Mark Naylor Solar Specialists is the top salesman in the country with 57 sales for April. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 31 sales for April - fabulous job Bill. And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar with 26 sales. Well done Bill!\n\n<strong>Aquatherm\'s upcoming events:</strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup> in San Francisco, California</li>\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28<sup>th</sup> – August      2<sup>nd</sup> at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\n</ul>\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\n\n<strong>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed on Monday, May 27<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend and reopen on Tuesday, May 28<sup>th</sup>.</strong>\n\nBest,\n\nMolly\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','April 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','850-autosave','','','2013-05-23 13:42:10','2013-05-23 13:42:10','',850,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=852',0,'revision','',0),(853,3,'2013-05-23 13:41:08','2013-05-23 13:41:08','Its official - the busy season is here! In my conversations with all of you it’s clear that this year is out pacing last year and the numbers agree. So far year to date you are reporting 162 systems and 1000 panels more than last year during the same time. A good sign that the economy is starting to recover and you are taking advantage of the pent up demand.\r\n\r\nThis pent up demand it is probably causing your voicemail and email boxes to fill up – a lot! But what about all the homeowners you reached out to over the last few years that you pitched and missed, or the ones who never called you back at all? Where are they now? Many of them are probably ripe for the picking! Well, you’re in luck!\r\n\r\nAquatherm keeps a database of all the past <strong>Internet sales leads</strong> we have forwarded to you, and we would be happy to share with you a spreadsheet of those in your market. These are warm leads – pool owners who have reached out to us at least once, requesting a Dealer in their area. Please let me know if you are interested, and I will make sure to get them in your hands quickly. They could be swimming in a warm pool by Memorial Day!\r\n\r\nSometimes, good things bear repeating: Aquatherm regularly sends out <strong>Press Releases</strong> – usually two each month – announcing new products and happenings in the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to get you some “free press” by promoting any noteworthy commercial projects. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release, so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for an upcoming release.\r\n\r\nLet’s see the numbers for April. Congratulations to <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists, CA </strong>who dominated the top dealer spot with 420 collectors sold for April. Keep up the great work Mark! An impressive 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish goes to <strong>Stilwell Solar, FL</strong> with 308 collectors for April. Way to go Bill! And it’s a tie for 3<sup>rd</sup> between <strong>Central Florida Solar, FL</strong> and <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists, NV</strong> with 182 collectors each - nice job Bill and Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> from Mark Naylor Solar Specialists is the top salesman in the country with 57 sales for April. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar is 2<sup>nd</sup> with 31 sales for April - fabulous job Bill. And, rounding out 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar with 26 sales. Well done Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm\'s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup> in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Summer Sales Retreat, July 28<sup>th</sup> – August      2<sup>nd</sup> at RIU Guanacaste in Costa Rica</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 14<sup>th </sup>in Las Vegas, Nevada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Please note that Aquatherm will be closed on Monday, May 27<sup>th</sup> for the holiday weekend and reopen on Tuesday, May 28<sup>th</sup>.</strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','April 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','850-revision-2','','','2013-05-23 13:41:08','2013-05-23 13:41:08','',850,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=853',0,'revision','',0),(854,3,'2013-05-23 13:33:14','2013-05-23 13:33:14','Earlier this year at the Aquatherm National Dealer meeting Eric Howarth, from EGIA, presented an opportunity for all of you to sign up for their financing programs. Not only is financing a great way to offer homeowners additional options for payment with the CSI program looming in California, there are thousands of smaller commercial pools that could benefit from financing options.\r\n\r\nEric spoke about the <strong>Geosmart Financing Program</strong> that is available to all of you. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs including unsecured loan programs with financing of up to $40,000. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nAquatherm regularly sends out <strong>press releases</strong> to promote new projects, announce new products and happenings to the industry. It is also an opportunity for us to promote your noteworthy commercial projects as well. They do not need to be large projects to be considered for a press release so please send us any and all projects that you are proud of and we will consider them for a future release.\r\n\r\nOn to the numbers, amazingly enough the top three in each category were the same!<strong> Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman and Dealer in the country for March with 52 sales and 392 collectors sold! Amazing month Mark! Coming in 2nd with 25 sales and 294 collectors is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar. Fabulous job Bill and the entire team at Stilwell! Rounding out the top three is a tie between <strong>Bill Park</strong> from Central Florida Solar and <strong>Dennis Esposito</strong> from Performance Solar with 23 sales and 161 collectors each for March. Marvelous March, Bill and Dennis!!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>CSI Stakeholders Meeting, April 23rd in San Francisco</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco</li>\r\n	<li>International Pool &amp; Spa Expo, November 12th - 14th in Las Vegas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','March 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','848-revision-2','','','2013-05-23 13:33:14','2013-05-23 13:33:14','',848,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=854',0,'revision','',0),(855,3,'2013-05-23 13:32:25','2013-05-23 13:32:25','Happy first day of Spring everyone! Many of you are reporting that you\'ve already started to feel the season \"spring\" into action early this year. It is certainly a sign that we are starting to see glimmers in the economy coming back to life.\r\n\r\nWhen the recession hit five years ago, new pool construction abruptly stopped. Now that the economy is starting to recover, backhoes and workers are starting to fill backyards again and new pools are going in. Many of you know about Construction Monitor and more than likely stopped subscribing to the service after the economic downturn. For those of you who are not familiar with Construction Monitor, they are a web based company that has been in business since 1989 providing weekly building permit information to industry professionals. It is a subscription service and the reports are compiled by county. You can subscribe to one or all of the counties you service and compile a list of homeowners with pools for marketing purposes.\r\n\r\nI have heard many positive stories from those that already use the service. Getting this list gives them early access to those building a pool and the opportunity to sell the benefits of solar pool heating to them before their competition. Even if they don\'t buy initially, this same potential customer is perfect to market to after owning the pool for 2 -5 years since they are probably not enjoying it as much as they thought they would because the pool is just too cold.\r\n\r\nFor those of you interested in subscribing to Construction Monitor or learning more about their services their website is <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001BG74qGV779iNa1vaHjYKELy7u5_SDZyvxFBz2t-E1VLskggRux2DQUF1viTc6wH-wc4Iu7mYHAVgxRdFDCwIewRmtN2Jx3jZisRxtUrj4g_7ymG7jztuCBTggrxcj-6xyjyAEWeQwb0=\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.constructionmonitor.com/</a>\r\n\r\nNow for the numbers! First off - I try to get this memo and report out to you complete in a timely manner every month, but often find myself waiting weeks for just one or two more sales numbers. In the future, if I don\'t have your numbers by the 15th of the month I\'ll be using DNR, which will stand for DID NOT REPORT instead of a \"0\" from this point forward. Let\'s hope I\'ll never have to use it!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for February with 29 sales. Another great month Mark! <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 26 sales. Outstanding Bill! Rounding out the top 3 is <strong>Dennis Esposito</strong> from Performance Solar with 19 sales for February. Welcome back Dennis!!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> is the number one dealer with 301 collectors installed for the month. Congratulations to Bill and the entire team at Stilwell! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> Solar Specialists came in 2nd with 217 collectors. Nice job, Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Performance Solar</strong> with 133 collectors for the month. Fabulous February, Dennis!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n	<li>Solar Power International, October 21st - 24th in Chicago, Illinois</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nAs a reminder, Aquatherm will be closed on Friday, March 29th for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Monday, April 1st.\r\n\r\nLastly, Dawn is out for eight weeks until mid-May. In her absence, Pati, Janet, Carol, Dan and I will all be doing their best to cover for her. Please be patient if we just don\'t get to something as quick as you\'re accustomed to. Dawn should be back just in time for the thick of the season.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','February 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','846-revision-2','','','2013-05-23 13:32:25','2013-05-23 13:32:25','',846,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=855',0,'revision','',0),(856,3,'2013-05-23 13:31:51','2013-05-23 13:31:51','Thank you to all who attended our <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-off Meeting in Las Vegas</strong>! Since we all made it through the Mayan \"the end is near\", we decided the theme for our meeting should be \"The Beginning is Here\" and focused on a fresh start for a new year. It was a great meeting that included vendors, guest speakers, breakout sessions and a wonderful awards dinner. We covered many topics during the fast-paced meeting, so I wanted to take the time to review for those who may have missed something during this fast-paced event, and for those who were unable to attend.\r\n\r\nThe meeting started with a Welcome Reception for all attendees at the hotel on Wednesday evening. We had Quickmount PV and Pentair representatives on-hand to discuss the latest in pumps, controls, and collector mounting. The evening found many old friends catching up after time apart and some new faces in the crowd as well. As usual, three hours just isn\'t enough and many stayed on well after the event to chat.\r\n\r\nThursday, we kicked-off with introductions by Dave that led into industry and Aquatherm updates. Dave discussed the new dual-durometer couplings and that there have only been two reported failures to date with over 200,000 in the field since the product\'s introduction in 2009. He also mentioned that a completely serviceable version of our 2\" VRV with the locking retainer design has begun shipping.\r\n\r\nDave also shared with us a bit about Aquatherm\'s \"why\". What is that, you ask? Well it is about why we get up every day and do what we do. Dave recently had the chance to spend a day with Simon Sinek, author of \"Start with Why\" and digs deep into the \"whys\" of Aquatherm. Since then, we have updated our Company Overview to include a letter from Dave that encompasses more of the \"why\" regarding Aquatherm. If you haven\'t had a chance to see the new version yet you can <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjhyI7l_FSxRu9PMjBjUZ5pw4X5vB5csV4MEaehKbTsGX\" target=\"_blank\">download it here</a>.\r\n\r\nIn Kevin\'s Engineering update, he reviewed the differences in standard organizations, accredited laboratories and certification bodies that are used in the industry and updated us on Aquatherm\'s ISO quality statistics. He presented a new online commercial survey form that is available for use now by going to <a href=\"http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001AWXK82mF6yHVaOMtTGmCh2O6bWKuXaYFA3Jm9nvvehyMSz1Jy5p4Dfo6WNBDmEtu8OVHVXXdmQUvBtFIHPwOjnjXWHSSJJu_td2VQWiI2FfprfkARDKPfqDRGdINdVtptd71l6PtakY=\" target=\"_blank\">www.aquathermindustries.com/survey</a> and previewed the new on-line RMR / LAR form, which will be introduced in March. Aquatherm has also released a new installation manual that was presented and is available in PDF or in iBooks format. Kevin also showed us some new projects that Aquatherm is working on including a new polypropylene \"flashing base\" for the 50006 and 50069 mounting brackets; a collector rack that will be specifically designed with our mounting hardware in mind, and the concept of a ballast mounting system for those times when roof penetrations are not desirable.\r\n\r\nWe were treated to several \"Fifteen Minutes of Fame\" by a few of our dealers during the meeting. They included Ethan Horvitz from Solar Living who shared a presentation on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and how the Aquatherm systems fared far better than the competition during the storm; Daniel Garcia of Modulo Solar shared some of their recent large commercial projects that they have done; and Mark Turnbull of Ecosun Australia talked about his market and goals for the future. And, lastly, as a stand in for Rich Bonte, Ethan spoke about the Red Lion High School project that was done in Pennsylvania - a unique glycol based design. Thank you to all who participated in sharing your insights with us and some of the lessons you have learned along the way.\r\n\r\nIn the Sales breakout we spent time reviewing the sales presentation and we unveiled the updated Lessons Learned section for the presentation. The updates include new formatting and the information condensed to one sheet. We also reviewed the Heliocol BTU comparison sheets and handed out the new comparison showing the Eco-Spark from UMA. Should you need a copy of any of this information you will find it on the portal.\r\n\r\nWe continued the sales breakout with a rundown of the Master Dealer Status and levels for both yearly and lifetime status. We also covered the Master Dealer Coop Program and thank you and referrals gifts for homeowners. Lastly, we offered up the return of the Bounty Hunter Program for the month of February to start the year off right! Should you need additional information on any of the above please don\'t hesitate to reach out to me directly.\r\n\r\nDuring the Marketing Breakout, Dan reviewed some of the more popular social media and networking tools available today, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ (formerly Google Places), and YouTube. One key take away is to make sure you run a Google search for \"your business name here google plus\". You might be surprised to find your business already has a Google+ page, in which case you should claim it immediately by clicking the \"Manage this page\" button in the bottom right. Once you\'ve claimed your page, you\'ll unlock some features like the ability to add an \"About Us\" section and some photos. More importantly, claiming your page ensures you will be notified by email if a review is posted on your page.\r\n\r\nThere will always be a new social media tool popping up and generating hype - some of which may be helpful to your marketing efforts. However, there are also only so many hours in a day. By first researching a service\'s key user demographics, then considering potential marketing reach compared with time invested, you can maximize the effectiveness of social in your marketing plan. Dan went on to discuss current website best practices, such as making sure your website is \"mobile-friendly\" by pulling it up on your own smart phone and tablet. He also touched on how best to integrate social tools into your existing website, including the use of the Facebook \"Like\" and \"Share\" buttons.\r\n\r\nFinally, Dan and the groups discussed online review sites, including Yelp, Angie\'s List, Google+, and Facebook. These sites have the greatest potential to help or harm your businesses, and it\'s important to be aware of any reviews. Dan recounted a phone conversation with an exasperated Rick Vasquez of Vasco Solar last year, after Rick had just lost an all-but-closed sale due to a last minute search that turned up a negative review on Yelp. Unfortunately, much like Google+, businesses can often be listed on Yelp without any consent or knowledge from the business owner. It\'s a good idea to run a Google search for your business, as well as search on each of these sites individually. Claiming your listing on these sites allows you to respond to any reviews, whether positive or negative. If you have received a negative review for your business, Dan suggests the following: 1) Respond professionally by apologizing for their experience and asking them to call or email you directly. This response can benefit you two ways: you will have an opportunity to get your reviewer offline to resolve the conflict (many times they will agree to remove or edit their review if you resolve the issue; others will see you as an accountable business owner who doesn\'t hide from their problems.  2) Reach out to your best customers - start with those who have given you business through referrals - and ask them to leave a review on the site. When there are at least three or four positive reviews of your business, that one negative review is much less likely to scare away a potential customer.\r\n\r\nFeel free to contact Dan directly for any help with websites and social media.\r\n\r\nWe had several representatives from the industry come in to present and answer questions from the group. Tom from Pentair spoke about the Solar Touch control while Marshall from Quick Mount PV talked to us about the new flashing they will be offering to use with our systems. Lastly, Eric from EGIA spoke on the Geosmart financing program. The cost to join is only $250 per year and Master Dealers may use their coop funds towards membership. EGIA offers multiple programs to suit your needs. Please contact me directly if you are interested in financing programs and I will connect you with Eric.\r\n\r\nThat evening we met for some fun, camaraderie, and our annual Dealer Awards Ceremony at the Brio Restaurant. After a great dinner, we culminated our time together with the awards ceremony, where our Master Dealers and Salesmen were recognized for the outstanding sales performances in 2012. Our guest speaker, Ed Murray, Treasurer of CalSEIA and Board Member of National SEIA updated us on what is happening on the national and California solar thermal scenes. Lastly, invitees were announced to the 2013 Summer Sales Retreat, which will be in Guanacaste, Costa Rica in late July.\r\n\r\nFriday morning the California dealers, along with Ed Murray, met for a special breakfast meeting to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program. Although the program has yet to be instituted dealers were able to learn more about the California commercial market and the potential opportunities once the program is online.\r\n\r\nThank you to all who participated in the meeting and making it a great start to 2013!\r\n\r\nWell, this year is off to a great start for many of you! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> is the top salesman in the country for January with 26 sales. Way to start the year Mark! <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar came in 2nd place with 19 sales. Nice job Scott! Rounding out the top 3 for the January is <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar with 16 sales for January. Great month Bill!\r\n\r\n<strong>Stilwell Solar</strong> came out on top with 259 collectors installed for January. What a nice way to start the year for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2nd with 182 collectors. Well done Mark! 3rd place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 105 collectors for the month. Way to start the year off with a bang, Jim!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Association of Aquatic Professionals, March 2nd - 3rd in Austin, Texas</li>\r\n	<li>NABCEP Continuing Education Conference, April 12th  - 14th in Malta, NY</li>\r\n	<li>Intersolar North America, July 9th - 11th in San Francisco, California</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nThis year is off to a great start. Now let\'s keep up the momentum!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','January 2013 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','843-revision-3','','','2013-05-23 13:31:51','2013-05-23 13:31:51','',843,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=856',0,'revision','',0),(857,3,'2012-12-17 18:55:26','2012-12-17 18:55:26','Happy Holidays everyone!\r\n\r\nLast year it took<strong> </strong>until December for <strong>Bill Long</strong> from Stilwell Solar to knock Mark Naylor off the number one salesman perch. Bill is the top salesman for November in the country with 31 sales. Way to go Bill! Staying strong in California is <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> in that 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 23 sales - great finish to November Mark. Coming in 3<sup>rd</sup> for the month of is <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> from Stilwell Solar<strong>. </strong>Well done, Scott!\r\n\r\nCongratulations to<strong> Stilwell Solar</strong> who claimed the top dealer spot two months in a row with 336 collectors installed for November. What a fantastic month for Bill Long and his team! <strong>Mark Naylor Solar Specialists </strong>came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 175 collectors - Mark, great job! And in 3<sup>rd</sup> place goes to <strong>Roark Solar</strong> with 77 collectors for November. Back in the top three two months in a row – Go Jim!\r\n\r\nSix members of the Top 10 Club have already hit 100 sales for the year and three more are within striking distance. Dave hasn’t divulged the location of our 2012 Summer Sales Retreat yet, but he’s hinted that it’s one of the locations he visited during his international travels this year.\r\n\r\nI recently spoke with Rob Shepherd from Daystar Energy and he shared a new marketing technique he tried in Canada. Rob’s season normally comes to a halt in early October but this year has been particularly tough in his market. Rob tried to think outside the box to do something that would add additional installs before winter kicked-in up in Canada. He ran an ad in his local newspaper for under $50 that offered <strong>“Free Installation”</strong> with the purchase of a system. Well, it worked! Rob has sold 6 systems from this ad and received additional referrals as well from this one advertisement. He has priced the systems in such a way that he is still profiting well from each sale and is extremely excited to do this again next year. He stated, “This was just one newspaper imagine the sales opportunities once I try five or six of my area papers!” Thanks for sharing your success story Rob.\r\n\r\nOur <strong>Distribution Center and</strong> <strong>National Master Dealer Kick-Off Meeting</strong> is fast approaching and we’re excited for the opportunity for you to connect with other dealers and distributors from throughout the Aquatherm Network. Be on the look-out for the formal agenda and memo with additional travel details shortly. The Distribution Center Meeting will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup> with a reception for all that evening; the National Dealer Kick-Off Meeting is from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24th with an Awards Dinner and speaker to follow. There will be also be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25th from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\nAquatherm\'s upcoming events:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd - 25th at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th- 31st in Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n	<li><strong>MiaGreen Expo and Conference, January 31<sup>st</sup> – February 1<sup>st</sup> in Miami Beach, Booth #428</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm will be closed</strong> on Monday, December 24<sup>th</sup> and Tuesday, December 25<sup>th</sup> for the Christmas holiday and Monday, December 31<sup>st</sup> and Tuesday, January 1<sup>st</sup> for New Year’s. We wish you all a fabulous holiday season with your friends and families! We thank you for your continued relationship with Aquatherm and appreciate your business. Here’s to a strong start to 2013!\r\n\r\nBest to you all,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','November 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','814-revision-3','','','2012-12-17 18:55:26','2012-12-17 18:55:26','',814,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=857',0,'revision','',0),(858,3,'2012-12-17 18:54:12','2012-12-17 18:54:12','I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with your family and friends! As I take time to reflect on the year I just wanted to thank you all for your business and look forward to many more years together.\r\n\r\nWith 33 sales <strong>Mark Naylor </strong>again took the top Salesperson spot for October. What a month Mark! In a tie for 2<sup>nd</sup> is the team at Stilwell Solar - with 22 sales each, <strong>Bill Long</strong> and <strong>Scott Bologna</strong> had a fabulous month. Nice job gentlemen! In 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October, with 15 sales, is <strong>Jim Roark</strong> of Roark Solar – now that’s our Jim!\r\n\r\nAs they often do this time of year,<strong> Stilwell Solar </strong>took the top Dealer spot with 308 collectors sold for October. Great month Bill and Scott! <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> place with 245 collectors sold. Nice Job Mark! And jumping into 3<sup>rd</sup> place for October with 105 collectors sold is <strong>Roark Solar</strong>.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIn the northeast, Superstorm Sandy left a huge path of destruction and many thousands are still displaced from their homes. Though Aquatherm did not sustain any damage, many of our staff were without power for over a week. As in every situation, there are always some positive stories. Ethan and Rich from Solar Living passed on some solar pool heating stats from the storm that we thought were worth sharing with all of you.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Since the storm, Solar Living has received over 65 service calls. Of those calls, 25 of the systems were not installed by Solar Living and all of these were from homeowners whose systems came off the roof during the storm.</li>\r\n	<li>Ethan and Rich found these systems were installed using plastic mounting hardware or incorrectly installed strapping. Two of the systems were loose tube collectors that had no straps.</li>\r\n	<li>Nearly 40 of the calls were from system owners who had damage to their collectors or feed and return piping from falling trees.</li>\r\n	<li>Of the 2,000 systems that Solar Living has installed in their history, only three suffered wind damage.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nRich said that he couldn’t be more pleased that his installations and the stainless steel mounting hardware withstood the elements when put to the test. Ethan plans to make this a big selling point in the spring. Both Rich and Ethan will be at this year’s National Dealer Meeting and Ethan will be doing a presentation showing the storm damage they encountered.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of our meeting, it is really shaping up to be quite the event. Over 40 Distributors, Dealers and staff will be in attendance. Pentair and Quick Mount PV will be in attendance at the reception and will also be presenting during the meeting. Quick Mount PV will be introducing a custom flashing that they have designed for our stainless steel mounting hardware. If you have any topics that you’d like us to address during the meetings or other industry vendors you think we should invite, please let me know.\r\n\r\n<strong>Aquatherm’s upcoming events:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>Solar Thermal 2012 Conference and Exhibition, December 6th – 7th in Milwaukee.</strong> Dave will be presenting during the Conference on the topic of “Saving Energy and Money: Hybrid Solar Pool Heating for Commercial Pools.”</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Distribution Center and National Dealer Meeting, January 23rd – 25<sup>th</sup> at the </strong><strong>South Point Hotel Las Vegas.</strong> The Distribution Meeting will be from 1:00 to 5:00 the afternoon of the 23<sup>rd</sup>; the National Dealer Meeting from 9:00 to 5:00 on the 24<sup>th</sup> and there will be a special breakfast meeting the morning of the 25<sup>th</sup> from 8:00 to 10:00 for the California attendees to discuss the implementation of commercial pool heating as part of the CSI Rebate Program.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show, January 29th<sup> </sup>– 31<sup>st </sup>in </strong><strong>Atlantic City, Booth #2125</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all enjoy the holiday season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing you all in January!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\nBest,\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMolly\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','October 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','808-revision-7','','','2012-12-17 18:54:12','2012-12-17 18:54:12','',808,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=858',0,'revision','',0),(859,3,'2012-10-22 18:38:55','2012-10-22 18:38:55','Fall is officially upon us and with the change in the air we finally have a shake up in the top three numbers this month. With 27 sales, <strong>Mark Naylor</strong> remains at the top Salesperson spot for September. Way to go Mark! <strong>Terry Naylor</strong> came in 2<sup>nd</sup> with 14 sales for the month – nice job Terry. In 3<sup>rd</sup> place is <strong>Gerry Kilgore</strong> of Suncatcher of Atlanta with 13 sales for September. Gerry shared with me that he had one of his best months ever in business in September. Fantastic job Gerry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Mark Naylor</strong> <strong>Solar Specialists</strong> stayed in the top spot for September with 217 collectors sold. Congratulations Mark! <strong>Stilwell Solar </strong>took the 2<sup>nd</sup> place spot with 126 collectors sold for September. Great month Bill and Scott – your fall season is just about to rev up! And rounding out the top three with 113 collectors sold is <strong>Naylor Solar Specialists</strong>. Excellent September Terry!\r\n\r\n<strong>Richard Good</strong> and his team at <strong>Solar Services</strong> recently participated in the 2012 National Solar Tour of the American Solar Energy Society. In the last two years of participation, they have had more than 80 visitors tour their facility, his home and the homes of his employees that have installed solar technologies.  Now in its 17<sup>th</sup> year, the ASES National Solar Tour offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how homeowners can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills. This is a <strong>FREE</strong> open house to all homeowners and each business is able to be the expert on-hand to answer questions and set the stage for a follow up appointment with all interested leads.\r\n\r\nMore than 165,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S. Most tours occur on a Saturday in early October, but be sure to check for earlier dates and even some week-long celebrations in your community! There are also sponsorship opportunities and promotion help for those that participate and wave the solar flag to make this a successful event for everyone involved. For more information on how you can participate in this event in the future please visit <a href=\"http://www.nationalsolartour.org/\">www.nationalsolartour.org</a>.\r\n\r\nThe <strong>National Dealer and Distribution Center Meeting in Las Vegas </strong>is starting to take shape and we are getting excited to share the details with you. Look for my detailed memo the week of October 22<sup>nd</sup> that will include the agenda and particulars for this event. As a reminder the dates of the meeting will be <strong>January 23<sup>rd</sup> – 25<sup>th</sup></strong>, <strong>2013 </strong>and will take place at the <strong>South Point Hotel Casino</strong>. We look forward to seeing you all there and starting 2013 off with a bang!\r\n\r\nAquatherm will be exhibiting at the following upcoming shows:\r\n\r\n<strong>International Pool and Spa Expo Nov. 6<sup>th</sup> – 8<sup>th\r\n</sup></strong>New Orleans, LA - Booth #1051\r\n\r\n<strong>Piscine 2012 Show Nov. 12<sup>th</sup> – 16th\r\n</strong>Lyon, France - Stand # 5B32\r\n\r\nIf you would like more information on these events or are in need of a badge for the trade shows please contact me directly and I will be happy to help you.\r\n\r\nMay you all have a safe and fun Halloween!\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Best,</strong>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Molly</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','September 2012 Sales Memo','','inherit','open','open','','759-revision-5','','','2012-10-22 18:38:55','2012-10-22 18:38:55','',759,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=859',0,'revision','',0),(860,4,'2013-05-23 16:59:05','2013-05-23 16:59:05','<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.</span></h3>\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be a perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped, so new pools weren’t being built. Also, folks weren’t moving, adding insult to injury with less new systems installed, and more warranty claims from system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>CSI-Thermal Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program</h3>\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3>Online RMR / LAR</h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page legible! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a>. Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n<h3>New Strap Clamp</h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the Hold-Down Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011). If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_890\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-890 \" alt=\"10011 - ISO\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO-300x231.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" /></a> Revised Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011)[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices on our stainless components may go up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>Donations</h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"865,864,866\"]\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3>QuickMount PV Flashing</h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they had imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of a unique upsell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3>New Ratings / ISO 9806</h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3>IAPMO vs. SRCC</h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and had passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, a light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_881\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a> Click to enlarge[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.</p>\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3>Last Call for Paradise</h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates, please give Pat or myself a call. If you want to check for airfare, the local airport is Liberia (LIR).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','publish','open','open','','the-buck-stops-here-may-2013','','','2013-06-11 15:57:01','2013-06-11 15:57:01','',0,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=860',0,'post','',0),(861,3,'2013-05-23 14:09:44','2013-05-23 14:09:44','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\n\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\n\nWhile the hot water side of the industry is still taking a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\n\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the states’ more than 40,000 commercial pools.\n\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at … Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\n\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\n\n(Insert drawing)\n\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but tin the end it’s the right thing to do.\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, Florida using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool through the wounded warrior project and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\n\nWhen Compass approached us, it wasn’t a question of how much of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like where do we send the collectors. Compass donated the labor and piping needed for completing the installation.\n\n(Photo)\n\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\n\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\n\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\n\n(Pictures)\n\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\n\n(Picture of roof test)\n\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\n\n(Insert chart)\n\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\n\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\n\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision','','','2013-05-23 14:09:44','2013-05-23 14:09:44','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=861',0,'revision','',0),(862,3,'2013-05-23 14:11:57','2013-05-23 14:11:57','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry is still taking a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the states’ more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at … Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n(Insert drawing)\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but tin the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, Florida using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool through the wounded warrior project and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it wasn’t a question of how much of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like where do we send the collectors. Compass donated the labor and piping needed for completing the installation.\r\n\r\n(Photo)\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n(Pictures)\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n(Picture of roof test)\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n(Insert chart)\r\n\r\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-2','','','2013-05-23 14:11:57','2013-05-23 14:11:57','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=862',0,'revision','',0),(863,3,'2013-05-23 14:38:48','2013-05-23 14:38:48','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\n\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\n\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\n\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\n\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\n\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\n\n(Insert drawing)\n\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool through the wounded warrior project and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\n\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\n\n(Photo)\n\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\n\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\n\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\n\n(Pictures)\n\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\n\n(Picture of roof test)\n\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\n\n(Insert chart)\n\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\n\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\n\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-3','','','2013-05-23 14:38:48','2013-05-23 14:38:48','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=863',0,'revision','',0),(864,3,'2013-05-23 15:09:31','2013-05-23 15:09:31','','456334_405422382811221_74475571_o','Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, after.','inherit','open','open','','456334_405422382811221_74475571_o','','','2013-05-23 15:09:31','2013-05-23 15:09:31','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(865,3,'2013-05-23 15:09:53','2013-05-23 15:09:53','','478647_405421172811342_74120838_o','Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, before.','inherit','open','open','','478647_405421172811342_74120838_o','','','2013-05-23 15:09:53','2013-05-23 15:09:53','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(866,3,'2013-05-23 16:04:43','2013-05-23 16:04:43','','470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o','Thanks to all those involved.','inherit','open','open','','470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o','','','2013-05-23 16:04:43','2013-05-23 16:04:43','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(867,3,'2013-05-23 16:09:00','2013-05-23 16:09:00','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\n\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\n\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\n\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\n\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\n\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\n\n(Insert drawing)\n\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\n\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a></dt><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /><dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">Mr. Tuller\'s backyard, before.</dd></dl></div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><dl id=\"attachment_864\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 310px;\"><dt class=\"wp-caption-dt\"><a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\n\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\n\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\n\n(Pictures)\n\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\n\n(Picture of roof test)\n\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\n\n(Insert chart)\n\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\n\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\n\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-4','','','2013-05-23 16:09:00','2013-05-23 16:09:00','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=867',0,'revision','',0),(869,3,'2013-05-23 16:40:04','2013-05-23 16:40:04','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\n\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\n\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\n\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\n\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\n\n<strong> </strong>\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\n\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\n\n(Insert drawing)\n\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\">\n</a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\n\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865 alignright\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864 \" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\n\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\n\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\n\n(Pictures)\n\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\n\n(Picture of roof test)\n\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\n\n(Insert chart)\n\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\n\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\n\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-6','','','2013-05-23 16:40:04','2013-05-23 16:40:04','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=869',0,'revision','',0),(868,3,'2013-05-23 16:09:26','2013-05-23 16:09:26','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n(Insert drawing)\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\">\r\n</a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, before.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>You never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n(Pictures)\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n(Picture of roof test)\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n(Insert chart)\r\n\r\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div></div>','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-5','','','2013-05-23 16:09:26','2013-05-23 16:09:26','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=868',0,'revision','',0),(870,3,'2013-05-23 16:41:20','2013-05-23 16:41:20','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n(Insert drawing)\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, before.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n(Pictures)\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n(Picture of roof test)\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n(Insert chart)\r\n\r\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-7','','','2013-05-23 16:41:20','2013-05-23 16:41:20','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=870',0,'revision','',0),(871,3,'2013-05-23 16:59:05','2013-05-23 16:59:05','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n(Insert drawing)\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, before.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n(Pictures)\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n(Picture of roof test)\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n(Insert chart)\r\n\r\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-8','','','2013-05-23 16:59:05','2013-05-23 16:59:05','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=871',0,'revision','',0),(872,3,'2013-05-30 13:15:52','2013-05-30 13:15:52','<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.</span></h3>\nThe Great Recession proved to be a perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped, so new pools weren’t being built. Also, folks weren’t moving, adding insult to injury with less new systems installed, and more warranty claims from system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.”\n\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\n<h3>CSI-Thermal Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program</h3>\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\n\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\n<h3>Online RMR / LAR</h3>\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page legible! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a>. Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\n<h3>New Strap Clamp</h3>\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\n\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the Hold-Down Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011). If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_890\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-890 \" alt=\"10011 - ISO\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO-300x231.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" /></a> Revised Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011)[/caption]\n\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices on our stainless components may go up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\n<h3>Donations</h3>\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\n\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\n\n[gallery ids=\"865,864,866\"]\n\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\n\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\n<h3>QuickMount PV Flashing</h3>\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\n\nThe first of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\n\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they had imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of a unique upsell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\n<h3>New Ratings / ISO 9806</h3>\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\n<h3>IAPMO vs. SRCC</h3>\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and had passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\n<h3>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</h3>\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\n<blockquote>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</blockquote>\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\n\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, a light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_881\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a> Click to enlarge[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.</p>\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\n<h3>Last Call for Paradise</h3>\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\n\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates, please give Pat or myself a call. If you want to check for airfare, the local airport is Liberia (LIR).\n\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-autosave','','','2013-05-30 13:15:52','2013-05-30 13:15:52','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=872',0,'revision','',0),(880,3,'2013-05-23 21:04:26','2013-05-23 21:04:26','','Sensor Testing May 17','','inherit','open','open','','sensor-testing-may-17','','','2013-05-23 21:04:26','2013-05-23 21:04:26','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.pdf',0,'attachment','application/pdf',0),(873,3,'2013-05-23 17:25:36','2013-05-23 17:25:36','','DSC_0538','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0538','','','2013-05-23 17:25:36','2013-05-23 17:25:36','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0538.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(874,3,'2013-05-23 17:26:31','2013-05-23 17:26:31','','DSC_0548','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0548','','','2013-05-23 17:26:31','2013-05-23 17:26:31','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0548.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(875,3,'2013-05-23 17:27:21','2013-05-23 17:27:21','','DSC_0553','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0553','','','2013-05-23 17:27:21','2013-05-23 17:27:21','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0553.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(876,3,'2013-05-23 17:28:15','2013-05-23 17:28:15','','DSC_0555','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0555','','','2013-05-23 17:28:15','2013-05-23 17:28:15','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0555.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(877,3,'2013-05-23 17:29:02','2013-05-23 17:29:02','','DSC_0562','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0562','','','2013-05-23 17:29:02','2013-05-23 17:29:02','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0562.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(878,3,'2013-05-23 17:30:03','2013-05-23 17:30:03','','DSC_0567','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0567','','','2013-05-23 17:30:03','2013-05-23 17:30:03','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0567.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(879,3,'2013-05-23 16:59:30','2013-05-23 16:59:30','<h3><strong>Buck Stops</strong></h3>\r\nIt’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.\r\n\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be the perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped; new pools weren’t being built and folks weren’t moving which proved to be a double-edged sword – not only with selling new systems, but with honoring warranties for system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “if it doesn’t kill us, it makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3><strong>Online RMR / LAR</strong></h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page readable! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a> Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>\r\n<h3><strong>New Strap Clamp</strong></h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the strap clamp. If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n(Insert drawing)\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices will be going up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3><strong>Donations</strong></h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-866\" title=\"470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/470266_399732316713561_1751762690_o-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" /></a>One presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_865\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, before.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-865\" title=\"478647_405421172811342_74120838_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/478647_405421172811342_74120838_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_864\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Mr. Tuller&#39;s backyard, after.\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-864\" title=\"456334_405422382811221_74475571_o\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/456334_405422382811221_74475571_o-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3><strong>QuickMount PV Flashing</strong></h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first installations of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n(Pictures)\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of an up-sell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3><strong>New Ratings / ISO 9806</strong></h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3><strong>IAPMO vs. SRCC</strong></h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3><strong>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</strong></h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote><em>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</em></blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n(Picture of roof test)\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, and light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n(Insert chart)\r\n\r\nOne other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.\r\n\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3><strong>Last Call for Paradise</strong></h3>\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates and want to check on flights, please give Pat or myself a call.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-9','','','2013-05-23 16:59:30','2013-05-23 16:59:30','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=879',0,'revision','',0),(881,3,'2013-05-23 21:05:23','2013-05-23 21:05:23','','Sensor Testing May 17','','inherit','open','open','','sensor-testing-may-17-2','','','2013-05-23 21:05:23','2013-05-23 21:05:23','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(896,3,'2013-05-29 14:44:17','2013-05-29 14:44:17','<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It’s good to be back. Not that you or I ever went anywhere - it’s the economy that I’m talking about. Your continuing efforts, combined with pent-up demand fueled by a cooler than normal spring in Florida and better than average weather in California made April our busiest month in five years. And thankfully, May isn’t far behind.</span></h3>\r\nThe Great Recession proved to be a perfect storm for our industry. Disposable income dropped, so new pools weren’t being built. Also, folks weren’t moving, adding insult to injury with less new systems installed, and more warranty claims from system owners who normally might have moved every five to six years. We’ve all heard this too many times, “what doesn’t kill us, only makes us stronger.”\r\n\r\nWhile the hot water side of the industry continues to take a hit from still relatively low natural gas prices, pool customers don’t seem to care. Maybe it’s become perception that heating a pool with a fossil fuel must be expensive or that it’s just not environmentally the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>CSI-Thermal Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program</h3>\r\nAs the rest of the nation watches, the CSI Commercial Solar Pool Heating Program is slowly starting to take shape. The Program Administrators for the various utilities have submitted their proposal to the California Public Utility Commission calling for an initial rebate of $7 per displaced therm of natural gas. The rebate, which is funded by rate gas utility payers, could offset as much as 40% to 50% of the cost of the system. All commercial pools in the state will qualify for the program whether they are currently heated or not, as well as replacement systems. The only qualification is that the property has natural gas service. A minimum of $40 million, though potentially as high as $80 million dollars in rebates has been proposed for the state\'s more than 40,000 commercial pools.\r\n\r\nNo, I’m not an advocate for solar incentives, but I am for a level playing field. And as California goes, so often does the rest of the country.\r\n<h3>Online RMR / LAR</h3>\r\nI don’t like change either – even if it is for the better. I still have an iPhone 3GS and it works. The screen cracked recently and instead of upgrading – you guessed it, I got a new screen. Jim Roark and I are what Simon Sinek calls a laggard; if they still sold rotary phones, we’d have one. But I assure you that’s not the case with our new online RMR / LAR. Entering information is a snap and you don’t even have to press hard to make the last page legible! If we said take your time to figure it out, like me, you would. That’s why we’ve put a cut-off of May 31 for the paper forms. Check it out right now at <a href=\"www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr\">www.aquathermindustries.com/rmr</a>. Kudos to Kevin and our engineering staff along with some help from Dan and thanks to our Beta tester (Wendy Hall) along the way in getting this done.\r\n<h3>New Strap Clamp</h3>\r\nI’ve always tried to work with regional suppliers for the components in our products when possible. It boosts the local economy plus helps us to reduce our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, there’s a point where the high cost of sourcing components locally can outweigh the other benefits. On occasion, we’ve even sourced our metal stampings oversees – something that always bothered me. Actually it bothered me so much, we decided to invest locally in what is called “progressive forming” stamping dies for our more popular stainless steel components. It required a significant upfront tooling investment, but comes closer to matching the offshore per-piece-price while still being made here in New Jersey.\r\n\r\nUp to now, there were still two parts we either couldn’t source in the US, or were just too expensive to make here. The stainless steel filters for the vacuum relief valves are one of them. The only company that makes that particular mesh design is in Mexico and I can live with that. The other component is the Hold-Down Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011). If you think they’re expensive now, making them here in the states would have been astronomical. After our success with the progressive dies on our other parts, we worked with our toolmaker on a redesign that could more easily be made with the same type of progressive forming tooling.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_890\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO.png\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-890 \" alt=\"10011 - ISO\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/10011-ISO-300x231.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" /></a> Revised Strap Clamp Assembly (Part #10011)[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe new design, which is even stronger than the old one, will be released sometime late summer / early fall. Prices on our stainless components may go up a few cents, but in the end it’s the right thing to do.\r\n<h3>Donations</h3>\r\nOne presentation we just didn’t get to at this year’s National Master Dealer Meeting was a charitable donation by one of our dealers, Compass Solar of Pensacola, FL using Aquatherm collectors. It all started when they were approached by a swimming pool builder who refers business to them about Dustin Tuller, an Iraq veteran from the Pensacola area who lost his legs in combat. Gulf Coast Pools was donating the construction of a new pool to Mr. Tuller through the <a href=\"http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Wounded Warrior Project</a> and asked if Compass would like to donate a solar pool heater.\r\n\r\nWhen Compass approached us, it was never a question of \"how much\" of this project Aquatherm felt comfortable donating towards; it was more like \"where do we send the collectors?\" Compass donated the labor and piping needed to complete the installation.\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"865,864,866\"]\r\n\r\nYou never read about this, at least not from any press release that Aquatherm did, because we didn’t do one. If you know anything about Aquatherm’s charitable giving, it’s that we do it quietly, only saying something in order to inspire others to do the same.\r\n\r\nIf you come across a situation where a charitable gift of a warm, solar heated pool would make a difference, keep us in mind. We maintain an inventory of fully-warranted factory seconds for just such special occasions.\r\n<h3>QuickMount PV Flashing</h3>\r\nAlso at this years meeting, Marshall Green from QuickMount PV previewed their new flashing specifically designed for Aquatherm’s Eagle Claw stainless steel mounting hardware. Thanks to the PV industry, we’ve been seeing more requests from building inspectors around the country requesting PV type flashings for the thermal industry. Unfortunately, “but this is the way we’ve been doing it for 35 years” just isn’t the right answer sometimes.\r\n\r\nThe first of the new flashings were recently installed by Solar Living under the guidance of Marshall. Rich Bonte, of Sun Source, Aquatherm’s distributor here in New Jersey, and by his own admission perhaps one of he biggest skeptics there ever was, joined in to photograph the event.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[gallery ids=\"873,874,876,875,877,878\"]\r\n\r\nThough Solar Living took their time, the installation of the flashings didn’t take nearly as long as they had imagined. Along the way, they also discovered that the outlet header flashing served double-duty as a mount for their return line. Another benefit was that the top flashing was just long enough to slide under the top hose and protect the roof from expansion and contraction. Rich is now sold that the QuickMount PV flashing can be part of a unique upsell package that will give his dealers another advantage over the competition.\r\n<h3>New Ratings / ISO 9806</h3>\r\nJust about all major manufacturers have had most of their products tested under the new ISO 9806 test protocol by now. Compared to the old ASRAE 96-80 standard, the new ISO standard is considered much more real world by incorporating three set wind speeds instead of simply being tested at a wind speed of under 3 mph as ASRAE 96-80 specifies. Ultrasun, Ecosun and our other center-web products were tested last fall and their new ratings are currently available with IAPMO and shortly with SRCC and FSEC. The SI collector is slated to be on the test stand this fall at TUV in Tempe, Arizona for its ISO 9806 testing.\r\n<h3>IAPMO vs. SRCC</h3>\r\nSo IAPMO now certifies solar collector performance? For over 30 years one company has had a virtual monopoly on national collector performance certification here in the US. Now there’s a new kid on the solar thermal ratings block. IAPMO has listed solar collectors for over 30 years by verifying that a collector was in fact tested and had passed the test. But now by also verifying the performance component of the testing, IAPMO is finally giving manufacturers a choice. As IAPMO gains acceptance, Aquatherm will continue to maintain both its IAPMO and SRCC certifications. There could wind up being some slight variances in the performance matrix between the two agencies, but I wouldn’t expect anything substantial.\r\n<h3>Sensor and Control Testing / Pentair sensor</h3>\r\nIt all started with an email from our SI distributor in Peru this January who also happens to purchase the Pentair Solar Touch control for his systems.\r\n<blockquote>“The solar sensors that have been sent with the new Pentair Solar Touch Control System have failed several times. It seems the problem is the color: the old sensor was black and the new one is grey; when the wind blows by this new sensor, it becomes cold and does not activate the system even if the sun is shining at the same time. Maybe another solution is to paint the sensors in black… what do you think about it?”</blockquote>\r\nWhat do I think about a grey solar sensor? The first thing I did was check our inventory and sure enough, both sensors were grey at best - more like off-white. The second thing I did was call our good friend Steve Peake at Pentair to let them know they made a mistake in packaging. Steve replied that it wasn’t’ a mistake - their engineers had determined that the solar sensor just needed to be a temperature sensor and in order to make all their sensors the same, they choose an off-white color. It’s nearly five months later and Pentair is finally about to send out some samples of a black solar sensor. This prompted us to start our own project of comparing all the available sensors in the market not just to each other, but to different collectors and determining what sensor and turn-on / turn-off differential would work best with each of our collector designs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Layout-Test2-1024x295.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"184\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOur early results just comparing sensors showed some pretty startling results. As you’d expect, the Pentair off-white sensor read just above ambient air temperature. In other words, even if the sensor reached more than six degrees over the pool water temperature, a light breeze or clouds were enough to make the system cycle off.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_881\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"640\"]<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17.png\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-881\" alt=\"Sensor Testing May 17\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sensor-Testing-May-17-1024x791.png\" width=\"640\" height=\"494\" /></a> Click to enlarge[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">One other thing that we’re learning is what we all would have expected; the aluminum mass of the painted black Heliotrope sensor skipped over the momentary lows caused by clouds and wind which kept the system from cycling all day.</p>\r\nNext, we’ll be testing for a delta-T across the system and comparing it to what the sensors are telling the control to do. We’ll let you know what we find.\r\n<h3>Last Call for Paradise</h3>\r\n<a href=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-887 alignright\" alt=\"Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica\" src=\"http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Riu_Guanacaste_Costa_Rica-300x200.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong> </strong>Aquatherm’s 2013 Summer Sales Retreat along Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific coastline is just two months away and before we let go the last few of our block of rooms at our group rate, we’re just asking one more time if you’d like to join us. The dates are July 28<sup>th</sup> to August 2<sup>nd</sup>. If you’d like more information on rates, please give Pat or myself a call. If you want to check for airfare, the local airport is Liberia (LIR).\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Buck Stops Here - May 2013','','inherit','open','open','','860-revision-16','','','2013-05-29 14:44:17','2013-05-29 14:44:17','',860,'http://www.aquathermindustries.com/portal/news/?p=896',0,'revision','',0),