Starlite SL Series Residential Solar Thermal Collectors
The Starlite SL Series is AET's residential flat plate solar collector, designed to offset the energy cost of heating water in homes of all sizes. The SL integrates into a residential solar water heating system to pre-heat water before it reaches your conventional water heater, reducing the amount of energy that equipment needs to do its job. The result is a lower utility bill with no change to how hot water is used or accessed in the home.
How the Starlite SL Collector Is Built
The Starlite SL is available with either a copper or aluminum absorber plate, both featuring a selective coating that improves solar energy absorption across a wide range of conditions. The selective coating allows the absorber to capture heat efficiently without re-radiating it back into the environment, which is what separates a high-performance flat plate collector from a basic one.
The collector is enclosed in a tempered glass glazed panel set within a heavy-duty aluminum frame. The glazing reduces heat loss from the absorber surface while protecting the internal components from weather exposure. The aluminum frame is built for long-term outdoor installation and does not require painting, sealing, or corrosion treatment over its service life.
For installation, the Starlite SL can be mounted directly on a rooftop, configured on a ground mount, or connected into an existing residential water heating setup. The installation approach is determined by your roof orientation, available space, and daily hot water load, which our team assesses during the system design process.
Residential Solar Water Heating Systems for Every Property Type
The Starlite SL Series is sized and configured to match the hot water demand of the property it serves. Residential solar water heating systems are not one-size-fits-all, and the number of collectors, storage tank capacity, and system configuration all vary based on household size, climate, and usage patterns. Below are the primary property types where we install the Starlite SL.
Single-Family Homes
For a single-family home, a Starlite SL system is typically configured with one or two collectors feeding a solar storage tank that pre-heats water before it enters the existing water heater. The existing water heater remains in place as a backup for periods of low solar availability. Most single-family installations see a meaningful reduction in the share of water heating costs covered by electricity or gas on an annual basis.
Multi-Family Properties
Apartments, condominiums, and townhomes with shared hot water systems can benefit from a larger Starlite SL array sized to meet the combined demand of the building. Multi-family residential solar water heating systems are designed with a central storage and distribution configuration, which allows one system to serve multiple units without requiring individual installations per unit. The economics of multi-family solar water heating typically favor larger arrays where the energy offset is spread across a higher base of daily hot water use.
Residential Pool and Spa Heating
The Starlite SL can also be configured for pool and spa heating, maintaining water temperature using solar energy instead of gas or electric pool heaters. In climates where outdoor pools are used for a defined season, a solar thermal system can cover the heating load for that entire period with no ongoing fuel cost. For year-round pools in warmer regions, the system reduces the energy draw on conventional equipment significantly over time.
SRCC OG-100 Certification and Residential Incentive Documentation
The Starlite SL Series is SRCC OG-100 certified, which is the independently verified performance and quality rating used by many state, utility, and local solar incentive programs in the United States. This certification confirms that the collector has been tested against established thermal performance and durability standards.
Residential solar water heating incentives vary by location, program, installation date, system configuration, and homeowner eligibility. While the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit previously applied to qualified solar water heating property, the IRS states that the credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Homeowners should confirm current federal, state, utility, and local programs before finalizing a project budget.
For those evaluating the Starlite SL in detail, we provide a full Specification Sheet, Collector Warranty documentation, the AET Solar Collectors Manual, and the Starlite Series Brochure. These are available for download directly from this page to support product review, permitting, rebate applications, and project planning.
Talk to AET About a Residential Solar Water Heating System
If you are considering the Starlite SL Series for your home or residential property, our team can size the system to your daily hot water demand and identify the financial incentives available in your area. Contact us to get started with a site evaluation and cost estimate.
Starlite Series Documentation
Frequently Asked Questions
The number of collectors depends on your household's daily hot water demand, your geographic location, and the available roof or ground space. As a general reference, a two-to-four person household in a sun-rich climate may be adequately served by one or two collectors, while larger households or properties in less sunny regions may require additional panels. AET sizes each system individually based on your specific load and site conditions rather than applying a standard formula.
Both options in the Starlite SL use a selective coating that improves thermal performance, but the base material differs. Copper absorbers offer slightly higher thermal conductivity, which can improve heat transfer efficiency. Aluminum absorbers are lighter and may be preferred in installations where weight is a consideration or where cost is a factor. Our team can help you determine which absorber option makes more sense for your specific installation.
Flat plate solar thermal collectors like the Starlite SL continue to absorb solar radiation on cloudy days, though output is reduced compared to direct sunlight. The system is designed to work alongside a conventional water heater, which handles demand during periods of low solar availability. In most U.S. climates, a properly sized solar water heating system can meet a significant portion of annual hot water demand even accounting for seasonal variation in sunlight.
Yes. The most common residential configuration is a solar pre-heat system, where the Starlite SL collectors heat water that flows into a dedicated solar storage tank before entering your existing water heater. Your conventional water heater stays in place and functions as backup. This setup avoids the cost of replacing working equipment and is straightforward to integrate into most residential plumbing configurations.
Most residential rooftops can accommodate a Starlite SL installation, though the ideal conditions are a south-facing roof with a pitch between 15 and 45 degrees and no significant shading from trees or adjacent structures. Ground mounts are also available for properties where the roof orientation or structural condition is not ideal. AET conducts a site evaluation as part of the project scoping process to confirm suitability before any installation begins.
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