Melville-based Sunshine Solar Technologies has been busy installing solar panels that keep hundreds of Long Island pools warm, even during cooler weather. We talked with the firm's president about how this sector of the solar market is heating up.

Why do you think Long Island is a good market for solar pool heaters?

Long Island is the most pool-dense area anywhere north of Florida. Long Island has about 107,000 in-ground swimming pools. That's more than New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts.

How does the amount of sun here compare to other areas?

Arizona, Nevada, Southern California and Florida are the best. But Long Island gets as much sun in terms of average radiation per day as the South and most of Texas.

Does it cost a lot to heat a pool without solar?

A lot of people don't realize an average pool has 20,000 gallons. What we hear so often is, "I have a gas or oil heater and I just don't use it." They realize how expensive it is and stop using it.

What are the benefits of solar pool heating over other heating systems?

It's cheaper. The payback is typically one to two years.

If solar pool heating is so practical, why isn't it better known?

The press hasn't publicized solar pool heating. It's not as sexy a story as solar electric. To be fair, getting the nation off of oil, solar pool heating is only going to be a small piece of it.

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