We are One of the Oldest and Largest Solar Thermal Manufacturers in the U.S.
We have a forty-seven year history of innovation and are one of the founding companies in the modern day solar industry.
In 1969, FAFCO® pioneered the use of engineered polymer materials for solar pool heating. Our technology replaced expensive, difficult to install copper technology with inexpensive , customer friendly polymers. Since it's inception, FAFCO has sold nearly 2 million engineered polymer heat exchangers. FAFCO products have been installed on approximately 200,000 customer's homes.
5 nuclear powerplants
Since inception, FAFCO has sold nearly 2 million polymer heat exchangers worldwide. When taken together, the power produced by all of those heat exchangers is equivalent to the output of 5 nuclear power plants.
CoolPV Delivers up to 4x the Power of Stand Alone Solar Panels
CoolPV combines solar thermal and solar electric technology to create a cleaner, more efficient and economical way to generate power.
Our CoolPV system combines a solar electric panel with one of our polymer heat exchangers, The polymer heat exchanger cools the solar electric panel, increasing it's electrical output from 2% to 20%, depending on the application. Our CoolPV system can convert 60% of the sun’s energy into usable power compared to approximately 20% for PV alone.
Annual System Energy Performance based on 400sqft pool in Sacramento, CA.
11,317 kWh1
Energy Production
1. Twenty-eight 275W PV modules.
14,771 kWh 2
Energy Production
2. Six 4' x 10' Sunsaver ST pool heating panels.
28,051 kWh 3
Energy Production
3. Twenty-eight CoolPV modules.

60%
of sun's energy can be converted into power
50%+
Approximate savings on electric bill
How it Works
CoolPV delivers up to 4x the power of a stand alone solar electric system using the same roof space.
We first combined solar thermal and solar electric into one panel in the late 1990’s. Development was restarted with a US Navy contract in 2012. CoolPV is tested, certified, class A fire rated, and locally code compliant. It was introduced to the market in late 2015.
More Power From Your Roof
CoolPV combines solar thermal and solar electric into one panel—maximizing the power produced by your scarce roof space. CoolPV can adapt to any roof structure.
Enhance the Electrical Output of your Solar Electric System
The polymer heat exchangers in CoolPV cool your solar electric panels increasing their electrical output from 2% to 20% depending on the application.
$6,996,400
In (Fiscal Year) 2015 Total Revenue
We're not a startup—and we have the experience and the revenue to prove it.
Before our pivot in 2015, FAFCO had a forty year history of leading the solar thermal industry and heating the pools of nearly 200,000 customers across the U.S. CoolPV is ideal for other water heating applications like laundromats, food processing, and domestic water heating. Already, CoolPV is being enthusiastically received by our loyal customers.

We Want to Power the Everyday Task
CoolPV has the potential to not only heat pools and water for homes, but also provide heated fluids in commercial and industrial applications. Our grand vision is to deliver as much renewable energy to customers as possible, providing affordable energy for the everyday tasks you don't even think about: laundry, showers, food processing, and more.
Laundromats
- Military
- Hotels
- Dorms
Showers
- Hotels
- Dorms
- Multi-Unit Housing
Food Processing
- Hotels
- Cafeterias
- Industrial
Swimming Pools
- Residential
- Hotels
- Gyms
A leader in the Solar Thermal Industry for Over 40 Years
FAFCO is one of the largest and oldest solar thermal manufacturers in the U.S. We're now leveraging that experience and network to bring CoolPV nationwide.
Founded by Freeman Ford and Richard Rhodes in 1969
Incorporated in 1972, FAFCO pioneered the nascent US solar thermal industry.
Sold our first $10M in solar pool heating product
Freeman Ford was inducted into the California Solar Energy Industry Association (CalSEIA) hall of fame.
Thermal Energy Storage Icestor.com
FAFCO polymer heat exchangers are adapted for use as thermal batteries. Here, electricity is stored as ice for use when electricity prices are most expensive.
Sold first $100M in solar pool heating sales
Completed the first CoolPV R&D program.
Freeman Ford was inducted into the International Solar Hall of Fame
One of only 47 individuals inducted into the hall since its founding in 1976.
Started the NREL / Navy / Guam CoolPV proof of concept contract.
This research would form the basis for our current product: CoolPV.
FAFCO introduced CoolPV
A commercially viable enhanced solar electric system that heats water and generates electricity using the same panel on the same roof space.
CoolPV Sales Increase Tenfold
CoolPV sales increased to $570K through our dealer-direct sales channel.
Plan to establish our first international CoolPV licensee for regional commercial CoolPV applications.
Plan to triple the number of dealers in our US network.
Help Us Energize the Future
I have always been fascinated by solar energy. If we covered a very small percentage of the Sahara Desert, say 5%, with solar panels we could power the entire planet with the sun. With a goal of removing myself from the grid, starting with the energy I use to heat my pool, I founded FAFCO in 1969. Since the beginning, we’ve been focused on delivering the most efficient form of solar energy – solar thermal – especially for use in pool heating. If you added up the energy generation of all the solar collectors my company has produced in its history, it would equal the output of five nuclear power plants.
Today, solar electric or PV dominates the conversation about solar. While I really like solar electric, it only converts about 20% of the sun’s energy into usable power for a home. It also takes up a lot of valuable solar roof space. Solar pool heating can convert about 70% of the sun’s energy to heat a pool, but it can’t generate electricity to run my TV or my microwave. What if we had a product that could combine solar electric and solar thermal into one panel and deliver the most usable power from our scarce and valuable roof space? If this new product could also cool the solar electric panel, we could increase the electrical output of the panel by another 20%.
After over a decade of hard work, my company has found the answer. In 2015, we introduced a truly innovative product called CoolPV. CoolPV can produce up to four times the power of a solar electric system alone. I installed my CoolPV system last year and I find it almost addictive to watch my power meter say “power received” - just ask my wife! I’m also closer than ever to being off the grid. If you’d like to join the energy independence crusade, then you have to have a CoolPV system.
Thank you,

Freeman A. Ford
Founder and Chairman of FAFCO Inc.
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