FAFCO Revolutionizes the Solar Pool Heating Industry
FAFCO was founded in 1969 by Freeman A. Ford and Richard O. Rhodes. When the company was launched, the solar pool heating industry was based on expensive, difficult to install copper glass collectors. Despite significant drawbacks, copper glass collectors had dominated solar thermal heating for a 100 years. FAFCO's vision was to replace copper glass with inexpensive, easy to install polymer collectors. FAFCO's initial vision spawned an entire industry and, today, FAFCO is the oldest and largest producer of solar pool heating panels in the United States.
FAFCO has also applied our polymer expertise to thermal energy storage (TES). FAFCO TES systems allow customers to buy inexpensive off-peak electricity at night, store the energy and then use it to cool the building in the day when electricity costs peak. In addition to saving our customers money on HVAC costs, FAFCO TES systems allow utilities to reduce peak load saving the costs associated with building new capacity.
Company Milestones
| 1972 | FAFCO incorporates |
| 1976 | FAFCO begins compounding and extruding materials in its own manufacturing plant |
| 1982 | FAFCO installs a half a million heat exchangers |
| 1986 | FAFCO receives its 21st patent, international and domestic |
| 1994 | FAFCO celebrates 25th anniversary |
| 1995 | FAFCO introduces SunSaverTM |
| 1996 | FAFCO installs one millionth solar panel and introduces the RevolutionTM Solar Panel, the highest thermal rated panel in the industry |
| 1998 | FAFCO introduces the SoloTube, a panel with independent tubes that installs easily on tile roofs and around roof obstructions |
| 2000 | FAFCO moves into a custom-built, state-of-the-art solar research, design and production facility in Chico, CA |
| 2006 | FAFCO installs 1.5 million panels worldwide |
| 2007 | FAFCO introduces Hot2O, a lightweight, do-it-yourself solar water heater |