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For press inquiries, please contact Jared Blanton.


If SEIA Members have questions on issues relating to Environment, Health & Safety, please contact Christine Covington.


Environment, Health & Safety (EHS)

Environment, health, and safety issues encompass all issues of sustainability, including environmental and social sustainability, that arise during the lifecycle of a product. The solar industry strives to create a sustainable product for the entire lifecycle of the product. Thus, issues such as a sustainable supply chain, fire safety, solar panel recycling, and greenhouse gas emissions are a top priority. It is important that these issues be addressed proactively. Therefore, the solar industry is working to assess EHS issues, develop best practices, and pursue industry solutions to ensure sustainable business practices.

Specific priorities include:

  • Worker Safety: The health and safety of workers, both pre- and post-manufacture, is an important component of social sustainability. The solar industry is developing best practices that ensure worker health and safety, and focus on awareness and compliance with US laws and regulations.
  • Solar Panel Collection & Recycling: Solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal and concentrating solar power technologies have a life expectancy of 30 years. As the volume of solar installations in the US grows, the industry is planning ahead to create panel recycling programs.
  • Fire Safety: Firefighters often must access roof space in the course of fighting a fire. Therefore, the solar industry is researching best practices to ensure fire-fighter safety, and tracking fire incidents involving solar panels to further address concerns.
  • Managing Greenhouse Gases: Recent EPA rules have mandated tracking and reporting of identified greenhouse gas emissions. While it appears that the vast majority of solar companies are well below EPA tracking thresholds, the solar industry is developing tracking mechanisms and developing best practices to ensure awareness and compliance.
  • Lifecycle Materials Assessment: To ensure a sustainable supply chain, all materials and labor involved in creating the final product must be both socially and environmentally sustainable. Thus, the solar industry is developing best practices, researching alternate methods and materials, and lowering environmental impacts, to create a wholly sustainable product.

Recent News

On Jan. 3, 2012 SEIA's Codes & Standards Working Group submitted comments to the 2015 I-codes, building codes developed by the International Code Council. The I-codes are widely adopted throughout the U.S., and impact both residential and commercial construction. SEIA's comments serve to clarify the types of solar technology, fire testing processes, and structural loads. For more information, please contact Christine Covington at ccovington@seia.org.

On May 9, 2011 SEIA submitted comments to Senator Murkowski on the discussion draft of the Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011. The bill is intended to secure a domestic supply of Critical Materials for use in clean-energy technologies, among other uses such as defense and manufacturing. The bill is currently in draft form; official introduction is anticipated by June 2011. Read SEIA's letter to Senator Murkowski on this issue.

On March 21, 2011, SEIA submitted comments to the NEIS/NECA Standard for Installing Photovoltaic Power Systems. Read SEIA's letter to Michael Johnston, Executive Director for Standards and Safety for NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association).

On January 3, 2011, SEIA submitted comments on the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The IGCC is currently under development by the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC is a member-based organization that develops building codes, which are widely adopted throughout the U.S. The International Green Construction Code is an overlay code to the other building codes, and is intended to address environmental design, energy-efficiency, and use of renewable energy technologies in new construction.

The Environment, Health & Safety Committee reviewed the proposed code and submitted comments during the first round of public comment. Among other suggestions, SEIA's comments propose that 2% of a building's energy needs must be supplied by renewable energy, including photovoltaics and solar thermal technologies.

These comments mark SEIA's first official participation in code development. We look forward to future involvement in the code development process, which is currently being addressed by the EHS Committee. For more information, or questions/comments, please contact Christine Covington at ccovington@seia.org or 202-556-2894.

Additional Resources