The largest residential solar water heating project in the United States was completed in 2011 at Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. FLS Energy and Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, which develops and manages base housing for the Marines, installed 2,200 solar water heating systems on military base houses during 2010 and 2011. Each house was fitted with one panel that will heat 45-50 gallons of hot water per day, approximately three-quarters of a family’s hot water needs. The project is expected to be a model for military bases across the country.

The base signed a power-purchase agreement with FLS Energy to buy the energy produced from the solar water heating system at a price 20 per cent lower than the cost of heating with electricity from the grid.  The money saved will be put towards renovating and building new homes in the community. The project is estimated to prevent 4.9 million pounds of carbon pollution.