Durability is of great importance when considering sustainable energy systems. In turn it lays emphasis on assessing performance over time of energy systems and components. This paper presents a study on optical degradation of a building-integrated Unglazed Solar Collector (USC) surface, by exposing USC specimens to a natural and semi-natural field exposure test. Particular interest is devoted to the semi-natural field exposure test method evaluation, and the degradation of optical properties. The study showed that about 11 months of field exposure testing did not cause any significant optical (total solar absorptance and IR emittance) or material (surface coating) degradation; although measurements revealed a decrease in specular reflectance as diffuse increased. It was likely due to surface pollution that predominantly consisted of quartz. The study also showed that it is possible to achieve a considerable increased moisture exposure on test surfaces (seminatural field exposure test), through a relatively simple cooling device (Direct-Air Peltier-Element) and rough control strategy.