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model assemblage |
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Our solar electric system Our
photovoltaic (solar cells) system was installed and became operational in the
fall of 2005 and is a grid-tied system. This means that we don’t have
batteries to store the electricity produced. The electric output is used
immediately for household needs with the excess being ‘pushed’
onto the electrical grid for other people to use. Our electricity provider
tracks all of the electricity that we produce regardless of where it ends
ups, house or electrical grid. We actually have 2 electric meters, one sums
the electricity used in the house and the other measures the electricity
produced by our solar cells. At any time when we produce more electricity
than we are using, the household consumption meter spins backwards. There are
various state incentives and federal tax credits for the installation of
renewable energy systems. The following websites have information on these
programs: ‘Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy’ http://www.dsireusa.org and ‘Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy’ http://www.eere.energy.gov Our system
includes the following items:
Approximate
installed price: $25,000 Power output
warranteed for 20 years Our solar hot water system Our solar hot water
system was installed in July 2007. This closed loop system circulates
propylene glycol from a collection panel on the roof of the guest house to an
insulated water storage tank in the basement. The heat from the glycol will
transfer through tubing into the cold water. If there isn’t enough
sunlight in the winter months, we can flip a switch and turn the storage tank
into an electric water heater to bring the temperature up to the desired
level. It is anticipated that the water will be warmed sufficiently by the
sun so that the electric element will never run in the summer months and a
limited amount in the winter. Our system
includes the following items:
Approximate installed price: $5,000 |
