Sweet Solar Home

September 2, 2010

This is the first guest blog post from Wako Takayama, sustainability consultant and author of Everyday Sustainable. Wako is committed to living and working sustainably and helps companies develop sustainable products and services.

When people find out that I have a passion for energy efficiency and have been conducting basic residential energy efficiency audits (as a volunteer with Acterra Green@Home HouseCall,) they often ask what they can do to be more efficient at home.

Talking about CFLs is easy because you can see them and you can tell when they are on and using electricity. Not so with so many of the other electronics products plugged into our homes.

A recent study of energy usage in Minnesota shows that “Home electronics is a growing portion of each household’s electricity usage, close to 20 percent.” In 1980, the average home had three electronic devices. We might guess a TV, stereo/radio and how about a blender?

These days, think about all the gadgets plugged in around a typical house. And we keep bringing new ones home, eager to try out the new computer, brew a cup of coffee or play the latest video game. The last thing on our minds is wasted electricity and how to manage it.

But it turns out that a lot of these things are drawing power even though we don’t see it–for example when electronics are is “standby mode.”  And then there are the things that we forget are even plugged in because we don’t use them, like that extra fridge out in the garage that is empty except for a couple liters of soda left over from last Thanksgiving.

The Minnesota study names 5 low-cost and no-cost energy reducing opportunities:

1. Enable computer power management [in other words, make sure your computer goes to sleep or hibernates automatically after it hasn't been used for a while ]
2. Manually unplug devices that draw standby power when not in use
3. Manually turn off devices that are left on but not used
4. Use “smart” power strips to eliminate standby power consumption of peripherals (e.g., a DVD player) when the main device (e.g. television) is turned off
5. Use timers to eliminate electricity use by devices that are only used at certain times of day

So here is what I suggest for cutting down wasted electricity at home. Walk around your house and give it a one-time plug load audit. A device like a Kill-a-Watt can help you “see” the watts used by a device when it’s on and off and on standby. You can also feel the heat on devices that are drawing power when they are “off.” As you review the devices in your house, consider which of the opportunities above might work for it. And don’t forget to do this every time you bring home your next latest-and-greatest-gadget.

The study was conducted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. To read the full report of the study and video presentations, go to http://www.ecw.org/plugload.

September 2, 2010

Last weekend, I was in Minnesota, where I had the chance to visit the “Great Minnesota Get Together”, also known as the Minnesota State Fair.  There was a lot of buzz around solar power and the excitement was absolutely infectious!  If one thing was clear, it’s that people are extremely curious about new ways to get energy.  Luckily, the number of available resources is quickly growing!

One of the main attractions at the Minnesota State Fair was an expo hall dedicated to smart homes, including homes powered by solar, called the Eco Experience Building.  Inside the Eco Experience Building, there were several demo homes outfitted with smart solutions like cork flooring and no-VOC wallpaper.  One of the demo homes also had an entire room dedicated to home solar, with presentations, displaying information about everything from solar monitoring to solar panel equipment to solar power inverters.

Here are some of the audience’s questions from one of the smart home sessions I attended:

Do solar panels work in the harsh winters?
Solar PV Panels depend on sunlight, not heat. Production does decrease in the winter because of the shorter length of the day, but this can be accounted for and planned for when you size your system. If the panels are covered in snow, that can slow or stop can stop production, but snow generally slides off the angled panels or melts when the sun shines.  Professionally installed panels from a quality local installer will account for resistance to high winds if that is a threat.  In extreme weather situation, if panels are damaged, sometimes that is covered by a warranty or if you purchase insurance.

Can I make money by selling extra power back to the grid?
Yes and no. Local utilities have varying policies on buying back power from residential customers. In Minnesota, utility customers with a grid-tied solar system earn credits from the utility company when they generate more electricity than they use. These credits are based on market value, and they reduce a customer’s electric bill.  The concept of making a bunch of cash by putting in a big array and selling power back to the utility is a misconception in most cases.

Solar was featured in other parts of the Eco Experience Building, as well.  There were displays from Fifty Lanterns International, a solar charity, an interactive area sponsored by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, as well as a solar boat on display!  The curiosity and creativity buzzing around solar was thrilling; it was wonderful to see how solar technology is spreading across the country.  The Minnesota State Fair ends this Labor day, September 6, so be sure to check it out and visit the Eco Experience Building this weekend!

Curious about going solar in your home? Check out our Solar By Location pages to learn more about solar in your state!

When my husband and I came home from work last week, we made a point to swing by our electrical panel where we had had some work done while we were out.  ”We’ve been Smart Metered!!” we exclaimed simultaneously when we saw the digital display on our meter.

All evening, I went on the offense, flicking off switches and setting dimmers to the low setting. I was convinced that I was doing my part to save energy, and save the world.  But, as much of a difference as I’d like to think flipping off a light switch makes, the sad truth is that the effect of such a small action is negligible.  While this form of thought may be mistaken, it’s widespread among most Americans, according to a recent survey conducted by the Earth Institute at Columbia University.  505 participants across 34 states were surveyed to reveal that most Americans don’t really understand how to best save energy — 20% of them chose switching off lights as the best way to save energy. Not to say that we should all stop turning off lights, but there are a lot more actions we can take that are significantly more impactful. Surprisingly, though, the more effective energy saving practices – like using more efficient appliances, buying efficient cars, and weatherizing the home-  had six to ten times fewer responses each than switching off the light.

My new Smart Meter definitely triggered my knee-jerk reaction to energy conservation, but I know that is not the smartest approach over time to reduce my carbon footprint.  Instead, my husband and I should prioritize our weatherization project, which we’d discussed but hadn’t started.  If I actually want to make a noticeable dent in our energy consumption, I have to start looking at more important home improvements, such as home solar and weatherization. And with easy and affordable solar plans from SunRun, sometimes saving energy is just as easy as flipping a switch.

August 20, 2010

Is saving energy as easy as flipping a switch? Yes, according to most Americans, contrary to expert findings. A new survey by the Earth Institute at Columbia University found that most American’s don’t really understand the best ways to save energy. 505 participants across 34 states were asked about their perceptions of their energy consumption and savings for a variety of activities and 30% of them chose switching off lights as the best way to save energy. Only a minority chose energy efficiency improvements, such as energy efficient appliances, cars, and home weatherization, which actually make a much bigger difference than switching off lights. The study concludes by suggesting that perhaps it’s time for the government, media, and scientists to rethink and revamp how they communicate energy conservation and climate change. We agree.

Speaking of lights, Enertia Engineering in Canada has designed the “first commercially available fully-integrated solar powered street light.”  The best part of this design is that it’s completely self-contained with no need for external wiring, mounting, or installation. You simply connect the battery to the solar cell, then attach the structure to any pole.  The street light, called EnerSolar, is compact, highly efficient, and provides 3 full nights of light on a single charge. Since EnerSolar uses a battery, though, it’s best for places that don’t get too cold (below 14 degrees Fahrenheit).

Sometimes flipping the switch can make a difference. On Thursday, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland flipped the switch on Wyandot Solar Farm, Ohio’s largest solar farm to date. At 12MW and 159,000 solar panels, the facility will generate enough energy to supply more than 9,000 homes with clean solar power. New Jersey energy firm, Public Service Enterprise Group, owns the plant and will be selling power to American Electric Power subsidiaries via a long-term power purchase agreement.

Solar power’s becoming the law in Illinois, with the signing of a new regulation that requires the state’s utilities to purchase up to 6% of their power from clean solar energy sources. The law states that a half of a percent of power provided by Illinois utilities must be solar power by June 2010. This percentage will double every year until it reaches 6% in 2015. Governor Pat Quinn estimates that this law is expected to create over 5,000 jobs in the Illinois solar power industry.

August 19, 2010

Let’s be honest – in our current economic climate, undertaking extensive home renovation projects is probably not on the top of your list.  Consider saving the new fireplace or the underground swimming pool project for another year in favor of one home improvement that will not only drastically increase your property value, but also help you sell your home faster: installing solar panels.

Why does solar increase your home value?

Imagine that your electricity was going to get more expensive and your utility would raise its rates at any given time. Imagine that national demand for that expensive electricity was going to keep growing, and had already grown 25% since 1990.  Finally, imagine that generating this traditional, expensive electricity was creating pollution and hurting the environment.

You’re not imagining. The above are all realities that explain why solar homes sell faster, and for more money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, a solar home will sell twice as quickly as a home without solar.

Want to learn more? Read SunRun’s newest report on the impact of solar panels on the value of your home: Solar Home Value – SunRun Report.

August 17, 2010

Editor’s Note: In light of SunRun’s recent launch in Pennsylvania, we’ve decided to write a series of blog posts focusing on the energy situation in the keystone state. This is the first of the series, and it will focus on the widespread practice of fracking.

Can you light your tap water on fire? If you live in Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance that your water is about to combust. This is because of the dangerous and toxic practice of “fracking.”

What is fracking? Short for Hydraulic Fracturing, fracking is the process of injecting millions of gallons of sand and chemicals (many of them toxic) into the earth and extremely high temperatures to break up rock formations, and release the natural gas inside.

Why is fracking dangerous? The natural gas that’s released by fracking must be piped to compressor stations before they can be sent to power plants and other end consumers of energy. At these compressor stations, the volatile organic compounds and dangerous chemicals are burned off into the air. The remaining fracking fluid is stored on-site as wastewater; part of the wastewater evaporates into the air, and the rest stays underground. Toxic gases and chemicals can and have contaminated nearby water supplies.

Fracking can devastates communities. Earlier this year, Vanity Fair covered the dangers of fracking in the small Pennsylvanian town of Dimock. Over the last two years, Dimock’s fresh water aquifer became severely contaminated, turning the water brown and making residents sick. One woman’s water spontaneously burst into flames and animals began losing their fur. High levels of iron, aluminum, and methane were found in people’s water wells, causing dizziness, sores, tumors, neurological impediments, among other health problems.

In addition, fracking is extremely energy intensive. Three to eight millions of gallons of water are used for every shale-gas well and fleets of trucks used to ferry the fracking fluid.

Why all the fuss now? Fracking has been practiced for many decades and the impact can be seen all over the West, including Colorado and New Mexico.  But, talk of fracking in the Marcellus Shale has renewed interest, and fear, in the region. The Barnett Formation shales in Texas is currently the most prolific source of unconventional gas in the continental U.S. The Marcellus Shale covers several times more area than the Barnett, stretching 600 miles to Barnett’s 170.

Although many people promote the use of natural gas because it supposedly burns more cleanly than coal or oil, its supplies are finite, which means that much of that natural gas has to be accessed by fracking. 90% of all gas and oil wells currently use fracking.

In a 2004 study, the Environmental Protection Agency gave fracking a clean bill of health. This finding was immediately questioned and Weston Wilson, a former E.P.A official, immediately blew the whistle, calling the study “unsupportable.” The E.P.A is undertaking a new study, to begin in early 2011, and the response has already been overwhelming. According to a Huffington Post editorial by Michael Brune, the executive director of the Sierra Club, a public hearing in Syracuse, NY was postponed because officials were concerned that the venue wouldn’t be able to hold the 8,000+ citizens expected to show up. Back in July, a ballroom set up for 800 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, overflowed with stakeholders both against and in support of fracking. And just last week, the New York Governor David Patterson stated that there would be no fracking in New York’s Marcellus shale region unless it could be proven that the water supplies would be safe.

Where does that leave Pennsylvania? The state’s fracking industry is pushing for the enactment of a law that would force Pennsylvania property owners to sell their natural gas rights to a drilling company, if their neighbors were doing it, too. This is called a pooling bill. Although no pooling bills have been introduced to Pennsylvania legislature yet, several bills are in the drafting stages.

According to a report by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, there have been 1,435 violations by 43 different Marcellus Shale drilling companies since January 2008. 952 of them were identified as impacting the environment. Another analysis by Clean Water Action reports 565 violations at Marcellus Shale gas drilling sites just between January 1^st and June 18^th of this year.

With the demand for energy growing exponentially, it’s important that we identify new and viable sources of energy. Brune says it best: “We need to reach a clean-energy future, but let’s do it without destroying communities and ecosystems along the way.” We here at SunRun wholeheartedly agree and are ready to get the nation there with clean, renewable home solar power.

August 17, 2010

If you’ve been wondering whether solar is right for your home, check out some of the upcoming community solar events hosted by HelioPower, one of our trusted installer partners. You can learn how to take control of your rising electricity bills and talk to other homeowners in an informal and informative session about going solar. Solar experts will be present to answer any of your questions and help you determine if solar can help you reduce your electric bill.

Here’s a schedule of events, and you can register your seat on the  HelioPower website. All events are free and begin at 6:30pm.

• Tuesday, August 17 – Tierrasanta Library, San Diego, CA
• Wednesday, August 18 – Historic Community Room, Corona, CA
• Wednesday, August 25 – Joslyn Senior Center, Redlands, CA
• Wednesday, September 1, 2010 – Valley Center Library, CA

The first step towards going solar is making sure solar is right for your home, so be sure to attend if you’re interested in home solar power!

August 16, 2010

For the past six years, Bob Schildgen has been writing the popular environmental advice column, Hey Mr. Green, for Sierra, the national magazine of the Sierra Club.”  He often receives questions from his readers about getting solar for their homes. Curious, we asked Mr. Green to guestblog for Sweet Solar Home and let us in on some of the most frequently asked questions about home solar power. This is his first SunRun guest post, but we hope not the last!

“I’d like to go solar, but it seem to cost so much. Does it really pay? What can I do to reduce the price of solar? I don’t seem to have enough room on my roof to meet our needs.” These are the most common questions I get about solar from the readers of the environmental advice column I write for Sierra, the national magazine of the Sierra Club.

I don’t answer these questions right away, for the simple reason that most people don’t know how much solar capacity they really need to purchase, and they often overestimate their actual requirements. So, I recommend that before installing solar, they carefully monitor their electricity consumption and take steps to reduce it as much as possible. Most households use far more power than they really need. For example, in the U.S. we use about twice as much electricity per capita as, for example, Germany or Italy. Air-conditioning accounts for over 30

Two uses, which are extremely easy to reduce, air-conditioning, account for over 30% of average household electricity consumption.

There are many excellent, common-sense sources for information on reducing electrical (and all other) energy consumption, including tips from the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE). (If this country were to follow the energy advice and energy policies advocated by ACEEE we wouldn’t have to build another power plant, let alone some of the nuclear monstrosities that have been proposed.)

Once you’ve slashed your electricity use by following as much of this free advice as possible, your usage in kilowatt hours should be substantially reduced.  This will be obvious when you compare bills from the same periods of the year before you tightened things up. (If you want to find out instantly how much you’ve managed to cut your use, there are now a number of power monitors available.)

After this, you might be surprised to find that home solar is more affordable than you thought, and that you, in fact, have plenty of space for it.

Once you have determined how much solar power you truly need, it is important to take advantage of all incentives in state, local, and federal tax breaks, or rebates. For example, you can get a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of a solar electric system. (For details on this, and all other types of federal tax credits, see the U.S. Department of Energy’s Consumer Energy Tax Incentives. Your prospective solar company should be able to provide up-to-date information on every aspect of solar economics.)

You can also get a rough estimate of costs by using online solar calculators, but local installers will also be able to give you a precise estimate.

August 13, 2010

This week’s news is a bit California-centric, but it’s been an exciting week for clean energy in California!

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has created a new interactive map highlighting California’s fast growing green economy. You can search the map by different types of green businesses – green buildings, energy generation, energy efficiency, transportation, green practices, academic/government/non-profit, and carbon markets.  You can even filter your results by county, senate district, or assembly district. Check out the green economic growth in your district! Here’s SunRun:

According to The New York Times, Southern California is poised to become the world’s solar power capital as Tessera Solar and BrightSource Energy Inc received their final environmental impact statements (EISs) from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for their solar plants, planned to be built in eastern San Bernardino County. These final EISs represent the removal of the last major regulatory hurdle to getting their solar plans off the ground. Tessera Solar’s two plants and BrightSource Energy’s plants are projected to produce more than triple the amount of solar currently produced in the country. Three more plants are expected to receive their EISs by the end of August, and another three by the end of 2010. These nine California solar plants would cover 41,229 acres of federal land and be able to produce 4,580 MW of solar electricity – enough to power 3.8 million businesses and homes.

San Diego schools are going solar with power purchase agreements! The San Diego Unified School District just signed a 22 year solar power purchase agreement with Amsolar, similar to last week’s story about Arizona public schools going solar with the SRP Community solar program. 20 San Diego schools will pay Amsolar for the electricity generated by the 23,000 solar panels placed throughout 80 rooftops and 1,500 solar carports. Amsolar will own, operate, and maintain the solar systems.  Each school will get 64% of their energy from solar power.

Blast from the past? Back in the 1990s, NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) scientists developed a “transpired air” solar collector that allows commercial and industrial buildings to bring in warmed air, increasing energy efficiency during the colder, winter months. A transpired solar collector is a dark, perforated metal plate on the south side of buildings that gets heated by the sun. A fan added to a ventilation system already in place brings in pre-heated air into the building through the warmed plate. The hot plate warms the air flowing through it.  Pretty simple idea, but according to Earth Techling, one that “can efficiently preheat the air going into a building by as much as 40 degrees F.”

Why talk about this now? Because NREL is putting this technology in action for a new Research Support Facility and there’s reason to believe that it is a simple and affordable enough design to prove important to commercial/industrial buildings across the country.

August 12, 2010

New Jersey homeowners can’t get enough of residential home solar with The Home Depot and SunRun.

Over 50 homeowners flocked to a recent after-work SunRun home solar workshop at a The Home Depot store in South Plainfield, New Jersey Tuesday, August 10th. They bonded over their current electricity bills and discussed SunRun home solar plans as an affordable and renewable solution for their rising energy costs.  The interactive hour-long work-shop included a hefty question and answer session tackling some big solar questions, including:

Q: What is the best roof for solar?
A: The best roofs get several hours of sun a day, face south or southwest, and don’t have a lot of shade.

Q: How long will a home solar system last?
A: Most solar systems will last anywhere between 25 and 35 years.

Q: How long is my customer agreement and what happens at the end of it?
A: Your SunRun customer agreement lasts 20 years. At the end of your agreement, you can either purchase the solar equipment, renew your SunRun agreement, or we will remove the system at no cost to you.

Q: What if I move before the end of my SunRun agreement?
A: The solar system stays with the home. You can simply transfer the agreement to the new homeowner, who will then pay the same low rate for solar electricity, or purchase the system from SunRun and sell it with your home.

Q: How does SunRun impact my relationship with my utility company?
A: Your house will remain connected to the electricity grid and your utility for traditional electricity as needed. Your utility will credit you when your system produces more electricity than you use. You can use these credits to pull from the grid when you use more electricity than your system produces.

Learn more about going solar in New Jersey with SunRun and SunRun’s partnership with The Home Depot.