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Sun Volt

Sun Volt Solar

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

How long do Solar Systems last?

26 Jul 08 | Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water

That is a very common question. The answer is, it depends. Solar systems, like all other mechanical systems require some maintenance. Last week, I came across a solar hot water drain back system that was 28 years old. The great thing is, it was still working just like the day it was installed. The only problem the home owner had encountered was a bad circulator pump, which the plumber replaced.

Properly installed drain back solar hot water systems using distilled water could, in theory, last almost indefinitely. Solar Hot water systems that use antifreeze will likely last only 30 years or so. Still, that is a great payback. For either system, over the course of its operational life, it should easily pay for it self 4 to 5 times over.

Photovoltaics are said to last 25 years however, their output slowly declines over time. After 25 years, most current photovoltaic panels will be producing about 80% of their rated power. Still, that is not bad, and a well designed photovoltaic system should pay for itself at least two to three times over its operational life (with current incentives).

The advantages of renewable energy systems, for those that are in it for the long haul, are:

  1. Stabilizes energy prices at or below their current levels, gives the property owner more control over expenses.
  2. Increases the property value of the residence or building they are installed on.
  3. Reduces emissions and environmental pollutants from nearby electrical plants.
  4. Reduces overall electrical load on grid, thus reducing the need for more power plants and high tension distribution lines.
  5. Spreads out electrical generation capacity, thus making it more difficult for any one catastrophic event to cause a regional blackout (distributed generation).
  6. Reduces the use of fossil fuels and thus dependence on other countries to provide energy for us.

As you can see, there are many advantages to a solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, or microhydro system

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26 Jul 08 | Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water | Comments (0)

Waste not want not; The coming new energy age.

29 May 08 | Conservation

Energy efficiency. It is not as sexy as installing a PV or solar hot water system, it doesn’t produce power, nor is it really something that can be seen or felt. However, I begin almost every sales call with the same statement:

The first and most important part of any renewable energy system is conservation. Take any and all steps necessary to reduce your electrical and heating loads first, then consider an alternative energy system.

These steps include:

  1. Replacing inefficient appliances with Energy Star models
  2. Replacing incandescent lights with CFLs
  3. Installing timer switches on bathroom fans, heat lamps and other similar fixtures
  4. Eliminate phantom (standby) electrical loads
  5. Add installation to attic, walls and floors
  6. Increase attic ventilation to reduce summer heating load
  7. Replace old single glazed windows with double pane units

Once these steps are done, then properly sized alternative energy systems can be installed. These include:

  1. Solar Domestic Hot Water. This requires a good south facing exposure with little or no shade between the hours of 9am to 3 pm all year long.
  2. Solar How Water space heating. This requires a very well constructed house, preferably with radiant floor heating and a very good south exposure with no shading.
  3. Solar Thermal air heating units. This requires a good south facing vertical wall with no shade
  4. Photovoltaics system properly sized for 50-90 percent of annual electrical load. This requires a south facing exposure with no shade between the hours of 9am to 3pm (preferably longer) year round.
  5. Small WInd Turbine. This requires a good wind resource and zoning allowance
  6. Micro Hydro plant. If a small stream or pond is available, this is an excellent energy source.

All of these systems are called distributed power generation. The advantage of distributed power generation is that is has no transmission line losses, which can be as high as 20 percent of the total power generated. They can be operated in a stand alone situation, grid connected or a combination of the two. Two systems can be combined to generate power in a hybrid system, an example of this is a PV/wind system.

In short, a renewable energy system allows you to control your own destiny and not be in the hands of the local utility company.

We are terrible at converting energy to useful purpose, with an overall efficiency of around 35%:

us energy flow 2002

Check out the transportation sector. Cars, trucks and other vehicles are extremely inefficient, averaging around 26%. In this time of $4.00 per gallon gas, that means that for every gallon of gas you purchase, 3 dollars is burned and dissipated as waste heat.

Unfortunately, the only control an average consumer can have over the transportation industry is to purchase the most fuel efficient options available. Thus, we are at the mercy of the car companies to design more fuel efficient models if we want to own a car.

Residential energy use is a different matter. As the chart shows, the largest energy waster is electrical generation. Every homeowner can take steps to reduce their electrical load right now. Here are a few things that everyone can do little or no cost:

  1. Vacuum the refrigerator condensing coils off every 6-12 months (the condensing coils are located on the back or bottom of the unit). Make sure the unit has enough air circulation to cool the coils as needed. If the air is restricted by dirt or blocked by a wall, it can make the appliance work harder. Many freezers have a “condensation saver” setting. This is a heat strip embedded in the freezer door that uses quite a bit of power. Turn it off and wipe up the condensation with a rag every so often.
  2. Make sure that your air conditioner is in good shape. Wash the condensing coils off at least once per year, (these are located outside and can often get clogged with dirt, leaves, and other debris) change or clean the air filter too.
  3. Dishwashers should be ran only when full. Use the “air dry” or “energy saver” settings for drying the dishes.
  4. Make sure that you clothes dryer lint trap is emptied after every load. Check the vent and make sure it is not clogged with lint, clean as needed.
  5. If possible, use a clothes line to dry clothes instead of a clothes dryer
  6. Don’t use portable electric heaters if a all possible
  7. Turn the temperature on your hot water heater down, it should be high enough to be comfortable, but not scalding
  8. Replace burned out incandescent lights with CFL bulbs. Remember to dispose of the CFL bulbs properly at the end of there life.
  9. Get rid of phantom loads by unplugging them or turning them off when not in use. These include things like laptop battery chargers, cellphone chargers, TVs, VCRs, DVD players (pretty much anything with a wireless remote control) microwave ovens, etc

One thing is very clear, energy is no longer cheap and in the future may not be plentiful either. I think that most people are used to electric lights, hot and cold running water, heated or cooled buildings, cooked food, cold storage for perishables, easy transportation, easy communication, etc. Ask yourself this question, could you live without electricity for a week? A month? A year? Longer?

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29 May 08 | Conservation | Comments (0)