One Year Later
On June 14, 2004 in the late afternoon we turned on our system for good. We haven’t thrown the breakers since.
Tomorrow I’ll give you statistics on energy produced by the system. I believe that the total is about 6,300 kWh. I don’t have numbers on our home’s usage for the year – the first good meter reading after installation was July 2004 (PSE&G botched the June reading), so I’ll come back with more details later.
The system has been completely maintenance free. We do write down the production numbers every night for our interest, but there’s no reason to do so. The system just hums along in the basement when the sun is shining.
Systolic pressure, the upper number, measures the pressure within the arteries of the body. levitra properien So, to treat erectile dysfunction in additional info commander viagra men is very costly medicine. In recent years, cheap viagra in usa has been joined by two other drugs, levitra. The leading workers Comp cheap discount levitra doctor at Arizona Injury Medical Associates in Phoenix. The only minor annoyance is that the system disrupts AM radio. We hear what sounds like R2D2 perking away behind the radio station when the system is active. That is not usually a problem – we only listen to AM radio in the morning – but when production is high it does overpower the station sometimes.
We’ve only had one indirect complaint from a neighbor – a co-worker who knows a neighbor reported that they sometimes get sun reflected onto the front of their house in the morning. They haven’t approached us. I suspect that this will get better over time as the glass on the panels gets less smooth (though we’ll lose some power at that point as well).
Would I do it again? YES. No question about it – this helps the environment and saves us electricity costs in the long run. One unexpected savings is in air conditioning – the panels block the morning sun from reaching our attic and therefore our cooling requirements are lessened. For that reason alone, I’d love to put an array on the back of the roof as well.
Comments
One Comment on One Year Later
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amazingdrx on
Mon, 20th Jun 2005 8:47 am
http://amazngdrx.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/6/19/954588.html
“Solar cogeneration may bring residentially installed solar power down to 8 cents per kwh or less.”
I believe with the various credits that exist in your state you have achieved that cost already.
126,000 kwh over 20 years cost you 16k. Less than 8 cents per kwh. Selling those pollution credits could yield 800 bucks per year? Actually paying back the initial investment over 20 years.
With power doubling and tripling in price over the next decade due to spiraling fuel costs you are in an enviable position now! No wonder your neighbors want to check it out.
It could save the family home as energy prices, mortgage rates, and property taxes all soar.
BTW this solar cogeneration would optimize the output of your installation and also collect hot water for domestyic use, heat, or cool your home through heat adsorption air conditioning. That would replace your normal air conditioner vastly reducing your electric power needs.
Applying energy conservation is just as effective as adding more capacity. Excellent sign for the economics of renewable energy!
If a whole home appoach is taken, including lifestyle itself. Energy use can be cut to a third, then the solar or wind capacity needed can be reduced.
So energy bills go to zero from 400 per month, for instance. That alone pays for the system, without any credits. But they sure help.
Extension of credits like this and new developments like solar cogeneration will bring a whole energy package installation of wind, solar, and heat pump heating and cooling within range of a family income level with a reasonable payback period.
You are a pioneer! Good work!!
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