Solar
First and foremost, what is solar energy?
Solar energy is the general term used for capturing and using the sun's energy to perform useful work, such as producing heating for homes or businesses or converting the sun’s energy into electricity. Solar thermal energy systems usually use rooftop panels to produce
hot water or hot air for heating. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems use photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
hot water or hot air for heating. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems use photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar energy is the wave of the future and we know that getting started can be a daunting task. We have learned from trial and error but have come to learn the best ways for getting the best out of your panels. This workshop is 2 hours in duration.
What you will learn:
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2021 Class dates:March TBD
September TBD |
"I attended Shannon and Tony's solar panel workshop today and learned so much! I found them to be a unique and inspiring pair of people who have changed their surroundings to fit their lifestyle of homesteading in the city. They have so much knowledge and wisdom to share and so I'll definitely be back to learn as much as I can. Thank you!" ~ H. Sullivan
"I attended the solar panel workshop yesterday. It was a great introduction to the topic! Thank you so much for offering it. Their urban farm is very impressive!" ~ M. Bunce
Reasons to go with solar:
* Reduce your carbon footprint - If you simply want to go solar to tread more lightly on the Earth, good – any size array will do that. And the environmental benefits can be predicted. Over its 30-year useful life, a typical 5-kilowatt residential solar array has an environmental benefit equivalent to planting 36 acres of trees. That typical array will displace the following pollution that would otherwise be produced by coal-fired power plants:
* Produce enough energy to support my home:
Producing more solar electricity than your house consumes is technically possible, but it doesn’t make financial sense for most people. So it’s a common practice to size an array to all or part of the average annual household/facility demand for electricity.
Keep in mind that we’re talking about a grid-tied solar system. Think of the utility grid as your battery backup, absorbing your excess solar energy and providing when the solar isn’t producing enough. A grid-tie system meets your demand on average; an off-grid system has to be designed to meet your peak demand.
*To reduce my electric bill:
That is on many people's minds today.
* Getting off the grid:
If getting rid of your utility bill altogether is your goal, then what you really need is a battery bank. Solar is a good way to do that, and can be used in conjunction with other forms of renewable energy, such as wind or a micro-hydroturbine, as well as a generator. But now it’s the battery bank that has to be sized according to usage, with the solar array being sized to the battery bank.
* Provide electric energy during a power outage:
If your goal is power during a power outage, then you don’t need solar – you need batteries, or at least a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for computers and other specific equipment. And you can use the grid to charge them, but solar panels are often installed to do that.
* Reduce your carbon footprint - If you simply want to go solar to tread more lightly on the Earth, good – any size array will do that. And the environmental benefits can be predicted. Over its 30-year useful life, a typical 5-kilowatt residential solar array has an environmental benefit equivalent to planting 36 acres of trees. That typical array will displace the following pollution that would otherwise be produced by coal-fired power plants:
- 270,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas.
- 1,250 pounds of sulfur dioxide, the primary cause of acid rain.
- 400 pounds of nitrous oxide, a primary contributor to ground-level ozone (smog)
* Produce enough energy to support my home:
Producing more solar electricity than your house consumes is technically possible, but it doesn’t make financial sense for most people. So it’s a common practice to size an array to all or part of the average annual household/facility demand for electricity.
Keep in mind that we’re talking about a grid-tied solar system. Think of the utility grid as your battery backup, absorbing your excess solar energy and providing when the solar isn’t producing enough. A grid-tie system meets your demand on average; an off-grid system has to be designed to meet your peak demand.
*To reduce my electric bill:
That is on many people's minds today.
* Getting off the grid:
If getting rid of your utility bill altogether is your goal, then what you really need is a battery bank. Solar is a good way to do that, and can be used in conjunction with other forms of renewable energy, such as wind or a micro-hydroturbine, as well as a generator. But now it’s the battery bank that has to be sized according to usage, with the solar array being sized to the battery bank.
* Provide electric energy during a power outage:
If your goal is power during a power outage, then you don’t need solar – you need batteries, or at least a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for computers and other specific equipment. And you can use the grid to charge them, but solar panels are often installed to do that.
We also offer solar set-up services
Solar systems are priced by the watt of installed capacity. That's based on the rating of the panels, which expresses how many watts of direct current they produce at standard test conditions. It's a handy way of talking about an array and sizing its components, but its not the same thing as how many kilowatt-hours of alternating current it will produce or even what the arrays output will be in actual use.
The installation price of solar systems has come down drastically in the last 40 years, primarily driven by the declining cost of the solar panel themselves. As conventional silicon PV technology matured in the first decade of the 21st century the installed cost per watt finally hit single digits. And as demand increases, economies of scale will drive the cost down further.
We will come and estimate the size of your home to help you decide what the best system is for you. If you are in a good location for solar.
Contact us today for a free estimate!
The installation price of solar systems has come down drastically in the last 40 years, primarily driven by the declining cost of the solar panel themselves. As conventional silicon PV technology matured in the first decade of the 21st century the installed cost per watt finally hit single digits. And as demand increases, economies of scale will drive the cost down further.
We will come and estimate the size of your home to help you decide what the best system is for you. If you are in a good location for solar.
Contact us today for a free estimate!