DYI: The All-Renewable Energy Home!

October 2003 was a devastating month in San Diego County. Of the three major brush fires that month, the Cedar fire from October 25-31 became the worst such fire in California history killing 14 people and destroying some 2400 houses. One of those homes was owned by Rich Caputo and Carol Jacklin near the rural town of Julian about 40 miles east of San Diego.

Rich and Carol decided to rebuild a house that was thermally tight and use renewable energy for heat, hot water and electricity. They also purchased energy efficient appliances. They even allowed for capturing gray water and rainwater for irrigating the garden. The results won Rich the Special Achievement in Energy by a Homeowner Award from the San Diego Regional Energy office in February.

A passive direct-gain solar design was used to heat the home with a large amount of southerly glazing and a heavy masonry floor was laid to store some of the solar energy for release later in the day. The solar orientation was planned to help heat the house on cold winter mornings as afternoons are relatively mild.

Special low-emissivity windows were installed which capitalized on warm sunlight but also blocked heat from leaking into or out of the house. Rich figures this passive solar heating in winter covers 50% of their needs. The back it up with a pellet wood stove which uses wood waste biproducts like sawdust. A central propane heating unit is available and a fan with ducting can be used occasionally to spread renewable heat around the house.

Natural lighting is achieved via the extra glazing of the passive solar design and Solatubes are used for lighting the bathrooms. Ninety percent of interior lighting are fluorescents.

A solar water heater with 40 square feet of active thermal panels is connected to a 50-gallon solar heat storage tank using an ethanol loop for freeze protection and a double-walled heat exchanger to pass the heat to the potable home water. Solar-heated water passes through a high-efficiency 30-gallon propane heater in case additional heating is needed. An anti-scalding valve is used to mix with cold water to keep incoming water at 120 degrees.

For electricity, a grid-tie PV system is mounted on the roof using 18 BP 165 panels with an SMA Sunny Boy inverter. The system should provide about 5000 kWh/year or 90% of annual needs. The roof is angled 30% south for near-optimum energy generation.

An additional solar water heating panel was added to heat a 400-gallon, well-insulated hot tub. (After all, this IS California!).

For a more detailed description of the Caputo/Jacklin award-winning home contact Rich at richardcaputo@sbcglobal.net.

New Name--Same Game

Sorry for taking so long to post again. Much has happened--mostly good--in the solar industry and for me, too. Last month I left Uni-Solar here in San Diego and am now consulting/selling for DSH Solar Electric. Dirk S. Hosmer (DSH) installed three of my Uni-Solar projects in the past 18 months and I came to admire his thoroughness and expertise. He is a fully-licensed, bonded and insured electrical contractor who happens to specilize in grid-tie and stand-alone photovoltaic systems.

I am still a strong proponent of Uni-Solar technology. As thin-film photovoltaics go, Uni-Solar is cutting edge and DSH Solar Electric offers their systems. However, the only drawback to Uni-Solar cells is that they require more space than typical crystalline or polycrystalline cells. Uni-Solar's triple-junction construction makes up for this with more power per rated watt than standard cells, but space is still an issue when trying to concentrate as much solar power as possible in a limited area.

DSH Solar also offers SunPower, possibly the most efficient crystalline modules on the market. At 21.5% maximum output, SunPower is in the midst up upgrading their all-black SPR-200 panels to 215 watts; the black/silver SPR-210 to 220 watts. Each panel takes up a trim 13.5 square feet and they look great. This means a 3Kw/DC grid-tie system needs only about 190 square feet of roof or ground area. Actual AC ratings are yet to be determined by the California Energy Commission. What inventory is left of the SPR-200 and 210 panels are available for installing. DSH Solar also offers BP and Kyocera systems on request.

CA Commits Big $ to Solar

On January 12, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) passed the largest solar initiative in U.S. history in approving a $3.2 billion rebate program--enough for an estimated million solar roofs during the next decade.

The measure should stimulate new photovoltaic manufacturing and cleaner air if the state hits the goal of 3000 megawatts of solar-powered energy. On a sunny day that would be enough electricity for 3 million homes or the equivalent of six fossil-fuel burning power plants.

The California Solar Initiative extension means the $2.80 per AC watt rebate will continue for residential installations and restarts 30Kw-plus commercial rebates which ran out last summer. The rebate and the federal energy tax credit (30% of balance after rebate capped at $2000) means the cost of a typical residential system is defrayed by about 35%. The rebate, federal tax credit (30% of balance, no cap), state and federal depreciation and Section 179 tax incentives mean that as much as 80% of a commercial system can be defrayed.

Only Germany's commitment to solar and other renewable energy options exceeds California's. Now, if only America's solar and wind power manufacturers could get the tax breaks that oil and coal interests continue to get...

Special on BP-160 panels

DSH Solar has a warehouse inventory of 56 BP-160 panels for sale. These are first-come, first-served by the panel or by the bunch for $788 each plus freight. All are brand new and still in their original factory boxes. Panel(s) require 50% down; balance plus freight due prior to shipping (CA residents add 7.75% sales tax). Inquire through dbrands@dshsolar.com.

Uni-Solar Shingles Shipping...

The overwhelming response to a Uni-Solar shingles installation on HGTV's "I Want That" wiped out the existing inventory. The popular segment appeared several times on the program in July and again in October. Uni-Solar received over 400 emails and phone calls from around the country about these lightweight, visually-pleasing solar shingles. Besides selling out inventory, Uni-Solar had prior commitments to ship framed modules here and in Germany which temporarily precluded solar shingle production. However limited production will begin again in early 2006 with plans to ship in late February.

Those still interested in incorporating Uni-Solar shingles in either re-roofing or new construction should consider ordering soon. PLEASE read or re-read the July 16 posting "Powered by Uni-Solar Shingles" in this blog to be sure this solar application is right for you. Uni-Solar is the world leader in thin-film photovoltaics which also include framed modules and PV laminates for metal seam roofs. As for sizing a system: There is a two-part series on this subject in August in this blog.
Now it's time to separate the dreamers from buyers. Solar power is not mainstream--yet--and solar shingles are definitely not. Uni-Solar shingle kits cost 15-20% more than its module or PV laminate kits. A 1.8Kw solar shingles kit is $13,734 plus shipping; 2.5Kw kit, $19,532 plus shipping. Michigan and California residents add sales tax. A 50% down payment is required for systems up to 5Kw (i.e. two 2.5 kits); 5Kw and above, 25% down. Balance is due just prior to shipping. Kits come complete with all necessary components and manual for a typical grid-tied home installation and 20-year warranty on the solar cells. Kits can be homeowner installed (as it was on the HGTV program) or contracted to a local installer. Check the link "Solar Incentives by State" for solar subsidies in your area.

Serious parties should contact this blogger at dbrands@cox.net or 619/294-9294 after which a formal order/invoice will be generated.

California takes another big step

Taking another big step to a million solar roofs in ten years, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposed decision to replenish 2006 funding for commercial solar installations. No rebates for systems above 30Kw have been available since previous funding was oversubscribed earlier this year. The proposed decision would inject $300 million into the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) offering $2.80 per AC watt rebates on 30Kw-plus systems.

The PUC also set a December 15 deadline to finalize a larger solar proposal that would include residential systems as well. As such the SGIP and residential Emerging Renewables program could merge next year. A 20-day public comment period is now in effect until December 15, the date of the final 2005 PUC business meeting. (Details at http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=39390