Going SOLAR in Arlington - Arlingtonva
Going SOLAR in Arlington Arlington League of Women Voters November 12, 2015
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Helen Reinecke-Wilt, AICP, LEED AP, RESNET Home Energy Rater (HERS) • Manager of Arlington County’s Green Home Choice Program for 7 Years • Certified 200 homes and have participated in providing guidance to many more homeowners in Arlington • Solar electric and hot water system owner since 2010 ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
AGENDA • Green Home Choice Overview • How does a solar system work? • What is the process for going solar? • How does a solar coop work? • Tax Incentives and Pricing
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
What is a Green Home? • A Home that is: -More comfortable -Prevents money wasted on energy and water -Has better indoor air quality -Lasts longer -Better for you and the Planet! ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Arlington Green Home Choice • Voluntary Free Residential Green Certification Program
• Primary focus is energy efficiency
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Green Home Choice Goals Energy and water Waste produced Natural Resources Stormwater Indoor Air Quality Home Durability ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Green Home Choice Snapshot
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Insert infographic
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What is Solar Photovoltaic (PV)Power? • PV =Converting light (Photons) to Electricity (Voltage) • Traditional solar cells are made from silicon (found in sand), which creates an electric charge when exposed to sunlight. • Panel Types = flat plate, thin film, clear cells (windows), and mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a very small piece of high efficiency PV material
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? • Solar power collected as direct current (DC) and must be converted to alternating current (AC) to be used in buildings • A device called an “inverter” makes this conversion
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? Panels can either be connected to form an “array” with a single inverter. OR Systems can be designed with individual “microinverters” installed on each panel.
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? A typical home will use about 10 to 20 solar panels (2.5-5.0 kw)
Panels are usually mounted to face as due south as possible or west ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? Solar systems can either be tied to the electric grid (net metered) or tied to a battery system
OR
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Steps to Going Solar
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 1: Consider Goals • Save Money? • Help the Planet? • Reduce your energy needs? • Totally eliminate your annual energy needs? • Become energy independent? ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 2: Consider Feasibility • How old is my roof and how is my roof oriented? • How much is my roof shaded? • Have a solar vendor do analysis for you • Google solar app ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 3: Consider Mechanism • Should I go it alone or with a Co-op? • Depends on how much work you want to put into it and if receiving support and a cost discount is important to you
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 4: Select Vendor • Get at least 3 bids • Ask for references • Ask what types of equipment and service/equipment warranties they offer ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 5: Select Equipment • Do some research on equipment efficiency, reliability, and warranties • Some people have preference for US versus foreign made equipment • Consider your particular situation in choosing number of panels/efficiency levels of panels • Consider micro-inverters versus single inverter strategy ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 6: Installation • Permits‐ you or the vendor? • Installation‐ exactly where to locate and any issues with roof or house • If changing roof prior to install, consider metal roof If changing roof prior to install, and reflectivity of roof
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Arlington 2015 Solar Co-op • Virginia SUN, ACE, AIRE • Reduces costs by 30% through bulk purchasing • 290 roofs screened • 36 signed contracts to date • 81 solar systems in Arlington before co-op ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
20
How Does a Solar Co-Op Work? • Very loose neighborhood or friend arrangements • Non-Profit Initiated Co-ops -Group formation and helps them solicit bids and select vendor -Group formation and selects vendors for group
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Tax Incentives and Pricing 30% Federal Tax Credit for Solar PV and Solar Thermal is available through 2016
$ $$
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Solar Example • In 2010 paid $20,000 for a 2.5 kw (10 panel) PV system. • Today that system could cost as little as $7,000 or $4900 with the federal tax credit. • Formed my own small co-op with two other neighbors • Get 25% of electricity from solar with shading issues • Early adopters got into solar REC market ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Contact Information For more information about Green Home Choice or any home improvements, contact: Helen Reinecke‐Wilt Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy www.arlingtonenergy.us/greenhomechoice hreinecke‐[email protected] 703‐228‐4792 ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Helen Reinecke-Wilt, AICP, LEED AP, RESNET Home Energy Rater (HERS) • Manager of Arlington County’s Green Home Choice Program for 7 Years • Certified 200 homes and have participated in providing guidance to many more homeowners in Arlington • Solar electric and hot water system owner since 2010 ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
AGENDA • Green Home Choice Overview • How does a solar system work? • What is the process for going solar? • How does a solar coop work? • Tax Incentives and Pricing
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
What is a Green Home? • A Home that is: -More comfortable -Prevents money wasted on energy and water -Has better indoor air quality -Lasts longer -Better for you and the Planet! ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Arlington Green Home Choice • Voluntary Free Residential Green Certification Program
• Primary focus is energy efficiency
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Green Home Choice Goals Energy and water Waste produced Natural Resources Stormwater Indoor Air Quality Home Durability ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Green Home Choice Snapshot
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Insert infographic
7
What is Solar Photovoltaic (PV)Power? • PV =Converting light (Photons) to Electricity (Voltage) • Traditional solar cells are made from silicon (found in sand), which creates an electric charge when exposed to sunlight. • Panel Types = flat plate, thin film, clear cells (windows), and mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a very small piece of high efficiency PV material
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? • Solar power collected as direct current (DC) and must be converted to alternating current (AC) to be used in buildings • A device called an “inverter” makes this conversion
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? Panels can either be connected to form an “array” with a single inverter. OR Systems can be designed with individual “microinverters” installed on each panel.
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? A typical home will use about 10 to 20 solar panels (2.5-5.0 kw)
Panels are usually mounted to face as due south as possible or west ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
How does solar power homes? Solar systems can either be tied to the electric grid (net metered) or tied to a battery system
OR
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Steps to Going Solar
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 1: Consider Goals • Save Money? • Help the Planet? • Reduce your energy needs? • Totally eliminate your annual energy needs? • Become energy independent? ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 2: Consider Feasibility • How old is my roof and how is my roof oriented? • How much is my roof shaded? • Have a solar vendor do analysis for you • Google solar app ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 3: Consider Mechanism • Should I go it alone or with a Co-op? • Depends on how much work you want to put into it and if receiving support and a cost discount is important to you
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 4: Select Vendor • Get at least 3 bids • Ask for references • Ask what types of equipment and service/equipment warranties they offer ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 5: Select Equipment • Do some research on equipment efficiency, reliability, and warranties • Some people have preference for US versus foreign made equipment • Consider your particular situation in choosing number of panels/efficiency levels of panels • Consider micro-inverters versus single inverter strategy ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Step 6: Installation • Permits‐ you or the vendor? • Installation‐ exactly where to locate and any issues with roof or house • If changing roof prior to install, consider metal roof If changing roof prior to install, and reflectivity of roof
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Arlington 2015 Solar Co-op • Virginia SUN, ACE, AIRE • Reduces costs by 30% through bulk purchasing • 290 roofs screened • 36 signed contracts to date • 81 solar systems in Arlington before co-op ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
20
How Does a Solar Co-Op Work? • Very loose neighborhood or friend arrangements • Non-Profit Initiated Co-ops -Group formation and helps them solicit bids and select vendor -Group formation and selects vendors for group
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Tax Incentives and Pricing 30% Federal Tax Credit for Solar PV and Solar Thermal is available through 2016
$ $$
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Solar Example • In 2010 paid $20,000 for a 2.5 kw (10 panel) PV system. • Today that system could cost as little as $7,000 or $4900 with the federal tax credit. • Formed my own small co-op with two other neighbors • Get 25% of electricity from solar with shading issues • Early adopters got into solar REC market ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
Contact Information For more information about Green Home Choice or any home improvements, contact: Helen Reinecke‐Wilt Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy www.arlingtonenergy.us/greenhomechoice hreinecke‐[email protected] 703‐228‐4792 ARLINGTON INITIATIVE TO RETHINK ENERGY
