July 21, 2010
Who Wants Solar Panels?
22 Comments »A great idea from Rosewood Ave resident, David vanBlaricom:
Here’s a way we can help save the environment and cut our energy bills. All we need is a group of people in the neighborhood willing to figure out a cost effective way to put solar panels on our roofs, remain on the grid for redundancy, and hopefully sell power back to the power company.Here’s a link to the the Mt. Pleasant co-op featured on the science channel last night. If they can do it in DC, we can do it here too.
I am looking for interested parties to form a Cooperative with a goal to make solar energy efficient and cost-effective in our neighborhood. Our row-houses are perfect for solar applications. It’s been accomplished in Washington D.C., it’s happening in Western Virginia and in Charlottesville, We can join the movement. If you are interested, contact me at dvbii@nadami.com and we can get started.
Why Form a Solar Co-op?• Share information- Make it EASY to go solar for all members!!!It will take teamwork to meet deadlines, stay abreast of changing DDOE requirements, defray DCRA costs and paperwork, learn about Dominion net metering rules, share experience with Dominion meters and billing as well as with installers and equipment, learning about new incentives, opportunities, ensure no one in group is “dropped” from by the system or treated unfairly by installers, and most importantly: PRICE.
• Buying power with installers and other service providers- Group Discounts, savings for installers by only presenting serious customers, possible bulk purchase on goods and services (light bulbs, energy audits, panels?, insulation?), lower research costs, Identify inefficiencies to lower costs for everyone (DDOE process, DCRA, pre-inspections). Increased demand increases choice, lowers prices and increases bargaining power!!
• Political Support for Solar Programs- Lobby your council Member, network with sister coops, protect solar budgets, work to pass new legislation: testimony, emails, petitions, monitor implementation. Inform members, and outreach to press and government on ways to make solar work for Richmond residents and how to promote green jobs here at home. Support Solar Gardens to expand solar to renters and homeowners with shade!
• Ensure new rules are solar friendly- The new Sustainable Energy Utility should have a robust plan for solar. Richmond’s new smart meters should be two way capable and pay fair prices for the solar energy we produce, promote a market that encourages access across DC and shares the benefits of the investments with rate payers.
• Build Support for More Programs- Develop lists of supporters , let people know what is happening, engage diverse groups of regular citizens not narrow group of environmentalists, make it easy to engage, divide up the work!
What Skills Do We Need?-First and foremost; anyone with a desire to make things happen!-Lawyer
-CPA/Accountant/Tax law/financial analyst
-Writer, editor, Media person, communications
-Web design, mailing lists, list serve outreach
-Meeting organizers, people who are well networked in our community
-Of course anyone in construction, roofing, electrician
I am just starting the research. I don’t have the answers, yet. It won’t be easy, unfortunately, but together we can figure it out!If you are interested, contact me at dvbii@nadami.com and we can get started.
22 Responses to “Who Wants Solar Panels?”
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Please remember that you are talking to your neighbors.
There’s been some discussion and interest in this in Oregon Hill. We saw this story about University Park co-op:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/standard-solar-inc-/news/article/2010/04/residents-of-university-park-maryland-band-together-in-first-community-initiated-solar-electric-system
It seems like the churches would be all over this.
http://www.vipl.org/Home/tabid/491/Default.aspx
This is also where microfinance, like prosper.com or the kickstarter stuff, could really make a difference.
How far have you all made it in Oregon Hill?
Not far enough, but a few talented folks have expressed their interest.
Realize that one of the hurdles is improving the net metering laws to allow more community solar. This is why one of the churches might offer a good first opportunity. You might want to start with a small project- how about getting solar thermal hot water for the Lamplighter?
It would be great if some of our state representatives could get on this and actually LEAD!
Regardless, you should work with a solar installer who can also suggest cheaper, quicker energy conservation/efficiency methods before just pushing/selling PV.
Sign me up. I would love to pay one less bill, especially if it means not supporting a company that funds mountain top removal mining, forces nuclear plants on Lake Anna’s residents, and generally believes it holds “dominion” over the state and its citizen. Just sayin.
Alternative engery sources are the way of the future and kudos to those looking at developing these. The US needs to get off its dependence on fossil fuels.
That said, for the record, Lake Anna was actually created FOR the nuke plant to get adequate cooling water. If the plant wasn’t there, the lake wouldn’t be there for the residents.
If you don’t grow it, you have to mine it and surface mining is much safer (not to mention much cheaper) than underground mining.
Oddly enough, I have not heard from anyone. I hope this changes! Jason and I are going to have a tough time doing this alone.
Anya, from the DC co-op said this “The issue with Va right now is that there is no mandatory renewable portfolio standard (RPS) therefore you cannot sell your solar renewable energy credits to help finance you system. Also, Va doesn’t have a regular rebate program to support solar. You do have the opportunity to take advantage of the federal tax credits (30%) off the total price.” in DC they had to get a bill passed to make solar affordable. We will have to do the same. Good news is, there is a lot of pressure to make renewable energy a viable option in VA.
You can sell SRECs if there is a buyer. The problem is that there is not much of a market in Virginia without the state RPS.
I will send you some direct correspondence soon with some OH folks.
Just got my power bill for June 16 thru July 15: $243. We run two window units in our house, one for each floor, usually one at a time. The next two bills are gonna hurt. Too bad the sun isn’t cooling our house with solar power.
David
I like your energy !
For over thirty years I have owned and been improving the energy efficiency of the 6 unit bldg at 2418 rosewood–the one with the solar thermal colectors on the roof.
This week we will be installing a new shade structure over the 3rd floor porch.
My company, CommonWealth Solar, has the experience and capability to guide the residents–both owners and renters– to a more sustainable and comfortable residence. We would welcome the opportunity to make the great Byrd Park community a leader in energy conserevation, equipment efficiency, and all forms of solar energy, from passive solar design to solar hot water to solar electricity.
In regards to the info from Anya, of the DC Solar Co-op, she is right that Va. would benefit from a mandatory RPS
( renewable portfolio standard )rather than the current voluntary standard that Vepco wrote into the electricity deregulation law several years ago.
However, SREC’s can be sold in the regional electricity pool called PJM.
They are currently worth $.20/ kwhr. For every 1000 KWH that
Scott’s system produces, the SREC system aggregator – http://www.solsystemscompany.com –
sends a quarterly check–about $200 every quarter,or $ 800/yr. Add to that the $100/ 1000 KWH that he doesn’t send to Vepco, or $400/yr.
What would you do with an extra 1200/yr?
For more info on conservation and solar energy, see http://www.commonwealthsolar.com
or stop by while we’re working on the shade structure this week.
Ask for Ken or Max
Thanks
I’m completely on board with the idea of solar power and will help any way I can. However, as with any pioneeristic project, it will probably take a while to get right.
In the meantime, residents can also make some very cheap upgrades to lower their their impact on the environment and consequently, their energy bills. Blown-in attic insulation is a fairly cheap ($300) way of protecting your home from the elements and it pays itself off in no time. If you have any questions about it, let me know – we did ours and it was easy (although i won’t condone going up into the attic on a day like the ones we had this past weekend!) The mass brick walls and small, shaded alleys between the homes of most Byrd Park construction offer an excellent barrier from the outdoors, but most attics if kept uninsulated as ours was are like an open door. In the winter, all our heat rises right up through the roof and in the summer the sun heats our rooftops to blistering temperatures, which radiate heat downward into our home. A little protection in this area goes a long way. In addition to this, sealing up air leaks are an easy and affordable way to make a big difference.
I’ve been remodeling my home on Rosewood for about a year now and I discovered that any sort of fiberglass insulation that has direct contact with knob-and-tube wiring can start a fire, so please be careful. I was forced to carefully place my added insulation around all of my older wiring. Just a note!
Beau and others with old knob and tube–
i know it’s hard to spend the money for basic electrical upgrades, but PLEASE do that first. After the insulation is in place it just gets harder ! and more expensive–No one, especially electricians, enjoy crawling in fiberglass, and besides , if you’ve avoided the wiring you’ve left gaps and bypasses.
One other tip for reducing attic heat and preserving roofing materials, is to be sure the roof has a reflective aluminum coating, preferably Karnak # 97, not the cheap stuff at the home centers—-from what I see from the roof of 2418,3 story building, most houses have silver coatimngs but not all !
Regarding the shade cloth structure for the porch at 2418, it;s taking a little longet than anticipated–doesn’t it always?– to get it assembled and painted in my shop, so installation is expected next week.
http://www.solar-nation.org/2010/07/29/solar-cheaper-than-nukes/
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/08/financing-solar-power-in-the-developing-world
Scott,
Please keep the Unitarian Church in the loop on any solar co-op planning. We will be looking at a capital campaign in the not too distant future and solar panels are in our thoughts.
Rev. Jeanne Pupke
Hi, my name is Chris Fidler. I’m the president of Primal Energy Systems LLC, a locally owned and operated solar installation company.
A Solar Co-op is a great idea. We need this kind of grass-roots community action, especially to influence our legislative representatives.
However, you don’t need a co-op to get fair and competitive pricing. That is something that we do for every customer. Please don’t hesitate to contact us, even if there’s only a few people interested right now.
Also, please visit our website at http://www.primalenergysystems.com — you’ll find a lot of great info on the site and in the blog.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
I just spent last weekend blowing insulation in my attic! Trying to do anything and everything I can to not waste my energy that I currently pay for. Which according to one website is way more than the average home in my zip code. What I don’t understand is, in my 1923 row-house, I have replaced all the windows, blown insulation in the attic and overall checked for any exposure points. My a/c unit still blows constantly and my bills don’t go down. I don’t know what else to do. It’s a brick home and the plaster is right on the brick, so no insulation there. But, it’s still 3 bricks thick on my first floor. You’d think that would stop most temperature change. Very frustrating.
On another note, I am looking for a spray foam insulation contractor for another project. Does anyone know of any contacts?
[...] only one. Commiserate and collaborate with David from Rosewood Ave. He added this comment to a great discussion thread about the need for a local solar panel initiative. I just spent last weekend blowing insulation in my attic! Trying to do anything and everything I [...]
I suggest contacting Ken from CommonwealthSolar.com.
He does energy audits. He has spray insulation.