Solar Power generated by photovoltaic solar arrays is a clean, renewable, and eco-conscious energy source that is rapidly growing in popularity. More and more homeowners across the United States are turning to solar to both reduce their home's carbon footprint and deal with rising energy costs. Even as increasing numbers are upgrading to solar power, some Washington and Oregon homeowners are left to wonder if solar power is even viable in the Pacific Northwest amidst the clouds and rain of winter months. Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes. Currently, there are more than 17,000 Oregon households that are powered with renewable, solar energy and even selling excess energy back to power companies. As it turns out, a number of factors make the Northwest an ideal location for the use of solar power. To find out what makes the Northwest so great for solar, how Oregon homeowners can drastically offset the costs of upgrading, and how to get the most out of solar power I interviewed Certified Solar Integrator Dan Gillespie of Hometown Exterior Designs.
Dan Gillespie is one of a select group of contractors in the Northwest that have embraced solar power. After talking to Dan, it was clear that he has a deep knowledge of solar power and a real passion to spread the message of green, cost-efficient energy production to all homeowners. He explained that as part of a public education program, Hometown Exterior Designs, along with a few other solar contractors, will come out to interested homeowners, providing them with a free energy audit to assess their home's energy needs, estimate the costs of a solar project, and to predict their eligibility for tax credits and other savings.
In our interview, Dan proved to me that the Pacific Northwest is an ideal place for solar power. According to the US Department of Energy, the Pacific Northwest's largest solar facility receives as much sun as Houston, Texas. I was surprised to learn that the Pacific Northwest receives as much sun as the national average and, in Southern and Eastern Oregon and areas of Washington, up to 30 percent more. Furthermore, Oregon gets considerably more sun that Germany, which is currently considered the world leader in solar energy. Aside from getting more than enough sunshine to power homes and businesses, Mr. Gillespie explained that Oregon's cooler temperatures are in fact ideal for solar power systems; like the majority of electrical devices, photovoltaic solar arrays work more efficiently at cooler temperatures and generate significantly more power than in hotter climes. This is because the key component of solar energy production is UV light, not heat. Even though there can be reduced power output in cloudy weather, the photovoltaic solar panels will still generate ample power, as the UV rays that the panels convert into energy still penetrate the clouds.
Beyond saving you money every month through generating power, Dan showed me that upgrading your home to solar has an additional monetary incentive available in the State of Oregon. The excess energy that your home solar system generates can be fed back into the power grid and become a credit to your energy account. During the times when your home solar system isn't generating the required power to satisfy your demand (eg. When you are cooking dinner, doing the laundry, using televisions and computers simultaneously, etc.) you can use that credit to power your home. Your solar panels generate credit even while you're at work! Washington, hopefully will consider similar legislation in the future.
Because solar allows you to generate as much energy as you need and even store excess energy as a credit*, there is an amazing return on investment. That return improves even further with cash incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon and energy tax credits from the State of Oregon. After Dan explained the specifics of the credits and incentives, I was amazed to learn that Oregon residents who take advantage of these opportunities can cover up to 85% of the cost! The Energy Trust of Oregon alone offers $1.50 to $1.75 per watt generated. Even local power companies offer incentives; Portland General Electric offers $1.75 per watt and Pacific Power pays $1.25 per watt. With the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) you can earn a tax credit of $2 per watt up to $6,000 and claim $1,500 of that per year. Additionally, both Oregon and Washington homeowners can qualify for an Investment Tax Credit from the Federal government for up to 30 percent of the cost of your system after rebates. Companies like Hometown Exterior Designs can even help you get pre-approved for tax credits and incentives beforehand so you know that your costs are covered. Between generating your own power, accumulating credit with the power company, and cashing in on huge incentives and tax credits, you can recoup the initial cost of investment in a couple of years.
After my interview with Dan, I believe that even in today's economy upgrading to solar energy in the Pacific Northwest has never been more urgent as it is affordable and environmentally critical. It is the smart way to conserve both money and natural resources. From a financial standpoint, installing a photovoltaic solar energy system on your Pacific Northwest home today will significantly reduce your energy bills and, with the help of state and Federal tax credits and incentives, it will allow you to make a sizable investment in your home at a fraction of the cost. These incentives might expire in the future and a complete understanding of how to access them will ensure your optimum savings. Companies like Hometown Exterior Designs or resources like the Renewal Northwest Project can help you find your way through the state and Federal red tape.
A solar energy system also adds value to your home; Dan indicated that on average, the resale value of your home increases by as much as the full cost of your system. From an environmental standpoint, going solar allows you to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by eliminating dependence on fossil fuel burning power plants, a leading (if not THE leading) cause of global warming. For Oregon and Washington homeowners who are interested in making an investment with a high return and saving the planet for generations to come, going solar is the only choice.
I really appreciate Dan taking the time to sit down with us to explain why solar power is a viable, affordable, and smart option for Northwest homeowners. To find out more about solar power and how you can upgrade your home, you can visit Hometown Exterior Designs' Solar Page or visit the Energy Trust of Oregon to find a certified solar contractor in your area.
สมัครสมาชิก:
ส่งความคิดเห็น (Atom)
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น