PACIFIC ENERGY STRATEGIES -- SOLAR FOR HAWAII [2012 BLOG]

Smart Grid

2012-03-01T07:09:00.000-10:00

What is a Smart Grid?

The main factors that concern us is the ability of the grid to accept renewable energy mostly via Solar PV and some Wind.   These sources are low cost and clean, but when the sun goes away, the incoming power goes away.

So a method to make up that power supply is needed, because the demand will not change quickly.    At lower levels of renewable, it hardly matters, but when you get to say 30% renewable, it will matter quite a bit.     The utility generation rolling reserve has to be ready to quickly pick up the load, AND/OR energy storage devices need to be built into the system.

More on all this later, for now, I just found this Smart Grid write-up under

"Governing" which is a good periodical.

http://www.box.com/s/3kldjayjcmq22uu68c3z

I haven't read this yet, but a quick skim showed it to be better than 90% of the "Internet Fluff" which is out there related to renewable energy.    Seriously, it is that bad ---- 90% of what is on the net is either just plain opposite wrong, non-applicable, or just someone writing stuff who has no engineering or practical application experience.    Much of what is written is done by parties with vested interest and they have some point to prove or some ax to grind.

Considering that this is one of the major issues facing humanity right now, all the Fluff is curious at the least.

How to Read a Dial Electric Meter

2012-02-27T18:55:00.000-10:00

How to Read Your Meter
Your electric bill contains all the information you need about your power usage. However, if you would like to read your own meter, here's how to do it.

As you can see from the arrows in the illustration below, the dials on your meter move alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise.

Always read from right to left.

When a hand points between two numbers (as in A, B, C and E) always read the lower number.

Sometimes a hand appears to be pointing directly at a number (as in D). To find out if that number has actually been reached yet, look at the dial to its immediate right (in this case, C). If the hand on dial C has passed zero, then write down the number on dial D to which the arrow is pointing (4). If C has not passed zero, as is the case in this example, write down the number that is lower than the one on dial D to which the arrow is pointing (3).

The correct reading for this meter is 13924 kilowatt-hours.

For information on how to read a net meter, see meter handout.

Solar for around 3 Cents per kWH

2012-02-18T18:21:00.000-10:00

Solar a Real Life Study, 1 year Operation 20 Panels PV, Mr. Row

Real System, Full Year of Energy Production Data, Day by Day

Solar is incredibly cheap, less than 10% of the cost of buying power from the utility here in Hawaii

This Actual 20 panel System produces at 3.3 cents per kWH. Larger systems like 30 panels can be under 2.9 cents.

You can download the Excel here----

http://www.box.com/s/ipn0l6nc3hafxs988689

Here it is Embedded into this post.

Exploding Water Heater?, do the Solar Tune-Up

2011-12-05T08:57:00.001-10:00

Urban Myth or reality? Does is really make sense to maintain the safety features of your water heater do doing the Solar Tune-Up? Yes it does.

Check this Discovery Video

In all likelihood your water heater won't blow up, in fact since the heater is directly connected to the piping system of your house, it is much more likely that increases in pressure would cause a rupture in the piping somewhere else.

That is, IF, your P&T Valve (pressure and temperature relief valve) didn't work properly. The P&T is a VERY important piece of safety equipment. Just think is a hot water pipe underneath your house ruptured, what would be the cost to find and fix it? You wouldn't even know about it until you got a $600 water bill and $600 electric bill.

Tax Information from the State of Hawaii

2011-10-18T18:20:00.000-10:00

The combination of new technology, and State and Federal tax credits has made the Photovoltaic Energy a confusing field for some people.    Some are confused even when there is no reason to be confused.

We always recommend that customers and potential customers review their exact situation with their tax preparer for a few reasons:

1) The money involved is substantial
2) Your income and your tax situation in this year and upcoming near term years, for both Federal and State, could influence your deicsion making process in accordance with advice of your tax preparer.
3) Ultimately, the tax preparer may have to defend your tax return, so they do have the responsibility for due diligence.

The State of Hawaii occasionally puts out some Tax Information Releases, the colored link below takes you to a PDF of Tax Release No 2007-02 from September 17, 2007.    I call this one the "12 page clarification".

TIR 2007-02

Below is an excerpt from this TIR, on page 3, that then goes on to define a "system".

Further down, is some information on what justifies making a "system". If you make lots of little systems JUST to capture tax credits, you could find some of your credits disallowed.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

In the link just below, is a clarifying Tax Information Release TIR 2010-03 to further define what is meant by a system.

http://www.state.hi.us/tax/tir/tir10-03.pdf

And then in the final paragraph Mr. Kawaguchi summarizes LEGITIMATE design reasons for making multiple systems. Maybe you want a future electric car, maybe you suspect that your inlaws are going to move in, maybe you can't afford all the panels now--but you want the main infrastructure in place to support the future panels, maybe you want to keep the I(Squared)R wattage losses to a minimum maximizing the overall inverter efficiency. Review with your tax person.

If you have insomnia, you can read all the TIRs right here! LOL

http://www.state.hi.us/tax/a3_1tir.htm#tir2009

And right nearby are what they call DOTAX annoucements, not sure what the difference is.

http://www.state.hi.us/tax/a3_2announce.htm

One thing is clear though, we all need to spend more time producing products that are really needed by our society, and less time messing around with endless clarifications, misinterpretations, specialtiy interest group disinformation campaigns, and all that silliness that doesn't increase our standard of living by hard work and reward of efficient allocation of resources.

Now that solar is "going mainstream" it seems like every old school control group of the past is trying to dip their fingers into the pot and extract benefit for themselves, AT THE DETRIMENT of those who really need the solar, the working citizens of Hawaii.

Certified Energy Manager Certificate - Just Renewed

2011-09-22T09:56:00.000-10:00

American Savings Bank - Financing Option

2011-09-19T14:11:00.000-10:00

American Savings Bank - Financing Option

Another Happy customer sent us HECO bill

2011-09-16T17:38:00.000-10:00

HECO Bill from PV Customer

2011-09-15T13:02:00.000-10:00

Independence Day Quote

2011-07-07T20:38:00.000-10:00

Independence Day and Memorial Day make me think of those who put it all on the line so that "the good man can live", see the bottom line of this poem.

Very few understand it as well as our Military, freedom will not be yours unless you are willing to fight for it. Anyhow, enjoy this poem, which was sent to us from Afghanistan on Memorial Day. the Author died in Iraq May 22. 2005.

EULOGY OF THE COMMON SOLDIER

All mortal beings, which God brought forth, die the same

Man is not exempt

All will inevitably end as the dust from whence we came

It matters not of age

Do not mourn me if I should fall in a foreign land

Think this of my passing

In a far-off field a finer soil mixed with the foreign sand

A dust that is American

A dust that laughed, cried, and loved as an American

On this plot there shall be

A little piece of America, a patch for the free man

Which no oppressor can take

From this soil grows grass shimmering a little greener

Brilliant emerald ramparts

A Breeze whisping White Poppies with scent a little sweeter

Flowers towards heaven

Mourn not my terrible death but celebrate my cause in life

Viewed noble or not

I would have sacrificed and gave all that I had to give

Not to make man good

But only to let the good man live.

By 1st Lt. Aaron Seesan

Killed in combat in Iraq on May 22, 2005.

(Written while he was a high-school senior, six years earlier)

Solar Electric Financing - Lower rate, longer term available

2011-06-29T17:18:00.001-10:00

Bank of Hawaii is offering lower rate & longer term for Solar Financing

Your average annual rate of return on investment with Solar Electric (PV) is usually 20% to 26%. If you can borrow money at 1.5%, and make over 20%, isn't that a no-brainer?

PV Project Photos

2011-06-19T15:01:00.000-10:00

We like to do not just good looking installations, but also strong, and well engineered on the structural and electrical sides. Built for lower power loss and ease of future expansion.

Hard roofs, like Japanese Tile, and Monier / Concrete are no problem.

Solar HOT WATER System Donation -- FREE!

2011-06-14T11:14:00.000-10:00

We are gearing up to do a Charity 501 (c) (3) HOT WATER Solar Donation. This is not Photovoltaic (solar electric).

We like to do $6,000 to $12,000 in charitable contributions per year, thus giving back to the community.

In 2009 we donated a full-on (3) Panel Hot Water Solar system for a family in Waimanalo, through Habitat for Humanity

We want to do one or two Hot Water Solar donations in 2011, we now have (4) refurbished panels so we can do 2 systems.

We are looking for a legitimate Charitable Organization -- 501 (c) (3)
We did a similar post in the early part of the year and got alot of interested parties, we are keeping all those in mind, and still have that list. If you sent in an "application" back then, feel free to send in another application now.

The facility must have an existing hot water heater, preferably electric, and must have significant demands for hot water usage in order to make these really worth it!

Most of the parts will be refurbished from used components. Oftentimes, when we take a system down, there are some fairly new parts, and maybe just the tank is bad, but the panels are great. There is also a controller, pump, timeclock, valves, and a temperature mixing valve for safety.

The savings from a simple Hot water solar system can be in the range of $48,000 to $74,000 over the life of the system, so we think this is an awesome gift for someone who can't afford it. Non-profit organizations also cannot use the tax credits, so in order to do a solar they would have to pay "Full List Price".

So this is the perfect way to help out a non-profit charitable organization who has hot water usage. Depending on the success of this program I may also try to enlist them help of some other friendly solar companies and get them to save their refurbished part and Pitch In!

If you know the organization that has a need for free hot water, please let us know.

Drop a comment on the blog with name and contact information for the prospective recipient, and a brief decription.

Installation of the system will likely be in the June/Aug time frame.

Mahalo!

Steveo

HECO bill from PV customer

2011-06-01T13:13:00.000-10:00

PV Based Emergency Power Backup

2011-06-01T10:23:00.000-10:00

There is “backup up power” using batteries and PV. The brand name is the Outback System.

I am putting one in my house as soon as things slow down a little

Your underhouse area should be fine for the equipment and the batteries. You want to be weathertight, and also have the ability to secure. I would definitely put a good lock on that door after the Outback goes in.

Good part is, that if HECO goes down, you won’t even notice a blip at all, and you will just have power. You have to pick which circuits are your emergency circuits

1. Refrigerator

2. Microwave

3. Some lights to allow bathroom, kitchen use, and travel from bedroom areas

4. Some receptacles for Phone, Modem, Router

5. Computer

6. Security system

7. Exterior lighting for security/motion lights

8. Lights at the Outback, along with a few receptacles nearby in case you have to do some work on things.

Usually we try to keep that to 6 circuits, because you don’t want to put too much on it, and end up draining your batteries when you don’t want to, say if the power goes off and you are not home.

Typical is 8 batteries, too produce around 10kWH of storage.

Cost around $10,000, but as part of PV system, you can get tax credits, resulting in around $3,500 which is not bad.

Compare that to a Honda generator, $2100, accessories $200, electrical transfer switch $800, electrician to hook it up say $1000, and you are looking at $4100, plus you need to buy and keep gas on hand, and rotate your supply of gas every so often so it doesn’t go bad.

You can add batteries, to double your storage, at any time in the future. The batteries should last around 10 years under emergency use.

Be glad to quote this one, I like them. Takes me about 3 hours to quote one though, because all the control and switching components are pretty complex.

Also there are ramifications on the number of inverters and the related tie-in to the building electrical system, and thus the tax credits. These are issues that can readily be dealt with, just be aware that they are there.

Capitol Watch

2011-05-08T13:56:00.000-10:00

Of course, Big Business, Big Wind, Big anything does their best to influence our legislators and laws, to their advantage, which is very unlikely to also be to your advantage.

Here is a Cheat Sheet on various ways that you can express your opinion on issues that matter.

Do 2 a week.

Sierra Club does an email called Capitol Watch. This makes it easy to track important bills, and they give links to who you can send email to, or faxes. I don't always agree with everything the Sierra Club does, but they do alot of good things.

Without a healthy Aina, and our own health, we have nothing.

Check this link for the Cheat Sheet

http://www.sierraclubhawaii.com/capitol-watch/capitol-watch-cheat-sheet-

On that same link, you can also sign up for the Capitol Watch email newsletter.

SIGN UP!

Why do Solar NOW?

2011-05-04T15:46:00.001-10:00

As the price of oil goes up, other things go up:

· Electricity in Hawaii (follows oil upward, automatically –they do not need PUC approval—with a lag time of 1 to 3 months)

· Cost to operate a business in Hawaii

· Cost to produce aluminum, glass, PV collector material

· Shipping to Hawaii

As Electricity goes up (and it still will go up more based solely on the recent increase in oil), the demand for solar products go up, and that means the cost of supplies and labor go up too.

Very simple law of supply and demand.

Do a “pre-emptive” strike, get solar now, lock in the incentives.

Get your system in before Electricity prices skyrocket and hurt your annual budget too badly.

PV Customer in Makakilo

2011-05-01T12:35:00.000-10:00

Recent HECO bill - only $28 after PV installation

PV Customer - after 21 panel installed

2011-04-25T14:57:00.000-10:00

This family Installed 21 panels using Solarworld 245.

Great time to do SOLAR

2011-04-21T16:51:00.001-10:00

Oil is up to $108, your electric bill follows the oil price upward with a few month lag period, so the worst is still to come.

State and Federal Tax credits are still in place, at least for now. Every few week some legislator introduces a bill that purports to limit, reduce, or elimination solar tax credits.

Investing a net of $1500 to $2000 will generate long term savings of $50,000 to $75,000 and protect you from future cost increases.

Funding has dried up -- for 2 out of the 3 Hawaii Energy Utility rebate programs –

DON’T MISS out, the remaining Rebate Program is the best one. We are saying….the only one left is also the best one.

You get $750.00 Instant rebate AND an Interest Free Loan, and then Hawaii Energy will pay the interest on a 5-year loan for you. Restrictions apply, you get the loan from your bank, Hawaii Energy send them $1000 to cover the interest.

You get an INTEREST FREE LOAN FOR 5 years (many banks are participating in this special Solar program, yours probably is)

The process:

1. Your phone call to us

2. We perform a system design and cost estimate

3. Upon your approval we submit for a Work Order number, which when received will lock in the funding

4. You send the signed proposal to the bank, upon bank approval:

5. We schedule and perform the work

6. You notify the bank of your approval that the work is done

7. Bank sends us a check

This will take maybe 3 to 4 hours of your time, but will get you on the path to saving $50,000 or even $75,000 dollars, even more if oil continues to skyrocket.

This is limited time, limited amount of funding. Don’t miss out. Call now

Hawaii Energy Announcement today

2011-04-20T13:12:00.002-10:00

Aloha,

Recent articles in the Star Advertiser and local TV News have been incorrect or have required significant corrections, please closely read the following to know the facts.

REVIEW AND CONTRACT REVISION OPTIONS UNDERWAY

With over 200 "wait listed" work order requests received last Friday, Hawaii Energy is actively reviewing the budget to provide you with a disposition of the pending work orders and outlook for the remainder of Program Year 2010.

Hawaii Energy is engaged with the Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA), the PUC and DBEDT to explore funding options to address the “wait list” and the remainder of the Program Year ending June 30^th.

UPDATE BY FRIDAY

Hawaii Energy will be issuing an update no later than Friday, April 22^nd in order to relay any new information that becomes available.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

· The $1,500 SWH Rebate Program is fully subscribed and the “wait list” is closed.

· The solar interest buy-down program a.k.a. “Hot Water, Cool Rates”, which includes the $1,000 interest buydown PLUS the $750 bonus rebate remains available.

· Participating Contractors are advised to postpone the installation of any project for which a work order has not been issued until a clear Program Policy is issued by Hawaii Energy.

FOR PROJECTS WITH A WORK ORDER

In light of the current situation, Hawaii Energy will be contacting Participating Contractors with work orders as they approach 30 days old to determine the status of these projects. The intent is to increase the certainty of committed Program funds for projects to be installed before June 30, 2011. For customers not proceding with an installation for any reason, it is imperative that Participating Contractors call in a work order cancellation in order to free up funds.

Finally, all installations seeking a work order must be completed on or before June 30, 2011. Any customer or Participating Contractor unable to facilitate an installation by June 30, 2011 may take advantage of Hawaii Energy’s new programs launching July 1, 2011.

We appreciate your patience at this time.

Mahalo,

Hawaii Energy

Wind On Dole Street

2011-04-14T15:26:00.001-10:00

Who says wind cannot be done in town. This vertical axis turbine is generating power on a house in Honolulu, just off the freeway.

They have 2 units, with the smaller being a traditional windmill type. The smaller makes quite a bit of noise, we don’t recommend those because the Honolulu noise codes especially at night are very hard to meet. If the neighbors complain, they would have to take that one down. We will not do those noisy ones.

The new designs make power even in light wind.

Hawaii Energy offers limited time BONUS rebates for qualified residential solar hot water installations

2011-03-24T15:30:00.000-10:00

Hawaii Energy offers limited time BONUS rebates for qualified residential solar hot water installations

3/17/2011 Filed under Press Releases

Hawaii Energy offers limited time BONUS rebates for qualified residential solar hot water installations.

HONOLULU (March 17, 2011) – For a limited time, starting March 21, 2011, Hawaii residents on Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island will be able to take advantage of rebates up to $1,750 when they replace their old electric water heaters with solar water heaters. The increased rebates are made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and State Energy Program (SEP) fund, and will be available through May 31, 2011 or until the funds are exhausted.

The bonus rebates apply to all retrofit installations that are not already pre-approved by Hawaii Energy and are purchased between March 21 and May 31, 2011. Residents have two simple options for the offer:

FINANCED SYSTEMS
Under Hawaii Energy’s “Hot Water, Cool Rates”, Program, Hawaii residents who finance a new solar water heating system to replace their old electric water heater through a participating lender will now receive a bonus instant rebate of $750 for completing a simple questionnaire aimed at improving Hawaii Energy’s programs. The program currently offers select financial institutions a $1,000 incentive to buy-down the interest rate to 0% or a low rate for borrowers. This brings the total amount of assistance to $1,750.

CASH PURCHASED SYSTEMS
For Hawaii residents who replace their electric water heater with a solar water heating system, without financing through the “Hot Water, Cool Rates” Program, receive this limited time bonus rebate of $750. This will double the current $750 instant rebate to $1,500.

“We’re glad to be able to offer these bonus rebates to help residents take advantage of the benefits of solar water heating in these tough economic times,” said Ray Starling, Hawaii Energy’s Program Manager. “Solar water heating significantly reduces electricity usage and helps to lessen our state’s dependence on imported oil. It is a cornerstone of our clean energy efforts.”

Water heating costs can account for 30%-40% of the average Hawaii residential electric bill in a non-air conditioned home. A solar water heating system harnesses the sun’s heat to generate 90 percent of the energy needed to heat the water, resulting in savings of about $10 to $15 per person, per month, on average.

To take advantage of this offer, a list of Hawaii Energy’s participating Solar Contractors and Lenders can be found at http://hawaiienergy.com/94/hot-water-cool-rates. Installations are completed in one day and include a free 100-point quality inspection by Hawaii Energy.

For more information on Hawaii Energy programs, call (808) 537-5577, toll-free (877) 231-8222 or visit http://hawaiienergy.com.

*About Hawaii Energy: Hawaii Energy is a ratepayer-funded conservation and efficiency program administered by SAIC under contract with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission serving the islands of Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu.

Media Contact:
Crystal Ingalls
Crystal.T.M.Ingalls@saic.com
808-521-2021

Please check below Hawaii Energy Link for the current Rebate situation:

http://www.hawaiienergy.com/news/view/57

Rebate amount may change soon depending on running out of Federal Funding.

Don't Wait.

Donation to Japan

2011-03-23T13:28:00.000-10:00

Donation to Japan

OK, enough whining and ranting, Hawaii Trading made a donation of 15,000 Japan Airline Miles to help Japan recovery.

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/shien/

Japan airlines turns each mile into a Yen and donates the Yen to the "Red Feather Community Chest Movement", kind of like American Red Cross, and very popular with people in Japan. See Below Link.

http://www.akaihane.or.jp/english/index.html

At roughly 80 yen per dollar, that is about $200 USD, and you can bet we will submit this as a tax deduction.

Please think about donating in some way.

Hawaii Energy Rebate Doubles for Hot Water Panels

2011-03-21T14:04:00.001-10:00

You could receive $1500 rebate for the Solar Hot Water panels until Federal Funding runs out.

Customer just fills out below simple application form. The "normal" rebate is $750.

The program goes until May 31st, or until the Federal Matching Funds run out. Don't miss out.

There are rules and limitations, please be aware and don't waste time.

Double the Instant Rebate!!! $1500 Free!!! Best Ever on Solar

2011-03-18T21:01:00.000-10:00

This was totally unexpected and came out of the blue.   Yesterday we got an email stating that Hawaii Energy would double the Solar Hot Water rebate from $750 to $1500.

AWESOME!!!!!

They are using some Federal Funds....and the period is Between March 21 (start of spring) and until the money runs out on the matching funds, or end of May if the money lasts that long.   IT WON"T!

This is the best deal ever.    EVER!    In order to lock in your rebate you need an agreement with a solar contractor who will get the HE authorization number that commits the money.

Don't delay, tell your friends and neighbors if you already have solar. This is the biggest thing in solar.

Oil is up, soon that hits your electric bill hard.    Do a pre-emptive strike, and get a real strategy rather than just paying the bill when it comes. Protect your family and your budget.   Do solar now!

Call 671-5566 or email to solar@pacific-energy.com

RAQ "Recently Asked Questions", TUNE UP, and WHAT IS A SYSTEM?

2011-03-14T22:40:00.002-10:00

1) My tax person says I can only get $5000 back from the State of Hawaii, I thought I could get more?

Cindy, I think they mean $5000 per system, with a system defined as the number of tie-in points to your building electrical system, i.e. the number of breakers that goes to the PV

One of the reasons we designed in a new subpanel--to accommodate your 2 systems. Seriously take a picture of the sub-panel in the garage, nicely labeled as Sys 1 and Sys 2

http://oahusolar.blogspot.com/p/tax-benefit-links.html

System as further clarified by this tax info letter, attached. (see tax tab page of this blog)

Print a picture of your subpanel with 2 PV systems, print and put in your tax archive file you give to your tax person.

2) What is the Periodic Solar Maintenance (TUNE UP), and how much does it cost?

Jeff, you should do annual flushing and in the hard water of Hawaii, replace a tank anode every 3 years.

We put 2 anodes in every tank to keep them from rusting--No one else does this!

With no maintenance, tanks last 5 to 9 years, the warranty is 6 years, imagine that.

1) 3 year “Tune - Up! Your tank can easily last 25 to 30 years.

2) Change Pressure and temperature relief valve – this is a very important safety device. If this device completely fails the tank can actually blow up, and there are documented videos of tanks flying several hundred feet in the air, obviously very dangerous. What is more likely though is that at high pressure above 150PSI your house plumbing would simply be breached, the worst case is that it would be the hot water pipe that is most subject to corrosion….under your house slab. Think about the cost to either find that, cut holes in your slab, fix it, and then hope that was the only hole.

3) Change pressure relief valve on solar panel

4) 25 other little inspections and spruce ups, including replacing about 6 to 8 feet on insulation on your roof top panel piping.

5) Includes operational check through observation. If the controller or sensors seem questionable we can test them with a Multi-meter to verify their condition.

The cost is $375.00 plus tax.

Or think about a solar attic fan, top quality, not goofy Costco plastic foreign made junk that might last 2 years, installed into asphalt shingle roof, will handle up to about 1200SF, manufacturer says 1800SF, but not in Hawaii. $1400.00 plus tax=$1465, and I will throw in a free solar Tune-Up. If you pay State and Fed tax you should be eligible for 35% and 30% tax credits on the solar fan….net cost to you = $513.08--NO Discounts can be applied to this price, this is fully discounted already.

Fan comes with 25 year warranty, AND I have never had to do a repair on a single one out of around 700 installed.

Japan Crisis

2011-03-14T15:01:00.000-10:00

Seems like things are getting worse. It appears that the containment vessel and the pressure vessel (outer protective concrete shell) are both breached, radiation on outside is increasing above safe levels, and all plant personnel are being evacuated except maybe just a few. Water used for emergency cooling is leaking out faster than they can pump it in.

Untranslated to English on the TV, but translated by my wife, the Prime Minister has talked to the plant operators telling them "prepare yourselves, only you guys can do this." Got it?

The information being provided is sketchy, maybe there is little information. Why don't they have cameras and robots in there?

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv

Energy Funnies (kind of! LOL)

2011-03-11T20:53:00.001-10:00

Oil is going parabolic, gas follows immediately.   Your electric bill follows in a month or two.    The Utility doesn't need any authorization from PUC to increase your rates if oil goes up--they just do it.    It comes with a small lag period, perfect time to get a real Strategy---if your strategy is just paying the electric bill when it comes, this is a great time to re-think that "Strategy".

It is pretty simple and straightforward, call us.   If there is a way to reduce your bill, we can help you achieve it.   Think about how good it would feel if you saw oil going to $300 and knowing that you already protected yourself and your family from that, without reducing your lifestyle.

At least protect your family at your house, get hot water solar and PV.    And in the future, think about the electric car. It is a good technology, well, unless your have HECO burning oil to make the electricity. If you are making your own electricity, electric cars make sense on a number of levels.

I have a Master Degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan as well as being an AEE Certified Energy Manager.   I have done the calcs.   For the average commuter, put 7 panels on your roof, charge your car overnight in 8 to 12 hours, and you won't need to buy gas either.    That's for the future, near future.   For now, protect your family at the house.

Tsunami of Solar Panel Interest and Savings

2011-03-11T14:55:00.000-10:00

Our prayers go out to all those in Japan who have lost and are suffering.

Although we think there is a high likelihood of more nuclear power plants, especially as electric cars become more mainstream, we can't fully subscribe to the theory that nuclear is "green".    Let's hope the best for Japan and that there aren't any big problems with their Nuclear plants.

Oil up over $100 sure generates a lot of phone calls and interest in solar.   And it should.    Oil and other commodities will be gamed up and down, but the general trend is up.

Why not lock in your electric rate at zero? Make your own electricity.    You mean to say that you are still buying that stuff?    That is so old school, and not in a good way.

Everyone who takes the plunge --- loves it.

Avoiding expenses & taxes is responsible

2011-03-09T17:26:00.001-10:00

Don't delay from protecting yourself from high oil cost. Soon, the cost of oil will show up in your electric bill. These banks only charge 1 or 2%. you can use their money in order to make 20 - 25% annual rate of return investment.
That is no brainer. What are you waiting for?

What makes a great PV solar system?

2011-02-11T00:03:00.000-10:00

Ask your salesperson if they are familiar with NEC 690. If you get a "deer in the headlights look", better switch to a lighter subject.

Bottom line is that an advanced generation system is going to be bolted to your roof. We study the NEC (National Electrical Code), and follow the HECO specs also. But code compliance isn't really "good enough". The NEC looks like the image below, click for a larger view. It has 14 pages related to PV, and 822 pages overall. But a great installation needs more. See below.

Now take a look at this picture, what do you see? Seriously, look at it, observe it.

Shingles, sure and panels and rack.   What about the wires?   All nicely secured and tucked away.   And here is my point.   What separates the real deal from the "just jumped into the business cause our work was slow" crowd, is a lot of things, but a critical one is wire management.

You don't want wires hanging down, blowing in the wind, chafing your roof, grounding out.   You want a strong rack with solid water sealing supports, and great wire management.   You want solid engineering, high wind uplift, large beefy stainless lag bolts.   And you want good return on investment.Talking to some solar companies?   Ask the company representative about their wire management techniques.   If all you get in response is--we used trained professionals in accordance with NEC codes, well then you might want to know more.   Because the NEC allows contractors to drape a power wire up to four feet unsupported between panels or rails.   And that wire might only be 3 inches from the roof to start with.   So in order to maintain the tension to keep it from sagging down over time, they have to stretch it tight against the panel junction box and the MC4 or MC3 connectors.   That's bad, all bad.   Instead we use a rack system that supports the cable directly, and when we cross over we will support the wire in the middle usually no more than 2' on a 4' crossing.

Why? Because great wire management is what keeps your system working safely for decades.

We put our money and labor into quality, not into sales fees.   When getting a solar estimate ask the sales person:

1) Are you familiar with NEC 690?
2) What methods do you use for wire management?

Energy Fundamentals in 4 Easy Charts

2011-02-01T23:41:00.000-10:00

Chart of Electrical Usage in Hawaii - Irresponsible Exuberance

2011-01-25T07:45:00.001-10:00

This is original work from Pacific Energy. This information on Electrical consumption is available for all the States, and I data mined the data for Hawaii. It was fairly easy, but also very instructive once the chart was made.

After decades of understandable rate of growth, even with the computer boom in the 1990's the electrical usage in Hawaii really didn't kick off until the "Easy Money" era of Greenspan and the Bernanke. Look at the chart, why in the world would our electrical consumption triple in the space of a handful of years. The answers are simple....we started using electricity irresponsibly, spending money we didn't have, spirits buoyed up by speculative increases in housing value.

Please sign up as a follower in the upper left, and drop a comment.

Why Green Power IS NOT more expensive than Fossil

2011-01-18T23:04:00.001-10:00

What is the true cost of Fossil Fuel? Even if we neglect the injured, the dead, and the current fighting forces that in part are out there to protect our access to oil, there are still huge additional costs that we pay for Fossil Fuels. 85% of all of the government subsidies for energy actually go to Fossils (Oil, Gas, Coal), then comes Hydro, then at the bottom of the barrel -- Solar.

The entrenched powers that be have manipulated the incentive structures for 60 years to a now absurd level.

Some people actually complain that Solar gets tax credits. Think about it, what is the cost of fossil fuels. Wait! We haven't even touched on environmental degradation.

Your comments appreciated.

Please read these articles on the same subject.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/guest-post-fossil-fuels-secret-welfare-problem/

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/dod-must-buy-american-made-not-chinese-solar-panels/

Habitat for Humanity Solar and KHON

2011-01-13T21:20:00.000-10:00

We did this one a while back and are gearing up to donate another HOT WATER system later this year.

The new HOT WATER solar is targeting this ideal situation:

On Oahu
for a 501C Charity
Must have existing hot water demand
Must have existing electric hot water heater(s)

Check it out and drop a comment, just click on the comment button below.

Solar System Donation (HOT WATER)

2011-01-10T18:35:00.001-10:00

We like to do $3,000 to $12,000 in charitable contributions per year.

In 2009 we donated a full-on (3) Panel Hot Water Solar system for a family in Waimanalo, through Habitat for Humanity

We want to do a similar Hot Water Solar donation in 2011, and thus we put out this ad.

We are looking for a legitimate Charitable Organization -- 501 (c) (3)

that can receive a complete HOT WATER solar system. Most of the part will be refurbished from good condition but used components. Oftentimes, when we take a system down, there are some fairly new parts, and maybe just the tank is bad, but the panels are great. There is also a controller, pump, timeclock, valves, and a temperature mixing valve for safety.

We probably only get enough good condition/refurbishment parts to do 1 or 2 systems per year, and that is our goal for this year.

The savings from a simple Hot water solar system can be in the range of $48,000 to $74,000 over the life of the system, so we think this is an awesome gift for someone who can't afford it. Non-profit organizations also cannot use the tax credits, so in order to do a solar they would have to pay "Full List Price".

So this is the perfect way to help out a non-profit charitable organization who has hot water usage. Depending on the success of this program I may also try to enlist them help of some other friendly solar companies and get them to save their refurbished part and Pitch In!

If you know the organization that has a need for free hot water, please let us know.

Drop a comment on the blog with name and contact information for the prospective recipient.

Execution of the system will likely be in the May / July timeframe

Mahalo!

Steveo

Fighting for Energy Independence

2011-01-09T20:46:00.002-10:00

Energy independence is vital to national security. Increased use of alternate energy sources like solar power here in the United States will reduce numbers of troops fighting overseas. Here is a picture of one of our clients currently deployed to Afghanistan

Real Data, December was not a "Nice and Sunny" Month!!!

2011-01-02T13:55:00.000-10:00

December was not "nice and sunny" in fact, compared to the DOE based monthly estimates of energy production, most people saw lost production in the range of 8% to 25% for the month. The best performer was in upper Makakilo, go figure! Kailua also performed quite well, relatively. Some "flood watch" days saw production frop to 10% of it's normal.

1 year Extension of TAX INCENTIVES for Solar!

2010-12-25T09:25:00.000-10:00

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/senate-passes-extension-of-1603-tax-grant-program/

This brightens the outlook for the whole solar industry. Santa's gift to you is PV and Hot Water, he doesn't like wind as much.....

This tax benefit is a simple 30% of the project cost, paid within 60 days of project completion, which in most cases is actually better than waiting for a tax credit. It was renewed for only 1 year, which will probably make next October/November/December another 'boom time' with increased costs.

Although we are not tax advisers, we suggest that business owners seriously talk with their advisers about the possibility of "immediate recovery" of PV expenses. In other words, if you know that you are doing PV, you know that your estimated tax burden will be that much less, and in theory you could pay less on the estimated taxes during the year.

2 catches with that approach--You then must make sure you get the PV into place and operational within your tax year, don't wait until the last minute. The end of the year typically see's huge increase in demand for solar since everyone has procrastinated. These supply/demand imbalances cause pricing to creep up into the year end. Full on product availability may make it impossible to complete the project in the required timeframe.

SUPER BONUS! They also doubled the "Bonus Depreciation" which was 50%, and is now 100%. You get to instantly depreciate money that you never paid in the first place.

Sounds too good to be true? Well let's put it this way, the Government is trying very hard to promote solar, and the incentives make it a no-brainer investment. In most cases we can do a free facility analysis and cost and savings estimate.

Enphase Microinverter System Demo

2010-12-15T11:48:00.000-10:00

Please enjoy following video.

http://www.enphaseenergy.com/products/moreinfo/howitworks.cfm

How to read Net Energy Meter Display

2010-12-13T15:14:00.000-10:00

For PV Customers, please check on the below file showing "How to read the Net Energy Meter Display."

Feed In Tariff, Sell Power to HECO

2010-12-10T19:10:00.000-10:00

Hawaii’s new feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems became fully effective Wednesday, Nov. 24, when Maui County and the island of Hawaii joined Oahu in accepting applications.

The payment rates for producers of solar PV electricity and concentrating solar power vary depending on several factors, including system size, and range from 18.9 cents per kilowatt-hour for larger PV systems to as much as 33.1 cents for smaller concentrating solar power systems. Rates also change depending on the applicant’s use of a state tax credit.

Rates are fixed for contract terms of 20 years. Combined with Hawaii’s personal income tax credit and a federal tax credit available for solar energy installations, the feed-in tariff can make solar electricity an attractive option for many homeowners and small-business owners with ample solar resources.

A new website will manage and accept applications for the Hawaiian Electric utilities’ feed-in tariff program, which is designed to encourage the addition of more renewable energy projects in Hawaii.

“The program offers pre-established rates and standardized contract terms, which will provide an easy way for individuals, businesses, governmental entities and other developers to sell renewable energy to Hawaiian Electric,” the company said in a news release. Hawaiian Electric Co. is the parent company of Hawaii Electric Light Co. and Maui Electric Co.; together, the utilities serve about 95 percent of the state’s residents.

“To break our dependence on imported oil, our state is going to need more sources of clean energy, both large and small. This program will help make that possible,” said Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric’s executive vice president, in the news release.

All applications for the program must be submitted through the new website, which can be found at www.hecofitio.com. The site is operated and maintained by Accion Group, an independent third-party observer that oversees the feed-in tariff applications on behalf of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.

The website began accepting applications for projects on Oahu on Nov. 17. Applications for projects on Hawaii Island and Maui County were accepted beginning Nov. 24.

As approved by the utilities commission, the program will accept up to 60 megawatts of feed-in tariff projects on Oahu, 10 megawatts on the island of Hawaii and 10 megawatts in Maui County. Qualifying renewable technologies include photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, on-shore wind and in-line hydropower.

Under the tariff program, Tier 1 solar PV and CSP systems are considered to be those up to 20 kilowatts (AC) of production capacity on all islands. The Tier 1 payment rate for solar PV systems is 21.8 cents per kilowatt-hour, based on use of the 35 percent state income tax credit. For Tier 2 PV systems, greater than 20 kilowatts and up to 500 kilowatts, the rate is 18.9 cents per kwh. For Tier 1 concentrating solar power systems, the rate is 26.9 cents per kwh, and for Tier 2 CSP systems, 25.4 cents per kwh.

Rates are higher for electricity sellers electing a refundable state income-tax credit provision.

The program is open to both residential and business customers until the capacity caps are fulfilled.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said questions about the feed-in tariff can be emailed to FIT@HECO.COM. More information about the program and the Hawaiian Electric utilities’ efforts to develop more renewable energy resources can be found at
www.heco.com

Details about the feed-in tariff rates and other solar incentives offered in Hawaii are also available at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, at http://www.dsireusa.org/.

Brand New Customer Just Commissioned

2010-12-09T09:38:00.000-10:00

This is the microinverter system, very cool.

The other system type is the central inverter, usually the Sunnyboy which is THEE name brand from Germany, over a million sold. Trickier to implement, and not appropriate for some roofs, but a solid performer, that we can handle. Once installed, they are system and troublefree.

The NETL Smart Grid Implementation Strategy

2010-12-09T09:36:00.000-10:00

The NETL Smart Grid Implementation Strategy

Interesting articles.

http://www.netl.doe.gov/smartgrid/

Hot Water Maintenance

2010-11-18T10:10:00.000-10:00

Please click the useful link for "How to flush a solar system".

A Happy Customer sent us recent HECO bill

2010-11-08T14:35:00.000-10:00

Customer completed PV installation in June 2010.

New Hawaii Energy Program " Interest Buy Down'

2010-11-04T15:57:00.000-10:00

Hawaii Energy introduced new program called "Interest buy down'. They will pay you the interest portion when you buy Solar Water Heating System through any financing program.

This is effectively no interest loan up to 5 years. We are also working with First Hawaiian Bank. Please see the ad below.

(click for larger view)

Testimonials

2010-10-26T12:45:00.000-10:00

“Our 16 panels and micro inverters have dropped our electricity bill by $250 a month. We have a 7500 square foot house and our goal is to get our bill down to zero. We will definitely use Pacific Energy again to expand our system. The tax credit process was simple and we can track how much electricity we produce. This investment has been worth it. Energy costs are only going to keep going up and it will take us around five years to recoup what we paid for our system. You can’t get that kind of return anywhere else.”

Mark Thompson, Waialua

“Our system has produced 6000kWh since May 2008. That’s around18kWh a day with 16 panels. I am very impressed with Pacific Energy and appreciate their service. Every time something needed to be done, they were here. The installation was also very fast. We now only pay the HECO service charge and generate all of our own electricity.”

John Burke, Waianae

“Pacific Energy is a great company to work with. The quality is excellent and the installers were very professional. We have 20 panels with micro inverters. Our bill was previously $160-180 and now we only pay the $18 service charge and have 113kWh of credit.”

Glenn Skedeleski, Royal Kunia

Solar Financing Rate Going Up! Don't Delay!

2010-10-20T13:15:00.000-10:00

We have been recommending to our clients to not dally when it comes to the decision of when to do solar. It is clear that some of the utility and Government sponsorship is already going away. Now even the best program for financing is tightening its belt, as the cost of oil creeps upward yet again. Right now, solar is a spectacular investment with a very high annual rate of return, far higher than you could expect with any traditional investment like mutual funds, 401K, bank CD’s.

For those waiting to see if this investment “gets even better” we advise that we think this is as good as it gets for many many years. Panel prices on PV are creeping up, except for the low grade foreign brands which don’t have a long track record.

Nice Bill Reduction!

2010-10-15T22:23:00.000-10:00

Pool Solar

2010-10-04T20:46:00.001-10:00

Pools use a lot of energy on just the pumping systems necessary to keep them clean and sanitary. But heating systems for pools, like heat pumps, gas heaters, or god forbid electric resistance heating use A LOT of energy and money!

Pool solar can replace or complement those systems. With Pool Solar, you can more useful months out of the year, on the investment that is called "Your Pool". Why let it sit there through winter, or find it not as relaxing as it should be.

Get a free estimate on Pool Solar so you can balanced the costs and rewards, you will like it.

Microinverter Webpage Reporting

2010-09-13T16:28:00.000-10:00

The Micro-inverter System has shown itself to be very reliable, and have some very useful reports that you can get from any computer in the world. They put your real time energy production on the web, and you can password protect that if you don't want noisy neighbors who are jealous of your free electricity, looking at it.

Potential Clipping (aka Pegging) a Microinverter Output

2010-09-07T22:00:00.000-10:00

Modeling this is tough, but an Engineer with a Masters from the University of Michigan, I did enough calculations to simply convince myself....don't worry about the "Clip"

Annual Rate of Return

2010-09-02T12:24:00.001-10:00

One of the safest places to invest is in money market funds, or just an FDIC insured bank.

Stocks and Bonds are sketchy, they can plummet as fast as people can click a mouse, and High Frequency Trading Robots can run for the exits faster than lemmings over a cliff.

From Bankrate the following:

The online service Bankrate.com said its survey of 100 leading commercial banks, savings and loan associations and savings banks in the nation's 10 largest markets showed the annual percentage yield available on money market accounts rose to 0.20 percent in the week ended Wednesday from 0.19 percent in the previous week.

Full article here:
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100902/D9I00PO82.html

What if you could find a safe way to make 100 times that Annual Rate of Return? What if this investment also protected you from future energy cost increases?

Photovoltaics -- Solar Electricity -- is just that investment. Typical returns are 20+ % per year.

Shouldn't part of your portfolio be renewable energy -- PV? It really is a no-brainer. Remove money from money market,or mutual fund, put on roof ---- increase your returns dramatically. And you don't get taxed on the income you generate on your roof.

Credentials and Relations, Owner has been doing solar over 20 years

2010-09-01T16:33:00.000-10:00

Good Credentials

Letter from Hawaii State

2010-06-21T12:32:00.000-10:00

We sent inquiry to the state regarding the solar-powered devices installation as we hear that many home owner is prevented installation from their community association.

The letter confirmed that "...... no person shall be prevented by any covenant, declaration, bylaws....from installing a solar energy device...............

Please click the below letter for larger view.

Credentials - How Do We Stay at the Front

2010-06-17T07:05:00.000-10:00

And below is the reason that we use only stainless steel in our mounting fasteners!

Another Happy Customer

2010-05-28T11:39:00.000-10:00

Another happy customer sent us recent HECO bill.

HECO bill from PV Customer

2010-05-05T17:46:00.000-10:00

Here is the sample of HECO bills from our PV customer

BEFORE PV INSTALLATION

AFTER PV INSTALLATION

PES Methods of Energy usage Analysis, Dont buy more PV than you need

2010-03-04T23:20:00.001-10:00

HE Participating contractor

2010-02-27T15:55:00.000-10:00

Pacific Energy Strategies, LLC is proud to be one of the HAWAII ENERGY participating Contractors. Hawaii Energy is taking the place of HECO in implementing not just the solar programs, but all the strategic planning and incentives for energy efficiency. They have the same quality system specs and they continue to do a 100% inspection on every system.

HECO PV article from Honolulu Advertiser

2010-02-27T15:45:00.000-10:00

On again, off again. Right now, it is very easy to get permission to "tie-in" to the grid. In the past, you needed a team of lawyers and engineers to hammer out an agreement with HECO. As you can imagine, the costs were high, and that is why no one took advantage of PV. That can happen again. Don't miss out on a good deal, especially now that it is easy!

The article was posted today on Feb 27, 2010

Please click the picture for the larger view.

PV Pictures - 15% Return on Investment Annually

2010-02-18T14:04:00.001-10:00

New Financing Program

2010-02-18T11:25:00.000-10:00

University of Hawaii federal Credit Union offers a GREEN LOAN for a Solar System!

Please contact us how to take advantage of low interest financing option.

Electric Bill to ZERO kWH Usage

2010-02-15T11:08:00.000-10:00

Just today on President's Day, we received 2 electric bills from satisfied PV customers. The first one was done with Microinverters and it took their bill to ZERO in one swoop. The second bill is from a Kunia customer who did Phase 1 on the Sunnyboy Inverter, and is now doing Phase 2 just today. He will definitely go to ZERO usage.

Think of what our great old President's would strive so hard for...Independence. Get Independence with PV. The average residential customer gets about a 15% return on investment. Businesses and combined residential/business get even higher rates of return because of Section 179 expensing and/or Accelerated Depreciation.

Invest in Independence with a high rate of return!

Tax Thoughts -- Extra Benefits for Home Businesses

2010-02-03T17:42:00.000-10:00

Do you have a legtimate home business? You may be surprised to find that you can reap benefits that bring the business portion of your solar investment to very low levels, almost free. Some people can enjoy an annual rate of return of around 70%. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

The section 179 depreciation expense AND/OR
MACRS Accelerated Depreciation

Can make a massive difference in your solar investment performance!!

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100203/D9DKVAB00.html

Please note that we are not tax professionals, and any tax related information presented is just an opinion that you MUST verify through your own trusted tax professional.

We have examples and official interpretations of the solar laws that have been published by the State of Hawaii and others, and we can provide this information to you and your trusted professional. Many of these clear up gray areas. Many Sales people do not understand the tax implications, or they present it in a slanted way so that only their product looks the best. Do not fall into that trap.

Solar with Government Support --- "Your" Bailout

2010-02-03T17:26:00.000-10:00

The State and Federal government want to encourage solar.

Put your money in the bank, and you get what? Maybe 1%

Put your money in a mutual fund, and hope for 7%, but be ready to lose 50%?

Put your money in Bernie Madoffs hands and ....... ouch.

Put your money on your roof, and you may see a 15% annual return on investment, and even better for business / part business usage. A portion of your portfolio should be invested in renewable energy sources, which makes you even stronger against future energy rate increases.

What would it feel like to no longer "be gamed" by the oil industry? It is a good feeling. They can still get you at the pump, at least until we have electric vehicles, and our own PV powered charging station. The PV system that you start building now can be used years down the road as infrastructure for your vehicle charging station.

UPDATED INFO REGARDING $1,000 REBATE REDUCTION

2010-01-13T13:39:00.001-10:00

Just received this from Hawaii Energy today. It clarifies that the sale date for a new system needs to be before 02/01/2010 in order to qualify for the $1,000 incentive. Take a look by clicking on the image.

HERE'S A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION YOU WON'T MIND KEEPING!

2010-01-08T11:23:00.000-10:00

Why continue to pay unnecessarily high electric bills? One of our customers in Waikele installed a PV system this past July and he "zeroed out!" Basically paying just the minimum charge for having electric service, he's running his electric account with a credit balance and doesn't have to pay! You can do the same! Call us today for your free customized evaluation!

$200 FOR EACH REFERRAL - FEB ONLY!

2010-01-07T14:56:00.000-10:00

Refer your friends and family before Mar 1, 2010
You get a DOUBLE REFERRAL FEE of $200. That’s a sweet deal for making a phone call.

WHY IS MY ELECTRIC BILL SO HIGH?

2010-01-05T11:46:00.000-10:00

Most people do not realize that their electric water heater consumes over 40% of their electric. By installing a solar water heater, you can cut this cost anywhere from 30-40% monthly.

If you have a $300 electric bill, that's savings of $90-$120 EACH MONTH!

Installing CFL light bulbs and energy efficient appliances are also a big step to reducing the cost on your electric bill. Why waste your money?

PACIFIC ENERGY ON THE KHON 2 NEWS

2010-01-04T18:07:00.000-10:00

Renewable Energy is getting prime time TV coverage. Pacific Energy has just made their 3rd appearance on the news supporting solar and a good cause.

SWAN SONG FOR $1,000 INSTANT REBATE? HAWAII ENERGY CUTTING BACK BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1, 2010

2010-01-03T05:30:00.000-10:00

Starting the first day of February 2010, Hawaii Energy is decreasing their $1,000 instant rebate down to just $750. What does this mean to the consumer? It means they lose out on extra money if they haven't signed up for their system by January 31 and installed it by February 28. If you're thinking about solar don't wait and let it affect you!

SOLAR PV FROM CHINA - AT WHAT COST?

2010-01-02T12:35:00.000-10:00

The push towards a greener future is a logical one. Because this “gray” future shown in the news link below, shows what kind of future occurs when easy money and fast growth policies are allowed to run rampant.

China is building PV panel producing plants very fast, many in the last few years. They have lower costs of production, less environmental laws, and less watchdogs for quality of production process. Time will tell whether all of these are good things.

Check out these Amazingly Disturbing Pictures from China

HAWAII FIRST IN NATION TO REQUIRE HOME SOLAR WATER HEATERS

2010-01-01T14:42:00.000-10:00

Most new homes in Hawai 'i will need to come with a solar water heater under a law that takes effect today.

The legislation is one of only a handful of new laws that kick in on this New Year's Day.

But it's the so-called "solar roofs" law that puts Hawai'i on the map, since no other state mandates that new housing have solar water heaters.

The law is hailed by environmentalists, who say solar heaters are not only environmentally friendly, they save consumers money. But some in the solar heating industry still have concerns about the law's efficacy and some loopholes.

Enacted in 2008 but mandated to begin today, the law says a building permit cannot be issued for a new single-family structure that does not include a solar water heater system meeting certain standards.

A homebuilder may, however, apply for a variance through the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' energy resources coordinator, under some circumstances.

Jeff Mikulina, executive director of the nonprofit Blue Planet Foundation, said that with a solar water heater, the typical homeowner will pay 30 percent to 40 percent less on their electric bills, or about $750 a year, depending on the number of people in the household and how much water they use.

Carilyn Shon, the state's energy conservation program manager, pointed out that petroleum experts are estimating that oil prices will more than double in the coming two years, providing additional incentive for people to go to solar water heating.

"The people who are going to install solar water heating as of 2010, or who already have it, are going to be the beneficiaries," Shon said.

From the environmental standpoint, the law will reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 8,000 tons annually from avoided electricity use, according to the Blue Planet Foundation, which aims to make Hawai'i energy independent.

Article from the Honolulu Advertiser
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer

ENPHASE PV POWER PRODUCTION

2009-12-31T10:28:00.000-10:00

Here is an example of an Enphase Energy Monthly Energy Production Report.

This customer produced over 400kWh in December alone! In the summer these numbers will increase even more! After experiencing such savings in his electric bill, this customer is excited to add more panels this year to further reduce his bill!

Will you decide to put your roof to work?

HAWAII GOING GREEN MARKETPLACE @ KITV4

2009-12-30T18:07:00.000-10:00

As featured on KITV 4's Hawaii Going Green Marketplace!

http://www.kitv.com/greenmarketplace/index.html

Blogger Can Save You $250 Instantly!

2009-12-29T10:41:00.000-10:00

The Importance of Solar Maintenance

2009-12-01T11:58:00.000-10:00

Every 3-5 years you should do a solar maintenance on your solar system. Much like a car needs an oil change every 3,000 miles to run appropriately and efficiently, a solar system needs a maintenance every 3-5 years as well to maintain its efficiency and longevity. Important corrosion protection and safety equipment components such as the sacrificial anode rod and P&T relief valves should be renewed during this time, along with a visual inspection of all other solar components.

You can't get tax credits for repairs such as repairing a solar tank, but replacing a solar tank can cost almost as much as a brand new system once you consider the tax credits, so once you've put the effort into purchasing and installing a new system, make sure you take care of your money-saving investment!

This is what could happen when maintenance is never done on a water heater...

TIP OF THE WEEK: DON'T SKIP OUT ON YOUR REGULAR SOLAR MAINTENANCE! Flush out your system annually and make sure you call us every 3-5 years to replace the important components!

Does PV Work? Check This Electric Meter Spinning Backwards

2009-11-01T14:57:00.000-10:00

Need We Say More? What a Beautiful Sight!

OCTOBER ELECTRICITY BILLS WILL BE LARGER! AGAIN!

2009-10-07T08:23:00.000-10:00

So, you've been debating whether or not to invest in that brand new electricity producing solar photovoltaic system but ask yourself, is it worth it? Am I getting a solid return on investment? The answer is a clear as day, matter of fact, and resounding YES! Electric bills keep going up, and every time that happens you can give your PV system a small raise because after the 6-7 years it takes to pay for itself, it'll continue to bring you consistent, reliable returns on your investment. The sun isn't expected to die out for another 5 billion years, that's about the only consistency we can look forward to!

GET YOUR TAX CREDITS IN 2009 BEFORE THEY GO AWAY!

2009-10-02T08:24:00.000-10:00

This surely doesn't help out the likelihood that our 35% state tax credits will continue to stick around with mistakes like this. If they're willing to pull money from education, don't you think they're willing to part with renewable energy tax credits? This is from the Honolulu Advertiser on October 1, 2009.

To PV Pump or Not to PV Pump (Conventional Controller and Pump)

2009-09-22T15:06:00.000-10:00

Solar DC pump (also called PV pump) is a mixed bag.

The good:

You never pay to run the pump (free electric)—might be a buck or two a month.
The “control system” is elegantly simple…when the sun shines, is when the water is getting hot, and then the pump run automatically to bring the hot water down.

The Bad

If you go on vacation, its harder to control the maximum temperature or prevent overheating. We do add a switch so you can turn off the pump, though.
It costs $250.00 more than standard system.
The DC pump motors tend to have a little highly service rate than AC pump motors.
If inside a living space (laundry room or bi-fold door closet) they do make some noise that changes as clouds go by.

The Neutral
If you have the 120V plug in controller, even in power outage, you can just plug this into your computer UPS and you will be producing hot water.

Commercial Solar System

2009-09-14T11:45:00.000-10:00

Pacific Energy Strategies can handle all your solar needs, whether residential or commercial. This picture is from the Newtown Estates Community Association and shows a 14 panel, 960 gallon storage system that will save over $500,000 over its useful life. Pacific Energy Strategies renovated the system in 2002.

Japanese Yellow Pages

2009-09-11T17:00:00.000-10:00

The ONLY solar company on Oahu to cater to both local and Japanese customers.

re and grid capacity versus rolling reserve capacity

2009-08-14T19:56:00.000-10:00

Believe me, I am a fan on any renewable energy or alternative energy that doesn't involve America's finest getting killed and killing overseas. I don't understand the biomass argument in Hawaii except where we can take untapped water reserves and develop some hybrid plants that grow like heck in red dirt and make good biomass sources. Or some algae type ocean resource. There are some very simple thermodynamics that are involved. Shipping wood in ocean freighters to biomass plants in Hawaii...I just don't see it making sense from an energy balance point of view, even if some strange mis-pricing of shipping costs made it make sense from a financial point of view.

At any rate, the guys in this article are just talking biomass, so maybe they have a good thing going. However, the known, good technologies that we have right now, that make proven economic sense, and that we could deploy in fairly good percentages of the overall usage in the next 5 to 10 years....well, they are here, they are ready.

Start of the Solar Blog

2009-08-14T16:55:00.000-10:00

We started a solar blog to have an easy place to post useful solar facts, links, and guides on how to operate your solar system for the best savings.