Alternative Energy Systems:Providers, Specs & Prices

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Comment by JD Polk on April 23, 2009 at 6:51am

ENERGY MATTERS
Renewable energy. Energy-efficient homes. Green vehicles. It’s all about energy.
Making Solar Electricity Affordable
2/24/2009 12:36:38 PM
By Dan Chiras
Tags: energy efficiency, solar panels, Dan Chiras
Many people who are contemplating installing solar electric systems on their homes struggle with the high initial costs.
To pay for a system, they either have to dip into their savings or take out a loan.
A 3- to 5-kW grid-connected solar system, suitable for most homes, can run $30,000 to $50,000.
Even with recent legislation that provides a 30 percent tax credit for solar and wind systems for homes and businesses,
the cost of such as system will still cost $21,000 to $30,000, which is a substantial piece of change.
Isn’t there some way to reduce this cost?
There is. It's called efficiency.
Richard Perez, founder of Home Power magazine, ran the numbers.
He found that every dollar invested in energy efficiency could reduce the cost of a photovoltaic (PV) system by $3 to $5.
How?
By reducing the size of a system one must install to meet his or her needs.
The economic savings from efficiency are quite substantial. For instance,
a $2,000 investment in home energy efficiency — for example, weatherization, insulation and energy-efficient compact fluorescent or
LED light bulbs — will reduce the demand for electricity. This, in turn, will reduce the size of the PV system required to meet one’s needs.
It could easily save $6,000 to $10,000 on the cost of the system of a 3- to 5-kW PV system before tax incentives.
Taking into account the 30% federal tax credit, the savings would be $4,200 to $7,000.
Spend a little more on efficiency and the cost of the system drops even more. If you invested $4,000 in efficiency,
the total system cost would decline by $12,000 to $20,000.
Taking into account the federal tax credits once again and the decrease in initial cost would be $8,400 to $14,000.
That’s not a bad return on an investment in efficiency.
Instead of spending $21,000 to $30,000 for a system, you’d pay $12,600 to $16,000.
So, if you're thinking about installing a PV system, think efficiency first. It’s a gift you give yourself and the planet.
It will reduce energy demand, reduce pollution, and reduce the cost of a system substantially.
Moreover, the savings will provide dividends for the life of the house.

Comment by American High Tech Realty, LLC on March 8, 2009 at 10:21am

My interest is as grid location and negotiation specialist.
LLC participant/- Prospective partner in providing impetus provider for articles of organization. Disabled Vet.

Comment by Renew_H2_Man on February 12, 2009 at 9:17pm

Hello All,

I hope I can contribute to and learn from this group. My interest is in renewable Hydrogen, and fuel cell technology.

Comment by Brian Oram on February 11, 2009 at 9:08am

The Pocono Northeast Resource, Conservation, and Development Council and its partners will be hosting the Northeast PA Energy Solutions Expo on June 13-14th, 2009 at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds in Dallas, PA. The Expo will highlight exhibitors and vendors who will be showcasing technology, products, and innovations to reduce energy use and provide locally developed alternative and renewable energy options.

For more information about the event, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, please visit
http://www.pnesolutions.org

Thanks

Brian Oram

Comment by Brian Oram on January 5, 2009 at 11:32am

Looking for someone in Northeastern PA with this experience. Please contact us

Comment by Bill Eckhart on October 17, 2008 at 2:13pm

This doesn;t quite fit in the wind & solar field, but most of us do use fuel in acquiring our food, fiber & fuel. Our company has developed a hydrogen generator that works extremely well on diesel engines, which supply our basic needs in the production & transportation areas. Typically we are able to reduce fuel consumption of the "Big Rigs" on the road by 15 to 20%. Those interested in learning more about this system can look at www.hfmax.com

Comment by Brian Oram on October 1, 2008 at 9:47am

I am looking for information as it relates to potential small installations for homes and farms in Northeast PA - looking for company contacts, product inforamtion, etc.
Our website is http://www.pnercd.org
Snail Mail Address is at the site - send informaton to Brian Oram

Thanks

Comment by Terry F. Daum on October 1, 2008 at 9:39am

Creation of this group is a marvelous idea. I agree with Dan Chance’s opening statement that establishment of a listing format is essential. When this site is discovered by the commercial community, it will attract hundreds if not thousands of vendor responses. Listing various product models as individual units would be ideal, but will multiply the entries. Selecting product candidates with dissimilar metrics becomes unmanageable as the number of entries increases. Vendor adherence to the stipulated format will optimize the utility of the information.

Some suggestions for requested information:
Category:
Wind
Solar
Geothermal
etc.

Wind:
Minimum geographic footprint required.
Minimum windspeed required.
Power (watts) produced at minimum windspeed.
Optimum power and windspeed.
Hardware cost.
Website link.

Solar:
Minimum geographic footprint required.
Minimum sunlight required… etc.

Perhaps a group member who knows how to use a computer could enter the incoming data into spreadsheet format and maintain it on these pages as a sortable and searchable database.

Comment by W. Dan Chance on September 30, 2008 at 2:58pm

Just in case he doesn't post, I wanted you to have this website. The owner markets many different systems. I haven't been there yet but he says his prices are among the best. www.terrapinsolar.com .

Comment by Terry F. Daum on September 29, 2008 at 9:32am

My research for wind products has thus far been disappointing. I hope this venue is successful.

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