[ausev] Solar panels

[John Allen]

Since you all seem to be interested in geothermal heat pumps and solar,
check out this website http://www.danshomeenergyproject.com/   got this from
a friend on the ASES mail list.
Dan lives near San Antonio and his projects have been featured on Discovery
channel.    He's attempted or installed most of what you're contemplating.
He assembled his solar arrays and is using some energy from them to also
pump water for the heat pump and solar water heater.  

John

-----Original Message-----
From: ausev-bounces at austinev.org [mailto:ausev-bounces at austinev.org] On
Behalf Of Brian Lasseter
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 2:37 PM
To: AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion
Subject: Re: [ausev] Solar panels

On Tue, Mar 3, 2009 at 9:17 AM, Josh Handel <jhandel at ktomics.net> wrote:
> Oh one thing to note is you can keep adding on to your solar system each
> year.. so you can start with 3k (then with a big enough inverter) add
> another couple of K next year and qualify for a second rebate from
austin..
> At least thats what my solar guys told me.

It's true... I have a pair of 3.328kw systems using 208w Sharp
panels... Making for 6.656 kw total on my roof.  All told the city
paid me $27k to put the panels up there, and Uncle Sam paid me another
$4k.  (That was over 2 years of course.)  I've probably got room up
there for another 6 kw of solar on my roof, but I'm investing in a
Geothermal heat pump this year as my A/C is almost dead and the
stimulus bill also lifted the $2k cap on tax credits for geothermal
heat pumps.  The geothermal heat pump should cut my electric bill by
2/3rds, meaning that I will be generating more electricity than I use
(even with the electric car).

As for cleaning... I am embarrassed to say that I have never cleaned
my solar panels.  The oldest ones up on my roof are almost 2 years
old.  However I have never noticed any significant power drop off, nor
have I noticed any real difference between the power generated my
first set and my second set.  I imagine the occasional rain and hail
cleans them enough to keep my power generation well within spec.

I will take this as notice that I should go up and do that.    :-)


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

"No Sane man will dance."   -Cicero (106-43 B.C.)
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