Solar 101 Practical Applications of Solar Energy for Residential and Commercial Applications Appalachian State University Brandon Leavitt 847-677-0950 www.solarserviceinc.com Solar 101 Overview Advantages of solar energy Solar thermal technology Residential solar thermal Photovoltaic technology Solar pool heating Multi-unit buildings Commercial Applications Non-profit & school Applications Government incentives Celebrating Thirty Years of Solar Tales from a solar survivor Solar Potential More solar energy hits the earth in one hour than all of humanity consumes in a year! Paradigm Shift in Energy Generation Mining Energy: Petroleum, Coal, Natural Gas, Uranium, Oil Living off savings Harvesting Energy: Solar, Wind, Water, Earth, Biomass Living off income Significant Advantages Uses Unlimited Energy Source Reliable and Proven Technology Improves Air & Water Quality Free Fuel Deliveries Daily Pays for Itself Over and Over Again Keeps Energy $$ Close to Home High Cost of Fossil Fuels High, volatile prices U.S. spends $440 billion annually on energy Natural gas prices gone up 350% since ’95 IL exports $6 billion for natural gas annually Pollution Therm of natural gas emits 11.6 lbs. of CO2 kWh of electricity emits 1.3 lbs. of CO2 (national average) 120, 000+ people die from air pollution annually in US 30 billion barrels of oil consumed in ’06 globally Solar Thermal & Solar PV Heats water & living spaces Has been used throughout time More economical than PV Produces electricity Can use batteries or electric grid Can sell excess power through electric grid Rapidly evolving technology 4 Hours of SUN Can Produce A 24-hour Supply Of Hot Water Solar Thermal Technology Is Heating Water, Homes And Buildings In Over 150 Communities Solar Heat and Hot Water The Affordable Alternative Lifetime supply of hot water: $5,000 to $7,000* Lifetime supply of heat & hot water: $10,000 to $14,000* *Includes complete standard installation 30% state rebate** & 30% federal tax credit (maximum residential credit $2,000) **Based on availability THE MORE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU SAVE! How Easy Is It? Fully Automatic Maintenance-free Stored Energy Available 24-hours A Day Virtually Every Home and Building Has Solar Thermal Potential Works With Existing Water Heaters, Forced-air furnaces and Radiant Floors Solar Heat Assist Radiant floor Gas Forced Air Independent Space Heat Solar Hot Water with Heat Assist One 4’ X 8’ solar panel heats over 10,000 gallons of hot water annually in Chicago. Produces a lifetime supply of heat and hot water Protects against energy price increases Saves up to 70% of annual water-heating expense Works with existing furnace - day or night Increases home resale value Exempt from Illinois property taxes Qualifies for State Rebates and Federal Tax Credits Wilmette Winthrop Harbor ArlingtonEvanston Heights Arlington Heights Zion Wood Evanston Lincoln Burr Ridge Solar Service Inc Arlington Palatine Heights Naperville Spring GroveArlington Heights Wilmette Arlington Evanston Heights Evanston Evanston Highland Park Zion Carol Stream Lincoln Wood Evanston Wilmette Hawthorn Woods Solar Service Inc Chicago Deerfield Evanston Michigan City, IN Arlington Naperville Winthrop Harbor Chicago Spring Grove Wilmette Westchester Westchester Heights Zion Carol Stream Lincoln Wood Evanston Wilmette Deerfield Arlington Deerfield Heights Evanston Deerfield Chicago Evanston Evanston Solar Service Inc Naperville Spring Deerfield Grove Wilmette Carol Stream Lincoln Wood Evanston Wilmette Deerfield Solar Service Inc Arlington Spring Heights Grove Chicago Evanston Chicago Solar Service Producing Solar Energy Since 1977 Lincolnwood, IL ComEd Questions Substantial Drop in Energy Use Solar Savings – Case Study “My first (gas) bill for two months was $29…After the solar system was installed for approximately four months, my gas company recalculated my budget amount and reduced it to $70 per month (from $158).” Antioch, IL “It’s like having a gold mine on my roof. Our solar system supplies more than enough hot water for my family and tenants.” -Susan Besson Evanston, IL • Four 4’ x 8’ Panels • Heats 200 gallons of hot water daily for two families • Prevents 6,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually Wilmette, IL System Installed: 1985 System Type: Solar Hot Water and Heat Assist •Saved: 1.2 billion BTUs in 20 years •Heats: 270 gallons of water daily •Heated: 1.4 million gallons in 20 years •CO2 emissions Saved: 60 tons since 1985 “If more people used solar we would save energy and make the world cleaner for our children’s future. But for us, we went solar so we could take a long hot bath in our 80 gallon tub.” Dr. Kalal Skokie, IL “After using the system for 6 months I estimate we have saved 50% to 60% on our gas bill this winter.” -A.I., Northbrook, IL Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic Zion, IL Chicago, IL Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic Antioch, IL Building Integrate Photovoltaic Evanston, IL 1.2 kWh Photovoltaic System “I think what is the most fun is watching our power meter running backwards.” Harry Drucker Wilmette, IL Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic “After we saw Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth, we were inspired to do our part. We thought solar energy was the way to go.” The Walsh Family Chicago, IL Solar Pool Heating Most efficient use of solar energy 20-30 year life of equipment Minimum or no maintenance needed Simple, automatic operation Extends life of conventional heating equipment Suitable for indoor and outdoor pools Residential Indoor Pool Inverness Inverness Residential Outdoor Pool Northbrook Schiller Park - Municipal Pool Reduces hot water energy expense up to 70% annually Protects against future energy cost increases Reduces maintenance costs and extend the life of the conventional water heater 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit + 5-year Accelerated Depreciation Eligible for State Rebates & Grants Increases property value Helps keep rent & overhead affordable 12-Unit Apartment Building Chicago • System Installed: 1985 • Heats: 600 Gallons of hot water daily & 150,000 gallons annually • Saved 32,300 therms in 22 years • CO2 emissions Saved: 376,000 pounds since 1985 2 and 3 Unit Apartments Multi-Family Housing Oak Park, IL System Type: Solar Hot Water Heats: 550 gallons daily for about 25 people “In the future, the price of energy is going to go up. It is better to get a solar system now and you can save as much as possible later on. ” Dr. Eugene Anandappa Substantially reduce energy expense Protects against future energy cost increases Illinois State Grants up to $400,000 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit + 5-year Accelerated Depreciation Free Publicity and community good-will Restaurant Hot Water Systems Niles and Chicago, IL System Type: Solar Hot Water Heats: 680 gallons daily Saves: 163 million BTUs annually “We looked for ways to reduce the energy cost, and solar was the answer.” Salvador Lamas Owner, Electrical Engineer Greenworks Christy Webber Landscapes - Chicago, IL Solar Hot Water and Assist for Heat Pump Laundromat Hot Water System 2,000 Gallons Per Day Chicago Laundromat Hot Water System Berwyn New Rebuilt World’s Largest Laundromat Berwyn “Despite natural gas prices going up, my solar hot water system enables me to maintain lower prices for my customers.” • 485,000 gallons of hot water annually • Saves 68,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per year Solar Publicity Pays! Not-for-profit Solar Application Resurrection Lutheran Church Chicago, IL Notre Dame High School Niles, IL “There will be tens of thousands of jobs in renewable energy in the future. Why not put the boys in this school in the front of this industry? If this is the future, let it start here.” Tim Herling Director of Operations Illinois’ LARGEST institutional Solar Thermal Installation - 4,400 gallons per day Chicago Fire Department – Installed in 1980 for NON-PROFIT organizations, Schools, Local and State Government Agencies For the purchase and installation of Solar Thermal Systems The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity GIVES… REBATES up to $10,000 for homeowners, businesses and municipalities GRANTS up to $400,000 for larger solar installations For owners or buyers of certified Historic Chicago Bungalows Energy Savers Grant For the purchase and installation of Solar Thermal Systems Five-Collector Solar Thermal System – Certified Bungalow - Chicago Solar Service Inc Solar Service Inc after State incentives For the purchase and installation of Solar Systems Example: Residential Solar Thermal Energy System: $18,000 State Rebate: -$ 5,400 Federal Solar Tax Credit: -$ 2,000 $18,000 Solar Thermal System = $10,600 Join ISEA Today WWW.ILLINOISSOLAR.ORG