groSolar Partners With Habitat for Humanity to Build a Solar Home in One Day
groSolar, the Vermont-based solar integration firm focused on designing, distributing and installing high-quality energy systems, has partnered with NYSERDA to complete 15 residential solar electric systems for the Capital District Habitat for Humanity based in Albany, NY. In fact, groSolar recently erected a new solar-equipped Habitat for Humanity home in only one day.
Like the blitz build, the rest of the systems will be installed on houses built by Habitat in the capital district of New York.
“Energy is rapidly becoming one of the biggest expenses born by renters and home owners,‚ says Jeff Wolfe, CEO of groSolar. ‚ With this system in place, the family living in this house will realize big savings — up to half of their electrical energy costs. groSolar is pleased to partner with Habitat for Humanity to make home ownership a reality for this family.”
The systems are partially funded by a cash incentive from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) PowerNaturally program which provides financial incentives for New York State residents and businesses that utilize renewable energy systems. The cash incentive from NYSERDA reduces the cost, along with help from groSolar‚ s many solar product providers including PV modules from Evergreen Solar, to allow groSolar to partially donate the remaining parts and installation.
The systems will be installed with the help of students from the Ulster County BOCES Photovoltaic Practitioner Institute.
‚ Energy efficiency upgrades to homes are important measures homeowners can take in reducing electricity consumption, which will save money on electric bills,‚ said Peter R. Smith, President and CEO of NYSERDA. ‚ With the addition of a Photovoltaic (PV) system, energy savings will be even greater, and each one of these new homeowners can be proud of the positive environmental impact they‚ re making to our State.‚
The 2 kilowatt systems will be connected to the electrical panel in the houses where they are installed, and the house will remain connected to the NiMo utility system. When the sun is out and is providing more energy than the residents are using, the excess will feed back into the utility, making the meter run backwards. This system will produce on average about 6 kWh per day. Most homes use approximately eight to twelve kilowatt hours of energy per day, so this system is expected to provide more than half of the home’s energy needs.
Source: groSolar Press Release on Renewable Energy Access
August 29, 2007
