Why Did We Choose a BP Solar Electric System? Our Family Is Reducing Air Pollution While “ ” Being Energy Independent
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
“ By generating our own clean electricity, Why did we choose a BP Solar electric system? our family is reducing air pollution while “ ” being energy independent. And we’re doing it now so that our children can inherit a better world. When we decided to buy a solar electric system, we spent a lot of time researching. We finally selected BP Solar – their system had the high quality modules and system components that gave us the exactly what we wanted. But we also considered something else: the company’s experience. We wanted to do business with a name brand in the solar industry – one known for quality and reliability. And since BP Solar has been around for thirty years, we felt comfortable that they’re going to continue to be here. After all, what good is a long warranty if the company isn’t around to honor it?” For more information, visit our website: www.bpsolar.com USA Dankoff Solar Products - Hutton Communications - Georgia Polar Wire - Alaska Southwest PV Systems - Texas Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. - Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Alberta Soltek Powersource Ltd - Ontario Alternative Solar Products - New Mexico Toll Free: 877.896.2806 Phone: 907.561.5955 Toll Free: 800.899.7978 Solar Market - Maine Toll Free: 888.291.9039 Toll Free: 888.300.3037 California Toll Free: 888.396.6611 Phone: 770.963.1380 Fax: 907.561.4233 Phone: 281.351.0031 Toll Free: 877.785.0088 Phone: 403.291.9039 Phone: 705.737.1555 Toll Free: 800.229.7652 Phone: 505.473.3800 Fax: 770.963.9335 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 207.985.0088 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 909.308.2366 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.polarwire.com Internet: www.southwestpv.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.dankoffsolar.com Internet: www.huttonsolar.com Internet: www.solarmarket.com Internet: www.alternativesolar.com Solar Depot, Inc. - California Sun Amp Power Company - Arizona Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Trans-Canada Energie - Quebec Effective Solar Products - Louisiana Intermountain Solar Technologies - Toll Free: 707.766.7727 Toll Free: 800.677.6527 CANADA British Columbia Toll Free: 800.661.3330 Atlantic Solar Products, Inc. - Toll Free: 888.824.0090 Utah Phone: 800.822.4041 Phone: 480.922.9782 Generation PV, Inc. - Ontario Toll Free: 800.667.6527 Phone: 450.348.2370 Maryland Phone: 504.537.0090 Toll Free: 800.671.0169 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.311.4286 Phone: 250.544.2115 E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.807.2857 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 801.501.9353 Internet: www.solardepot.com Internet: www.sunamp.com Phone: 905.831.6111 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.worldbatteries.com Phone: 410.686.2500 Internet: www.effectivesolar.com E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: Internet: www.generationpv.com Internet: www.atlanticsolar.com www.intermountainwholesale.com “ By generating our own clean electricity, Why did we choose a BP Solar electric system? our family is reducing air pollution while “ ” being energy independent. And we’re doing it now so that our children can inherit a better world. When we decided to buy a solar electric system, we spent a lot of time researching. We finally selected BP Solar – their system had the high quality modules and system components that gave us the exactly what we wanted. But we also considered something else: the company’s experience. We wanted to do business with a name brand in the solar industry – one known for quality and reliability. And since BP Solar has been around for thirty years, we felt comfortable that they’re going to continue to be here. After all, what good is a long warranty if the company isn’t around to honor it?” For more information, visit our website: www.bpsolar.com USA Dankoff Solar Products - Hutton Communications - Georgia Polar Wire - Alaska Southwest PV Systems - Texas Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. - Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Alberta Soltek Powersource Ltd - Ontario Alternative Solar Products - New Mexico Toll Free: 877.896.2806 Phone: 907.561.5955 Toll Free: 800.899.7978 Solar Market - Maine Toll Free: 888.291.9039 Toll Free: 888.300.3037 California Toll Free: 888.396.6611 Phone: 770.963.1380 Fax: 907.561.4233 Phone: 281.351.0031 Toll Free: 877.785.0088 Phone: 403.291.9039 Phone: 705.737.1555 Toll Free: 800.229.7652 Phone: 505.473.3800 Fax: 770.963.9335 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 207.985.0088 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 909.308.2366 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.polarwire.com Internet: www.southwestpv.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.dankoffsolar.com Internet: www.huttonsolar.com Internet: www.solarmarket.com Internet: www.alternativesolar.com Solar Depot, Inc. - California Sun Amp Power Company - Arizona Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Trans-Canada Energie - Quebec Effective Solar Products - Louisiana Intermountain Solar Technologies - Toll Free: 707.766.7727 Toll Free: 800.677.6527 CANADA British Columbia Toll Free: 800.661.3330 Atlantic Solar Products, Inc. - Toll Free: 888.824.0090 Utah Phone: 800.822.4041 Phone: 480.922.9782 Generation PV, Inc. - Ontario Toll Free: 800.667.6527 Phone: 450.348.2370 Maryland Phone: 504.537.0090 Toll Free: 800.671.0169 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.311.4286 Phone: 250.544.2115 E-mail: [email protected] Toll Free: 800.807.2857 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 801.501.9353 Internet: www.solardepot.com Internet: www.sunamp.com Phone: 905.831.6111 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.worldbatteries.com Phone: 410.686.2500 Internet: www.effectivesolar.com E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.spsenergy.com E-mail: [email protected] Internet: Internet: www.generationpv.com Internet: www.atlanticsolar.com www.intermountainwholesale.com www.usbattery.com RECYCLED POWER At U.S. Battery, we’re committed to doing our part in keeping the environment clean and green for future generations, as well as providing you with premium deep cycle products guaranteed to deliver your power requirements when you need them. Don’t settle for anything less than U.S. Battery products! 1675 Sampson Ave. Corona, CA 91719 (800) 695-0945 / 653 Industrial Park Dr., Evans, GA 30809 (800) 522-0945 HP96 contents 14 hydro farm Juliette & Lucien Gunderman An Oregon farm’s newest crop is electricity—two Canyon Industries turbines can produce a maximum of 30 KW...Wow! 26 renter’s PV system Eric Grisen Eric and Tiffany’s 300 watt PV system is built in a box. It powers a home office, and can move when they move. 34 wind intertie Mike Fischer June & Charlie Nichols were confident enough to go into debt for their intertied 10 KW Bergey wind system. Payback time—4 years. 46 what the heck? Joe Schwartz Inverter: DC to AC, and sometimes back. 48 hydronic greenhouse Richard Lane & Chuck Marken A giant solar thermal collector heats the hydronic floor of a 1,200 square foot greenhouse for the Oneida Nation. 56 innovative solar homes Zeke Yewdall & Catherine Buxton Arundown on design, equipment, and approach used to create the fourteen homes that competed in the Solar Decathlon. 8 home power 96 / august & september 2003 On the Cover Regulars Scott Jernigan, Nicole Smith, and Scott Harding come together to 10 From Us to You help Tiffany Grisen move the Joe Schwartz Grisens’ 300 watt PV array from a Solar energy—do it rental house to their own home. yourself, or hire a pro. 100 Code Corner John Wiles Making the right connections. 106 Independent Power Providers Don Loweburg The Party’s Over—oil’s past, present, & future. 110 Power Politics Michael Welch Junket to a nuclear dump site...land of many bad ideas. 114 Word Power Ian Woofenden 68 solar lawn tractor Magnetism. Christopher Zach 116 Home & Heart Christopher eliminates one of his most polluting possessions by Kathleen switching to a solar powered Elek-Trak lawn mower. Jarschke-Schultze Logging rescue #1. 74 REview 126 Wizard Speaks Joe Schwartz The Wiz Dark energy. The Xantrex Prosine 2.0 inverter/charger. 134 Ozonal Notes guerrilla solar Richard Perez 82 How to treat your Profile 0026 rechargeables. A 6.6 kilowatt PV array offsets air conditioning loads in California. 136 Remembrance HP loses a friend. Don 88 SDHW modification Kulha remembered. Chuck Marken & Ken Olson 80 HP Subscription With simple modifications, an electric water heater can act as a solar Form storage tank with electric backup. 122 RE Happenings 94 EV mistakes 128 Letters to Shari Prange & Mike Brown Home Power Electric vehicle conversion mistakes to avoid. 138 Q&A 120 book review 142 Micro Ads Rachael Ware & Johnny Weiss 144 Advertisers The Solar House: Passive Heating & Cooling reviewed. Index www.homepower.com 9 from us to you The Right Stuff HP staff Publisher Richard Perez Let’s face it—purchasing a renewable energy (RE) system is a big investment. Publisher & Business Manager Karen Perez This is true whether you’re hiring a pro to design and install your system, or you’re Chief Executive electrically savvy and will be doing the work yourself. Either way, you have some Officer & Technical important decisions to make. Editor Joe Schwartz Hiring pros may look expensive at first, but when you consider their level of Advertising Manager Connie Said expertise and the value of your own time, it may very well be the most cost Marketing Director Scott Russell effective approach.