F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions about Renewable Energy

• What is renewable energy?Renewable energy is electricity that is produced from sources that are naturally replenished such as wind, solar – using solar panels, geothermal – using the heat of the earth, and hydro-electric – using water. Renewable energy has less or no impact on the environment compared to more traditional methods which use fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. These methods are not renewable in that these resources are used up faster than they are naturally replaced or renewed.Wind and Solar renewable energy does not pollute the air or water because it does not produce emissions or waste. Renewable energy protects the environment by reducing the overall need for electricity produced by fossil fuels which in turn reduces the amount of environmental impact.
• What are the benefits of renewable energy?When you use wind and solar power for your home you become less dependant on your local power company. If you are completely ‘off grid’, that means you have no ties whatsoever to the local power company. Off grid power can be used to power a cabin in the mountains offering freedom with the convenience of FREE electricity.
• Does renewable energy cost more?The time it used to take to recover your initial investment is substantial when you purchase new, ready to install, equipment. Home kits can cost anywhere between four and ten thousand dollars. A $4000 investment would take 3.5 years to break even at $100 per month. With a $200 investment and a weekend for build time, it would only take you a few months to recover your startup cost (depending on your energy needs).

Solar Energy FAQ

• What is a photovoltaic (PV) system?Solar Panels use PV cells to convert solar energy into Direct Current or (DC) power. PV cells are made from silicon and were originally used to power satellites and the international space station. The cells can be acquired individually and wired together in panels which create an array.A complete solar system will typically include a controller, inverter, and storage (batteries). The purpose of the charge controller is to prevent overcharging of the storage system. The inverter converts the DC current (from the Solar Panels directly or from the Batteries), to AC current for use by the home appliances or to be sent back out to the electrical grid.
• What’s so special about solar electricity?Solar energy is renewable, noiseless, produce no emmissions (except during manufacturing), and is FREE.
• Can a PV system be portable?Yes. PV cells can be built into a portable panel that can be used anywhere such as when camping or travelling.
• Does a PV system replace an electric utility?Solar PV systems that are connected to the grid are usually sized to handle half of a home’s electrical load. Grid-connected systems have the benefit of lower utility costs while ensuring continuous power from the utility company. Any unused electricity will be sent back through to the grid turning your power meter backward further reducing your monthly utility bill. If the amount of electricity you home consumes is less than what is created by your home your utility company will pay you for the overage.
• What are the benefits of having a PV system?1. Reduce or eliminate your utility bill
  When purchasing a home kit for thousands of dollars, it can be expensive to create a PV system to power everything in a house. However, when you build your own panels for thousands less than an off-the-shelf unit, it can be cost effective to create a system sized enough to eliminate your dependence on the power company.Solar panels mounted directy on the roof also create shade which will reduce heat during the summer months allowing your cooling systems to run less often which saves you money.2. Environmental responsibility
  Using a renewable energy source will reduce your impact on the environment.

  3. Improved power reliability
  By creating the right renewable energy system for your home, you can become completely independent of the power grid and always have power available to use even when the grid is offline.

• How much electricity can a PV system produce?A 2-kilowatt (kW) PV system getting an average of 5.1 hours of sunlight, can produce about 3,700 kWh of electricity annually.Note: the rated output of PV modules is assessed using the full hours of sunshine per day where one (1) full sun hour is defined as being exposed to a solar intensity equal to 1000 watts per square meter. Full sun hours does not indicate the number of hours that the sun is shining in a day, but rather is an indication of the intensity of the sun.
• What is the lifespan of a PV system?Manufacturers will usually provide 10 to 20-year warranties, but PV modules will likely last longer than that.
• What is involved in maintaining and operating a Solar Electric system?Because there are no moving parts, maintennance is relatively simple. Keeping the cell surfaces clean and free of debris will ensure maximum solar collection and long life.Systems with storage units will require more maintennance to maintain battery life.

Wind Energy FAQ

• How do residential wind turbines work?A wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home’s electrical system.Most homes with wind turbines, use them with the local utility. At times when there is little wind there is no output from the turbine and all the power needed is counted by the power meter. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power taken from the utility is decreased. If there is more output from the turbine than what is being used it will run back into the grid and subtracted from the meter talley, (run meter backwards). There are typically no batteries in a modern residential wind system.
• How much can I save? The wind turbine typically lowers your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. It is not uncommon for wind turbine plus solar panel owners to pay $0 on their utility bill. In northern parts of the country where less air conditioning is used the bills can be very low year-round. Factors that need to be considered are the cost of the unit/s, consumtion of electricity, and average wind speed and frequency at your site.
• How many turbines do I need for my home? Homes use approximately 9,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year (about 780 kWh per month). Depending upon the average wind speed in the area, a wind turbine rated in the range of 5 to 15 kilowatts would be required to make a significant contribution to meet this demand. To increase electrical output, several smaller turbines can be used.
• Is a wind turbine right for me? A wind turbine can be obtrusive for suburbs and homes with small lots. Some neighborhoods might not allow wind units to show above fence or rooflines.The economics of a wind system are very sensitive to the average wind speed in the area, and to a lesser extent, the cost of purchasing electricity. As a general rule of thumb, if economics are a concern, a turbine owner should have at least a 10 mph average wind speed and be paying at least 10 cents/kWh for electricity.Residential wind turbines have been installed in at least 47 of the 50 states, but the majority of the units have been installed in the Northeast and the Midwest.

• Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home? Yes. Wind turbines produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. Over its life, a small residential wind turbine can offset approximately 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change).
• Do wind turbines make noise or interfere with TV reception? Small wind turbines do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable by most people. A typical residential wind system makes less noise than the average washing machine. Wind turbines do not interfere with TV reception.
• Will my utility allow me to hook up a wind generator? Federal regulations (specifically, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA) require utilities to connect with and purchase power from small (less than 80 MW) wind energy systems. A wind turbine manufacturer should be able to help arrange the required utility company approvals.See State-by-State small wind information for lists of interconnection requirements for many U.S. states.
• Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house? No. A wind turbine is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without the need to change any wiring or appliances.
• How high should I install the turbine? Most commercially available units come with an 80- to 120-foot tower to raise the turbine above any turbulence caused by obstructions such as trees and buildings. Performance increases with altitude.
• How much does a wind system cost? A small turbine can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $22,000 installed. Building one yourself can cost $150 or less. DIY units are not as powerful as the ones commercially available but there’s no reason why you can’t install several depending on your lot size.
• How reliable are wind turbines? Will I have to perform much maintenance? Most small turbines have very few moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance. They are designed for a long life (up to 20years) and operate completely automatically.

Solar Electric Organizations

American Solar Energy Society
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a national organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. residents and the global environment. ASES is the United States Section of the International Solar Energy Society.

California Energy Industries Association
The California Energy Industries Association (CAL SEIA) is a nonprofit solar industry trade association organized by professionals of the solar energy industry doing solar-related business in the State of California. CALSEIA is a chapter of SEIA.

Interstate Renewable Energy Council
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a non-profit organization committed to accelerating the sustainable utilization of renewable energy resources and technologies in and through state, local government, and community activities.

Million Solar Roofs
An initiative of the US Department of Energy, this web site profiles exemplary residential applications of PV power across the country.

Northern California Solar Energy Association
NCSEA is a volunteer membership organization established to foster the development and application of solar energy through the exchange of information. It is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).

Solar Energy Industries Association
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade group for solar enterprises. SEIA provides information on its member companies to potential investors, partners, distributors and suppliers.

Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA)
The Solar Electric Power Associations a collaboration of utilities, energy service providers and the photovoltaic industry working together to create and encourage commercial use of new solar electric power business models.