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SREC Update

An increasing number of states are developing markets that allow people to buy and sell green energy.  The mid-Atlantic states lead the way.  Currently DC, DE, MA, MD, NC, NJ, OH, and PA have SREC (solar renewable energy certificate) markets.  However, many other states are eligible to sell SRECs into these markets.  Namely, VA, WV, KY, TN, IL, IN, MI, WI, and NY.  Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) are big driver of these markets.  In states that have an RPS, utilities are required to produce a certain amount of their electricity through renewable means.  If they do not have renewable sources, then they must buy SRECs in the market or pay a fine.  Utilities buy SRECs from owners of renewable energy systems, which quite often are average homeowners that invested in a solar power or solar thermal system.  One SREC is issued to the owner of a PV system every time the system produces 1,000 kWh.  Depending on the state, SRECs have been selling between $200 and $400.  New Jersey is the notable exception where SRECs sell for over $600.  This means the homeowner gets $0.20 – $0.40 per kWh – that’s about 2 to 4 times as much as homeowners can buy it from the utility.  As an owner of a solar power system, I can assure you it’s nice to have the electric company pay me more for power than I pay them.

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Surge Protection

You probably have a surge protector (usually in the form of a power strip) to protect expensive electronic devices like your television and computer.  Grid-tied inverters cost thousands of dollars and they too should be protected to avoid damage and premature failure.  Surges can be caused lightning (direct or nearby) and utility disturbances (such as switching in of capacitors to handle mid-day air conditioning loads).  It’s important to protect the inverter from surges on both the AC and DC sides of the system.  Surge protection devices are not expense but they do add some cost to the overall system.  This is unfortunately an area where some installers decide to cut corners.  Primal Energy Systems installs both AC and DC surge protection as standard equipment on every system so your investment is protected.

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Solar Hot Water is now available!

Primal Energy Systems is pleased to announce we now offer solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems!  Hot water heating typically represent about 30% of a home’s total energy consumption.  It takes a lot of energy to heat up 80 gallons of water and keep it hot all day and all night.  A solar hot water system drastically cuts the energy required because most of the heating is done by the sun.  Significant advances have been made in solar hot water systems over the past decade.  Today’s systems are compact, easily blend into your roof, and use a closed-loop heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the panels to your hot water tank.  Please email or call us to learn more and stay posted for more educational blogs about solar hot water!

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Gulf Oil Spill

Americans are frustrated, angry, and disheartened about the oil spill in the gulf and the failure of the efforts to contain it — and we should be.  It’s clear now that there were numerous failures that led to this castastrophe, and the term “fail-safe” is not a gaurantee.  “Cheap oil” isn’t so cheap.  It will cost billions to clean up this spill.  If BP and the other companies involved were forced to bear the costs, it would put them out of business.  Washington does not have the political will to do this, so it’s very likely that the taxpayers will be footing a large portion of the clean up costs.  We all want gas to be cheap at the pump, but when you fill up, think about the hidden costs of America’s energy policy – the environmental damage in the gulf, the loss of livelihood for the region, and the loss of life.

We can change this.  We don’t have to accept the status quo.  There are technologies that produce energy more safely.  And yes, they do seem more expensive at first glance but when you add in all the hidden costs of oil and coal, they are just as cost-effective.  If you don’t believe me, call Primal Energy Systems and we’ll come out to your house and give you a detailed analysis of the costs and benefits.  It’s imperative that America strikes a better balance in it’s energy sources – not only for future generations, but for this one.  You can help.  You can make a difference.  Invest in your own environmentally-friendly energy production systems – solar electricity, solar hot water, and geothermal – and free yourself from the volatile and rising costs of our old energy sources.

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Energy Price Update – April 2010

Electricity prices have remained stable in Central Virginia for the first quarter of 2010.  Neither Dominion nor Southside Electrical Cooperative made significant pricing changes.  The price of solar modules however has continue to decrease.  Q1 saw about a 2% decline in the average price of solar modules.  Module prices have hit a new decade-low.  This of course is good news for the consumer since it is becoming less and less expensive to install solar power.

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