2009 6th AnnuAl Solar Tour Social...2009 6th AnnuAl Solar Tour & Social Saturday • October 3, 2009Solar Social 9am-11am Solar Tour 11am- 4pm Presented by the Ases national solar

2009 6th AnnuAl

Solar Tour & Social

Saturday • October 3, 2009Solar Social 9am-11am

Solar Tour 11am- 4pm

www.HoustonSolarTour.org

Presented bythe Ases national solar tourAmerican solar energy society (Ases)Houston renewable energy Group (HreG)Houston Advanced research Center (HArC) City of Houston (COH)

Real SOlutiOnS fOR Real PeOPle

2 www.HoustonSolarTour.com

MEDIA SPONSORS: KPRC Channel 2 • Houston Chronicle • Comcast • Univision 45

See. Touch. Hear. Taste. Explore.

1500 McKinney across from the George R. Brown Convention Center

713-400-7336

12acres

of urbanGREEN SPACE

Lake!Playground!

Water Features! Amphitheater!

Dog Runs!Public Art!Great Food!

Visit the park for diverseseasonal programming.

For more information on

Discovery Green or for program information and updates, visit

discoverygreen.com.

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All of the seasonal programming events are FREE and open to the public.

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Specializing in LEED and green residential projects. Designer of the first LEED Gold Home in Houston.

Proud coordinators of the ‘08 - ’09 Houston Solar Tour

www.rdarc.com 713.432.7377

RD ARCHITECTURE, LLC

Affiliate of ASES.org 3

Why Solar?LaSt year I dId a research project with my 10 year old daughter - an energy time line. As we worked on it, one thing became clear, we’ve used an incredible amount of finite energy sources in a relatively short time. For ages people relied on human and animal power. Wind power pushed ships across the sea and ground grain. People harnessed water power for saw mills. And then the steam engine was invented. All of a sudden the world changed drastically. the industrial revolution, in part driven by the steam engine, was only a little more than 200 years ago. the first central coal power electricity plants were developed in the 1880’s. In 1902 the first production gasoline cars were made in the Us. In the past 200 years an incredible amount of change has taken place. Imagine the next 200 yearsI can not possibly predict what will happen next, but I can be hopeful about the direction we will take. What I do know is that our current energy consumption habits have to change. energy saved is just as valuable as energy made. efficiency will become very important. renewable sources of energy must take the place of finite energy sources. I sat, one afternoon, on the gulf coast at the end of this summer. there’s a balance there we can’t easily sense in the city. Pelicans and other seabirds are fish-ing, and so are a few fishermen. the birds catch what they need and the fishermen know not to exceed their limit for the day. It’s something they respect, because the limit preserves fish stock for next year’s fishing. Preserving our finite energy resources and reducing global greenhouse gases are important aspects of solar energy advocacy. We need to start thinking about the future and take only what we need. Generating power in a smart way is another challenge we face. We take the energy that comes to our homes for granted. In real-ity, there’s a lot to consider when you think about what is at the other end of a light switch or thermostat. I hope you enjoy the Houston solar tour - we are proud to be a part of the American solar energy society national tour. several organizations help to organize the tour, including HreG, HArC, and the City of Houston. the efforts to put together the solar tour is an investment in the future; just as every solar system installed is an-other step in the right direction. Many thanks to all our volunteers and participants!

Kathleen Reardon, 2009 Houston Solar Tour Director

Insidesolar social ........................................ 4How solar systems Work .................... 6Partner Profile ) HArC ......................... 7About Leed ........................................ 9solar Facts ....................................... 10solar Incentives & Paybacks .............. 12solar tour Map ............................ 12-13the economics ) residential solar Panels ...................................... 16Partner Profile ) Ases ........................ 17Partner Profile ) HreG ....................... 22

CentraL HouSton tour SIteS discovery Green ................................. 5Grb Convention Center ..................... 6City of Houston Code enforcement bldg ...................... 7burghli Homes ..................................... 8Patterson Place III .............................8-9Green bank ...................................... 10Girl scouts Headquarters ................... 11Gimenez residence .......................... 14West University solar Water Heating .. 14eapen residence .............................. 15Zercher residence ............................. 16reardon residence ........................... 17Wareloft ............................................ 18edgar residence .............................. 19Heigel residence ............................... 19

nortHeaSt/WoodLandS tour SIteS Fong residence ................................. 20Hill residence .................................... 20discovery at spring trails ................... 21dean residence ............................... 22

SoLar tour CLaSSIC SIteAnimal Farm ...................................... 23

2009 Board of dIreCtorSTour Chair

Kathleen reardon, Leed APPrincipal, rd Architecture, LLC

UsGbC, HreG

Tour Site and Volunteer Chairteri Mercatante

Green building Consultant, Greenology UsGbC, Hre

Sponsor ChairAaron Knape

President, tri-solar, LLC, HreG

Marketing / Brand & Interactive Strategies ChairMary Frances blatchley

Principal, forGreen Marketing & design

Marketing / Public Relations & Media ChairPam McConathy

Principal, Foresight Communications Group

Solar Social Chairsusannah devine

designer, rd Architecture

COVer PHOtO by dennIs desILVA

How to take the tour - It’s freeTHe ASeS HouSTon SolAR TouR is a self-guided tour. Look over the sites in this tour guide, gather a few friends to carpool with and visit the projects that interest you. Or, you can opt to take the organized group Metro bus tour (visit the HreG table at the solar social to learn more). enjoy spending the afternoon learning about solar systems and energy efficiency. tour sites are open from 11am to 5 pm. the Houston solar tour is part of the American solar energy society’s (Ases) national solar tour event, “the largest grassroots solar event in history.” Last year close to 140,000 attendees visited some 5,000 buildings in 3,000 participating communities around the UsA. Please be sure to sign up at the social or at a tour site so we can keep track of how many people have attended the 2009 Houston tour!

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The annual ASES Houston Solar Tour is made possible by the participation of many volunteers and both in-kind and paid sponsors. If you or your company would like to participate, please contact Kathleen Reardon at (713) 432-7377 or email her at [email protected].

4 www.HoustonSolarTour.org

Solar Social at discovery GreenSaturday, October 3

Grace Event Lawn, 9-11am1500 McKinney, Houston, TX 77010

Meet companies and organizations of Houston’s renewable energy community as we kick-off the Houston Solar Tour.

Visit the first two tour sites!• Discovery Green’s Alkek Building• George R. Brown Convention Center solar system kiosk

For more information visit the Standard Renewable Energy table.

Sign up for a free bus tour! METRO will be on site to transport you to and from some of the tour sites. For more information and to sign up, visit the HREG table.

Find out what kids are learning about renewable energy!– Spring Woods Middle School – Katheryn RoseGet a breakdown of the inner workings of a photovoltaic solar panel.

– Betsy Ross Elementary School – Bethel nwachukwulearn how wind and sun can create energy to power our homes and communities.

– TXu – Solar AcademyTXu Energy Solar Academy is partnering with national Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to implement their na-tionally recognized solar energy education program into Texas schools. Find out how TXU brings an interactive solar learning experience into the classroom.

eat!Sample brownies from Ruggles Green, Houston’s first green certified restaurant.

Talk with non-profit groups about what they are doing in your community! Organizations include: the Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG), the US Green Building Council (USGBC), Mothers for Clean Air (GHASPMFCA)

Learn about Houston’s involvement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and find out ways to help the City of Houston reach its goal as part of the Solar Houston Initiative.

Take a walk!Read interesting facts and a bit of history about “green” build-ing and renewable energy as you walk through the USGBC’s Green Building Maze.

Don’t forget the door prize!!!Sign up at the HREG table for FREE giveaways such as a Solar Attic Fan from Alternative Power Solutions and a $500 gift certificate to lighting, Inc., plus more!

Paid parking options include covered parking @ Avienda de las Americas ($10)

2009 ASeS HouSTon SolAR TouR


diScOveRy gReen1500 McKinney Street, Houston 77010

Renewable Energy System: Solar Electric, 49.92 kW System

Installer: Standard Renewable Energy

Date Installed: February 2008

Approximate Energy Provided: 71,686 kWh per yr.

Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kwh: $14,337.20 per year

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn standard renewable energy was selected by the City of Houston to conduct the installation for downtown Houston’s first major public park of 12 acres. the 250 bP 195 watt donated panels are mounted on the Alkek and Lake House building roofs produce over 35% of the park’s electricity needs. A single 50 kilowatt satCon inverter converts dC current to AC electricity for the facility’s lighting, hot water, and cooling needs. stop by the Alkek building and see the online solar electric monitoring system that sre installed, which showcases the current, past, and cumulative energy production of the system as well as the corresponding environmental impact. the Alkek building is located near the Gateway Fountain off the Andrea and bill White Promenade. Visit the sre booth at the solar social to get more information.

OwneR’S nOteS discovery Green Park has really set the tone for “Green” things to come in the solar industry in Houston with Mayor bill White and standard renewable energy leading the way. Opening week April 13th, 2008 over 30,000 came to enjoy the park’s features and by July 30th well over a quarter million people from across the city and state have come to witness this park first hand. After only one year of producing solar energy, this park is just a stepping stone in the revitalization of the east downtown community.

gReen Building extRaS/nOtaBle infORmatiOn bP made a monetary donation to the City of Houston Park Project to assist in funding this project. thank you, bP, for supporting this beautiful park! the discovery Green is a Leed certified building structure with efficient water irrigation, bicycle facilities, high efficiency HVAC refrig-eration, and efficient restroom fixtures. On sunday afternoon’s, park attendees can

find a variety of natural fruits and vegetables at the organic downtown Green Market.

Architect Page southerland PageBuilder Miner dederick


geORge R. BROwn cOnventiOn centeR1001 Avenue De Las Americas, Houston, 77010

Renewable Energy System: 100 kW Solar Electric System


Date Installed: July 2009

Approximate Energy Provided: 127,840 kWh per year

Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kwh: $25,568 per year

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn sre installed 270 traditional crystalline silicon modules, bP190’s (51.3 kWstC) attached on top of the blue girders along the southeast wall and 360 Unisolar PVL-136 (49.0 kWstC) thin film triple junc-tion silicon modules adhered to the surface of the roof on the south side of the convention center. the panels are visible along Highway 59.

Be sure to stop by the display kiosk that has been installed inside the GRB on the second floor in front of the Explore! Hous-ton shop, about 40 yards south of the Starbucks. The kiosk displays the energy production of the solar panel system. It also provides a graphically rich, web-based display of the production and consumption data. The kiosk is a great educational tool to find out how the solar energy systems work. nOtaBle infORmatiOn through the Us department of energys solar America Cities partnership, a select group of Us cities is working to accelerate the adoption of solar energy technologies for a cleaner, more secure energy fu-ture. the vision of the solar energy Pilot Program is to collect, analyze and report data related to two different solar energy systems that may be used to produce electrical energy in the Houston environment. two different 50 kW systems, one based on flexible thin‐film solar cells and one based on PV solar energy system, will be analyzed by the Program. each system may produce enough electricity to supply sufficient power to light approximately 50 average Houston homes.

solar panels are mounted on your roof with a custom racking system. solar panels collect en-ergy from the sun and turn it into direct current (dC) electricity.

dC electricity flows into an inverter, which converts it into alternating current (AC) electric-ity, the type of electricity your home uses.

AC electricity from the inverter is fed directly into your home’s main electrical panel where it immediately provides power to your home. If you need more power than your system is pro-viding, you continue to receive power from your electricity provider just as you do now.

How Solar electric Systems Work


THe HouSTon ADVAnCeD ReSeARCH Cen-TeR (HArC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organiza-tion based in the Woodlands, texas dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and prin-ciples of sustainable development. HArC’s mission is to move knowledge to action to improve human well-being and the environment. In a non-partisan and collaborative manner, HArC is a conduit from basic research to action that fosters the implementation of policies and technologies based on rigorous principles of social science, natural science, and engineering. HArC’s research themes support sustainability solutions in

ecosystems, water, air & climate, clean energy, the built environment, and environmen-tal health. HArC’s primary geographical focus encompasses the greater Houston area and the texas Gulf Coast. For more information online www.harc.edu.

city Of hOuStOn cOde enfORcement Building3300 Main Street, Houston, 77002

Renewable Energy System: 6.6 kW Solar Electric System


Date Installed: May 2008


Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kWh: $1,760 per year

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn standard renewable energy was contracted by the City of Houston for the installation of 40 bP 165 W solar panels mounted on the southern facing wall of the Code building. the solar array overlooks the front entry of the building on the third level. though Hurricane Ike destroyed many Houston prop-erties, these panels did not suffer any damages despite the angle in which they were installed. OwneR’S nOteS the project is part of Mayor bill White’s efforts for Houston’s leadership in re-newable energy. standard renewable energy was also contracted to install a second set of donated solar panels for the City of Houston Annex building on its flat roof fourth level via ballast mounting.

code enforcement green building resource center open for solar tour

• Seesamplesofgreenbuildingmaterials.• ConsultwithPublicWorksandEngineeringstaffandProgramDirector,

Steve Stelzer.• TheCodeEnforcementBuildingitselfdemonstratesgreenbuildingtech-

nologiesandisregisteredtoachieveLEEDforCommercialInteriors.• Don’tmissthesolarpoweredirrigationsystem!A250gallonraintankcol-

lectswaterfromtheroofdrainline.Amoisturesensorinaplantercontrolsthe irrigation. If the soil is dry a timer will start the solar powered pump to water the plants in the reclaimed planters.

Park in the lot just south of the building. Light Rail Stop: Ensemble/HCC

Partner Profile ) HarC

Houston’s premier provider of

energy efficiency and renewable energy

solutions for homes and businesses.

SRE3.com | 877.923.7733


BuRghli affORdaBle hOmeSROyal Oak teRRace SuBdiviSiOn5819 Darlington Oak, Houston, 77016

Renewable Energy System: 3.24 kW Solar Electric System. Ten homes at this location with 3.2 kW - 4 kW systems mounted on roof

Installer: Solar Solutions uSA

Date Installed: August 2009

Approximate Energy Provided: 5,321 kW/70-80% of the load needed for home

Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kwh: Calculated savings for solar alone is approxi-mately $1,064/year; however these homes are built for greater energy savings. One summer electric bill received on the prototype for this project was for $-21.35 (Total Usage Charges)

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn eighteen 180 watt panels, flush mounted on the roof with a southern exposure. gReen Building extRaS/nOtaBle infORmatiOn this is a green built energy star home with super energy features that surpass energy star standards. the savings go beyond the power production of the solar panels. this home should save 70-80% on all utilities (electric, gas, and water) by comparison to a standard code built home. the home comes with: r-25bIbs in exterior walls, foamed attic deck, 18 seer high efficiency HVAC system, A/C ducts in air conditioned space, heat pump furnace, smart fresh air supply, balanced air and temperature pressure, solar batch collector water tank, temperature censored, gas tankless water heater, energy star appliances, energy star fixtures, dual flush toilets, motion sensor lavatory faucets, all self closing exterior doors.

PatteRSOn Place iii4506 B Maxie Street, Houston, 77007

Renewable Energy System: 3.24 kW Hybrid Solar Electric System

Installer: Alternative Power Solutions Corp. (APS)



Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: $525/year projected or a third of annual energy consumption largely due to the energy efficiency of the 1,800 sq ft townhome

Special Technical Description deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOnthe solar panel array consists of 18 suntech stP180s-24\Ab1 mono-crystalline solar panels mounted using the Unirac solarmount anodized aluminum panel racking system attached to the west-facing pitched com-posite shingle roof. the solar panels are paired in sub-arrays of two panels in series, then the sub-arrays are connected in parallel using a PV combiner to raise the overall current applied. this application of high voltage reduces the typical wire losses seen in a low voltage PV battery charging system. the charge controller, Xantrex XW 150-60, can process PV input voltag-es up to 150 volts and has an output rating of 60 amps at 48 volts or about 3000 watts. this controller processes the applied voltage and currents to produce the nominal voltage of the battery system attached, in this case, 48 volts. this process results in higher efficiency in the movement of the PV produced energy from the array location to the location of the batteries by allowing the application of the higher voltage to the intercon-necting wiring which results in a reduction in the system loss that would be seen at the nominal voltage of the batteries. the inverter, Xantrex 4548, is normally powered via the grid and operated in a pass-through standby mode to a dedicated power panel. since the inverter is limited in capacity, six existing circuit loads were selected and applied to this dedicated power panel to be powered by the inverter when the grid fails. during normal system operation, once the batteries are charged, the energy produced by the solar array is converted to standard AC


240 Volts 60 HZ by the inverter and distributed to local household loads via a back-fed process to the main power panel with any excess energy exported to the utility. the battery bank is charged primarily by the attached solar array via the charge controllers, but a battery charger within the inverter can be pressed into service when required. the batteries, eight MK s31-sLd-G sealed Gel batteries 12 Volt /108 AH, are connected four each in series producing a battery bank of 48 volts for a total load capacity of 216 AH. Managing the discharge level of the batteries extends their operational life. therefore, the decision was made to set the maximum discharge level at 50%. In an emergency, this setting can be overridden from the control panel. the result is that the battery bank is 108 AH under normal circumstances. However, the combined effect is 108 AH X 48 volts = 5184 Watts, thereby producing a higher capacity which will allow for surge currents that the inverter is capable of processing at 100% for short periods. though considerably more complex than the typical grid-tied PV system, this hybrid application enables the homeowners to both generate and store energy to supplement needs overnight and to provide uninterrupted service during a power out-age for the home’s critical loads on a limited basis through the six-circuit dedicated power panel (e.g., security lighting, alarm monitoring, appliances, communications). the HVAC system cannot be included in the six circuits since the limitations imposed by the dimensions of the roof, the west exposure of the PV array and the inverter capacity prevent running the compressor due to starting amperage required. the inverters and batteries are located in the vented garage. gReen Building extRaS this Leed Gold home is one of 27 townhomes in Upper West end, an Inner Loop gated community planned by Parra design Group. Phase IV was developed as a group of six townhomes certified Leed silver. Multiple green elements are incorporated into these units making them among the most energy efficient properties in the Houston area. OwneRS’ nOteS We immediately connected to the townhome when we first walked in. Parra was very accommodating in modify-

ing certain specifications for us to meet Leed-H Gold. We anticipated being the first to achieve Leed-H Platinum in Houston by committing to add the solar power system prior to closing on the townhome. As an electrical engineer with experience in designing power systems for refining and chemical industries and both having an MbA, we are very pleased with the investment we have made in our home. We hope the City of Houston eventually will provide incentives to homeowners who may wish to follow suit. We also found that it would be more cost-effective if new construc-tion homes were solar-ready with consideration given to the circuit design and with conduit in place to pull cables from the roof. For anyone considering a hybrid solar system, we recommend getting the expertise of Pat McLeod, a principal with APs. - Jaroslav “Jay” Rysavy & Era N Ford, LEED AP

leeD IS A nATIonAl gReen rating system that has been developed by the Us Green building Council (UsGbC). It’s a process of designing, building and evaluating a building to the high standards of sustainable design. Leed homes encompass the ideas of careful site treatment, energy effi-ciency, water conservation, indoor air quality and sustainable materials and resources. Homes built according to the Leed program are third party verified and given a Certified, silver, Gold or Platinum rating based on the number of Leed points that the project has received. the Patterson Place III has received a Leed Gold rat-ing. the use of solar panels on this home, paired with other state of the art systems, makes this high rating possible. energy efficiency is a critical part of a Leed home. buildings

in the United states account for 70% of electrical consump-tion, and it’s easy to imagine the cumulative effect of homes becoming more energy efficient - or continuing to require more and more power for newer, larger homes. Please consider the power your own home consumes, and all the decisions that can affect its energy consumption. For more infor-mation about Leed and the UsGbC please visit www.usgbc.org. For more information about local Leed efforts and residential projects visit www.usgbchouston.org.

about Leed ) Leadership in energy and environmental design


gReen BankmemORial mOtOR Bank BRanch8611 Memorial Drive, Houston, 77024

Renewable Energy System: Thin Film and Crystalline panels on a tracking system.

Installer: Ignite Solar llC

Date Installed: February 2009

This site will be open from 2-4 pm. Please stop by and enjoy refreshments. Refuel and then enjoy the rest of the tour!

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn: the test system has two 40 watt thin film, a-si modules and two 40 watt crystalline modules. One set of crystalline and thin film modules is installed fixed at 30 degrees and the other set tracks the sun east to west as the sun moves across the sky. thin-Film technology is significantly different--quicker and easier to manufacture panels roll off the assembly line as if from a printing press. thin-Film panels are not as efficient as crystalline panels, but cost less on a per watt basis. thin film delivers more watt hours of power for the same rated panel as crystalline due to its ability to work better in low light and off angle conditions. the solar tracking system has been delivering 34% more power than the traditional fixed system since installation. the chart shows a typical daily power production curve. the green curve shows the power produced using the Ignite tracking system and the red curve shows the power produced using the fixed system. For a large solar park installation, +30% more power would be generated for a 10% investment increase.

OwneR’S nOteS In Houston, banking and energy often are seen as peas in a pod. two green-focused companies are continuing the tradition—Ignite solar LLC is testing solar panel and sun-tracking technology and using Green bank’s motor bank rooftop as the labora-tory. two thin-film panels, one fixed and the other mechanized to track the sun, are monitored and collection capabilities are tracked real-time. the test is evaluating the benefits of sun-tracking with thin-film panels and traditional crystalline silicon panels.

aBOut gReen Bank Founded in 2007 Green bank is a socially-responsible and resource-efficient enterprise that performs to a higher standard. Headquartered in a Leed Gold certified building, Green bank was one of the first banks to offer paper-free accounts and is pioneering green mortgage and home improvement loans.

aBOut ignite SOlaR A manufacturer and installer of solar mounting/tracking sys-tems for large scale photovoltaic operations, Houston-based Ignite solar works in the U.s. and abroad. Using extensive experience in materials design and fabrication, Ignite solar helps customers reach grid parity with modular and customizable structures.

Solar facts )• Siliconfromonetonofsand,usedinPVcells,could

produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal.

• Indevelopingcountriesvillagesizedsunovenshelplocaleconomies and decrease deforestation.

• In1954,scientistsatBellTelephonediscoveredthatsilicon created an electric charge when it was exposed to sunlight.

• Inlate1950ssolarpanelswereusedtopower U.s. space satellites.

• ANASAstudyconcludedthatwhilegloballywindpowerhas the potential of 72 terawatts, the sun has a much greater potential of 170,000 terawatts each day.

• PVpanelshavebecomemoreefficient.Currentmodelsare 15% efficient – converting 1/6 of sunlight into electricity.


giRl ScOutS headQuaRteRS3110 Southwest Freeway, Houston, 77098



Date Installed: September 2009



deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn Girl scouts of san Jacinto Council (GssJC) and Green Mountain energy se-lected standard renewable energy to install the 10.08 kW PV array on the southwest Freeway headquarter location.

the 56 schuco 180 watt panels sit on a flat roof with a ballasted mounting system which allows no penetration into the roof membrane there by preventing any weather leakage. the 8 solar arrays of 7 panels are tilted at 10 degrees to optimize the combination of low wind loading, good solar collection and enough angle to self-clean in a rain. sre used 2 Xantrex 5.0 inverters for this installation.

OwneR’S nOteS Girl scouts of san Jacinto Council (GssJC) is committed to doing our part to better the environment. Green Mountain energy Company partnered with GssJC to donate a 10.08 KW solar array to our facility through its big texas sun Club®. the Green Mountain energy® solar at Girl scouts of san Jacinto Council will help GssJC reduce our carbon footprint by supplementing our daily energy load by 10%-15%.

This project was made possible by: Green Mountain Energy Company – Big Texas Sun Club

gReen Building extRaS As a pre-cursor to our solar installation, GssJC also installed a reflec-tive roof overlay. In addition to lowering our cooling energy costs by at least 20%, the new roof also serves as a way to increase visibility and awareness of Girl scouts. Cost savings generated by the project enable GssJC to continue offering timely and increasingly popular programs for girls focused on science, technology, engineering, math, nature and the environment. the Girl scout logo has also been painted into the reflective overlay, making the building a landmark for aircraft pilots as it is situated under a direct flight pattern for newscasters and some commer-cial flights. In striving to create a Leed-certified building, GssJC is among a growing member of commercial properties working to reduce the City of Houston’s carbon footprint. Adding a reflective roof overlay and a solar panel array allows the Council and its supporters to assist Houston’s Mayor White in his initiative to reduce energy consumption across the city. This roof project was made possible by: Shell Oil Company, El Paso Corpora-tion, Ed Rachal Foundation, and Madison Charitable Foundation.

Dedicated to the Craft of Timeless Design

– on budget and on schedule -

713.540.4698 www.LostArtGraphics.com

www.greenmountainenergy.com


Sites open 11am-5pm

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THeRe ARe A loT oF gooD ReASonS for Houston homeowners to consider solar power. It’s a non-polluting renewable source of energy that can mean lower power bills and higher home resale values. but it’s not a no-brainer. the final decision depends on a homeowner’s ability to put up the money, a willingness to wait for a long-term payoff and the amount of sunshine up on the roof. the decision can be broken down into three variables:

•Who’shelpingout?Afederaltaxcreditoffersataxsavingequalto30percentofthecost. Homeowners in the Woodlands may get a grant from entergy, further reducing the cost by $2,500 per kilowatt of solar generating capacity added.

•Howlongdoesittaketobreakeven?Agoodindicatorofthepayoffisthetimeittakesfor the expected electric savings to cover the upfront cost. solar can significantly add to the resale value of the house, as do other energy saving investments.

•Howsunnyisyourroof?TheavailablespaceonmostHoustonhomeslimitssolartoaportion of their total energy needs. A south-facing roof is best, west or east can work, but shade may be a deal killer.

Here are some of the nuts and bolts about saving with solar.

Q) Whatisthefederaltaxcredit?a) the tax credit equals 30 percent of the cost of solar pan-els or solar water heating. An investment of $15,000 gener-ates a credit of $4,500. (every dollar credit equals a dollar saved in taxes).

Q) WherecanIgoformoreabouttherulesforcredits?a) A summary of tax breaks for energy investments is atwww.dsireusa.org.

Q) DoesTexasofferanyhelp?a) the texas legislature considered offering incentives this year but failed to act. How-ever, there is a property tax exemption for solar installations. Any increase in the value of the house due to a solar investment is not added to the value used to calculate property taxes. Q) some cities are now offering tax breaks for low-cost financing for solar electric invest-ments.IsHoustoninthatgroup?a) no. the city-owned utility in Austin offers a program and entergy has quietly begun a pilot program to help fund solar in the Woodlands and other places in its service area. For more details consult this web page http://www.txreincentives.com/epv/index.phpwhich includes a detailed FAQ.

Q) I’dlovetoseemymeterrunbackwards.Butwhat’sthepayoffifthathappens?a) every electric provider is different. some like Green Mountain, offer a dollar-for-dollar saving up to a limit. Others offer a credit based on the wholesale price, which is signifi-cantly below the retail price. this link offered by entergy shows it’s not an easy question to answer. http://entergy-texas.com/your_home/net_metering.aspx

Q) Canasolarpowersystemserveasabackupduringahurricane?a) It’s possible but most residential systems are not wired that way. to be able to use it when the electric grid goes down a homeowner also needs to install a battery backup or generator system, which can cost more than $3,000.

the Skinny ) Solar Incentives & Paybacksby stephen rassenfoss


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CentraL HouSton SIteS discovery Green .................................... 1Grb Convention Center ........................ 2City of Houston Code enforcement bldg 3burghli Homes ....................................... 4Patterson Place III .................................. 5Green bank ........................................... 6Girl scouts ............................................. 7Gimenez residence ............................... 8

West University solar Water Heater ........ 9eapen residence ................................. 10Zercher residence ................................11reardon residence ..............................12Wareloft residence ...............................13edgar residence ..................................14Heigel residence ................................. 15

nortHeaSt/WoodLandS SIteS Fong residence ................................... 16discovery at spring trails ..................... 17Hill residence ...................................... 18dean residence .................................. 19

Animal Farm .........................................20wwww.Houstonsolartour.org


gimenez ReSidence3931 Purdue Street, Houston, 77005



Date Installed: April 2009



deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn the Gimenez’s home has a western facing roof which allowed standard renewable energy to install 28 bP 200 watt panels. two solar arrays are mounted on a Unirac mounting system on the composition shingle. sre wanted to maintain and opti-mize the panels’ efficiency by installing a sunny boy 6000Us inverter. the Gimenez’ installation is truly unique because the solar panels are exposed to the daily traffic commuters on Weslayan and clearly visible; a true testament marketing solar to all HOA committees that frown upon PV installations. OwneR’S nOteS the Gimenez’ are a very green family and wanted to find a way to save money by reducing their electric bills while conserving our natural resources. they knew solar was the best option and they felt they had the perfect roofline for a solar array, so they decided to make the investment and go green. the cost of electric-ity will continue to rise but solar serves as an alternative. gReen Building extRaS the Gimenez’s home has recently been updated with insulation, weatherization and high efficiency heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC). to further improve their home’s efficiency they had an essential energy Audit performed complete with blower door test and infrared scan from standard renew-able energy. each of these tests provide hard data to validate the efficiency level of their home.

weSt univeRSity SOlaR wateR heating6114 Community Drive, Houston, 77005

Renewable Energy System: Solar Thermal Water Heater

Installer: Dixie Solar

Date installed: September 2008

Approximate energy provided: 23,000 Btu/day or 6.74 kWh/day

Approximate cost savings: $442 per year

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn this is the first evacuated tube solar water heater installed in Houston area. It’s an example of solar thermal technology. this solar water heater was selected as top 10 Green building Products of 2007 by the sustainable energy Industry

Association, and was awarded the best Green design 2008 by Popular Mechanics. A solar water heater can offset the equivalent of 40-100% of carbon dioxide emissions of a modern car and is one of the most cost effective ways to use solar.


Sponsors ) Megawatt

eaPen ReSidence4007 Turnberry Circle, Houston, 77025

renewable energy systems: 3.85 kW solar electric system, 25 W Attic breeze solar Attic Fan Installer: Alternative Power solutionsdate Installed: June 2009Approximate energy Provided: 4,620 kWh per year

Approximate Cost savings at 15 cents/kWh: Approximately $47/month or 20% of the home’s energy consumption. this system qualifies the homeowner for a $9,700 tax credit and increased the property value by $11,000. It will produce over $54,000 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOnthis grid-tied 3.85 kW solar PV system consists of 22 sun-tech 175 watt panels which are southern facing. the panels are attached to the composite shingle roof. this system uses an sMA 4000 grid tie inverter to make the power conversion from dC to AC. An Attic breeze 25 Watt solar attic fan was installed to reduce the attic temperature and air conditioning load for the home.

OwneR’S nOteS With the rising costs of energy, we had been looking for ways to cut our electricity bills. Over the years, I had toyed with the idea of installing solar power to offset some of my power needs. Unfortunately, most of the turnkey sys-tems appeared to be unaffordable and most of the dIy kits appeared to require far more skills than I could reasonably hope to acquire. Last year, as the prices of solar power systems came down, I decided to take the plunge. With APs as our installer, the process was very painless and all the permit details were handled as part of the project. Overall it has been a very positive experience and since the installation I have seen a significant decline in my electricity bills. - George A Eapen

S O L A RMeridian GreenTeam

AC & Geothermal


deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn standard renewable energy installed a 2.8 kW solar system consisting of 14 bP 200 watt panels on one side of the Zercher residence and two enerWorks solar thermal collectors on another portion of the home. each bP solar panel is mounted on the shingled roof using the Unirac standard rail with easy pivot feet for trouble-free installation. the enerworks solar thermal water heating system consists of two 4’ x 8’ solar collectors and an 80 gallon rheem storage tank. the solar thermal system is a glycol closed loop system that takes the ground water supply through the enerWorks energy Pack exchanger to heat up and returns into the storage tank ready to use. the Zercher install is unique because it incorporates more than one renewable energy resource and has a back up gas generator tied to the grid as well. this home is truly prepared for the unexpected. OwneR’S nOteS Our motivation is to lessen our carbon footprint, for the good of future generations. We are supposed to be stewards, not abusers! this is why it’s important to us. Mr. Zercher nOtaBle infORmatiOn Mr. Zercher has recently added a natural gas pow-ered generator to his home as an emergency backup system. He is also expand-ing his PV system and adding a battery back-up to ensure he is set for any type of power outages.

zeRcheR ReSidence11006 Doud Street, Houston, 77035

Renewable Energy System: 2.8 kW Solar Electric System and 2 Solar Thermal EnerWorks collector (Hot Water)




Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kWh: $700 per year for electricity and reduction of gas dependency for water heating needs

ReSIDenTIAl SolAR SySTeMS HAVe BeCoMe more affordable over the years. now, with the American recovery and reinvestment Act of 2009, home owners can benefit from an uncapped 30% tax credit. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are rated in kW dC stC which is kilowatts (kW) of direct current dC power at standard test conditions (stC). Our homes use alternating current (AC); therefore, we must convert the electricity generated by the PV panels from dC to AC using an inverter. residential PV systems generally range in size from 1 - 9 kW (dC) stC with the texas average being 6 kW dC stC. A 3.15 kW dC stC (eighteen 175 W panels) will cover approximately 280 square feet of roof and produce about 2.4 kW of AC power on a sunny day if oriented in the southern di-rection. In Houston, this would generate approximately 3,800 kWh of usable electricity in its first year. If the average PV array loses about 0.5% of its efficiency on an annual basis, we can estimate the overall consumer cost to be about 12.5 cents per kWh. (see right inset) this example is based on an installed cost of $6.00/watt. the typical installed system cost in texas is between $5.50 and $6.50/watt. the tax exempt property value increase for this example is projected to be $10,600.

Please note that the total cost of a PV system will depend on system size, type and manufacturer of system elements, mounting required, electrical system, grid tied or grid tied with battery back-up, roof height and type, and other factors. the daily usable power generated from the PV array will also vary due to losses from the inverter and variable operating conditions, such as cloud coverage, temperature, and relative humidity. the example above uses generalized data from various resources. Please contact a solar installer to receive a quote for a solar installation specific to your home.

the economics ) residential Solar Panels

System life time of 30 years will generate 114,000 kWh: Price of 3.15 kW PV System $ 18,900 Sales Tax @ 8.25% $1,500 Federal tax credit (30%) $( 6,133)

NET Cost $ 14,322

COST = = 12.56 cents/kWh

Net Cost pv system_______________kWh lifetime


ReaRdOn ReSidence4618 Waycross, Houston, 77035

Renewable Energy System: 3.15 kW Solar Electric System, Solar Attic Fan, Solar Pool Heating

Installer: Alternative Power Solutions Corp.

Date Installed: March 2009

Approximate Energy Provided: Solar Electric – 315 kWh per month or 18% of home’s energy consumption, Solar Pool Heating - Extends Swimming Season to 9 months/year

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: Approximately $50/month or 20% of the home’s energy consumption. This system qualifies the homeowner for a $8,000 tax credit, increases the property value by $11,300, and will produce over $53,000 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn this grid-tied 3.15 kW solar PV system consists of 18 suntech 175 watt Panels. the panels are attached to the southern facing, metal standing seam roof without roof penetrations. each solar panel in this system has its own micro-inverter. the solar Pool Heater system was mounted on a newly constructed pergola. the Attic breeze solar attic fan is sized to reduce the attic temperature and air conditioning loads for the home. OwneR’S nOteS It’s great to come home and see the solar panels on our roof. I know that while I’m at work, our house has been making its own electricity. When my installer invited me see the meter turn backwards for the first time, it was a great moment. Installing a solar system is about becoming part of the solution to the environmental challenge we are facing.

- Kathleen Reardon, LEED AP, RD Architeture LLC gReen Building extRaS this house is a good case study project for energy effi-ciency. With three bedrooms, the 1,900 sq.ft. the house is small enough to easily manage the energy footprint. It was remodeled with energy efficiency as a priority. blown in cellu-lose insulation fills walls that originally had no insulation. the attic received r-38 insulation. A white metal standing seam roof keeps the attic cool. A high efficiency variable speed air conditioner was installed. the plumbing was replaced with a PeX plumbing system and tankless water heater.

eSTABlISHeD In 1954, the nonprofit American solar energy society (Ases) is the nation’s leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sus-tainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years–Ases leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.s. We publish the award-winning sOLAr tOdAy magazine, organize and present the Ases national solar Conference and lead the Ases national solar tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world. Last year the Ases published the groundbreaking Green-Collar Jobs report which showed that renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors generate more than 9 million jobs

and $1 trillion in annual revenue in the U.s. the second report, tackling Climate Change in the U.s., demonstrated how renew-able energy and energy ef-ficiency can provide the carbon emissions reductions needed to mitigate climate change. Ases efforts have been highlighted by leading media outlets across the U.s. including: the new york times, Chicago tribune, nPr, time, businessWeek, nbC, Fox news, san Jose Mer-cury news, rocky Mountain news, and countless others. For more information go to www.ases.org.

Partner Profile ) american Solar energy Society


waRelOft ReSidence13904 Hiram Clarke Road, Houston, 77045

Renewable Energy System: Passive Solar Cooling

Average Monthly Electric Bill: 570kWh/12 month avg @ 13.6 cents/kWh (Grn Mtn) = $77.52

Approximate Cost Savings: $109.00 (for the hottest 30 days ever recorded in Houston, June 15 to July 15, 2009)

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn even without a PV solar system to assist with energy bills, the electric bill for Houston’s hottest 30 day period on record was only $109.00 for this very green home. this is extraordinarily low for a 3,148 sf home with twice the interior volume of most homes this size. the secret is design for Passive sustainability (which also optimizes passive solar cooling). this contem-porary work/living green home on a budget, currently in the qualifying process for Leed-H Certification, is laid back, wide open, and very adaptable. Like every home designed or remodeled by the home’s architect, Passive sustainability is designed and built into them to allow the occupants flexible ways in choosing how they wish to live in their home, be it with or without power or air conditioning, and still remain relatively comfortable even during the hottest days that Houston can throw at them (and during power outages after storms like Hurricane Ike). Integrated green build-ing features include passive survivability and passive solar design such as outdoor

living spaces not in the wind shadow of the house, lots of design-assisted natural ventilation, natural day lighting, clean/green finishes, exterior envelope insulation, and very energy efficient lighting, air conditioning systems, and appliances. the house is designed for mini-mal site disruption with a porous driveway and the preservation of existing landscaping and it harvests and stores rainwater for most of its landscaping and gardening needs. there are neither west windows nor attic spaces and the entire roof is designed to be surfaced with solar PV panels to take this home and a couple of more homes like it completely off the grid if desired.

OwneRS’ nOteS Given that energy costs are only going to increase, we wanted something that was very energy efficient. We knew very little about green building before we started. the more we learned about it, the more it appealed to us. since beginning its construction and now (a year after we moved in), in keeping a survey of what folks say when they enter the house, the first words out of their mouths has been “WOW” over 60% of the time. And it’s rising. - Rick Wilson & Therese Coucher

Architect environment Associates, Architects & Consultants, LaVerne A. Williams, AIA, Leed APBuilder dovetail builders, Inc.

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edgaR ReSidence208 East 24th Street, Houston, 77008

Renewable Energy System: 1.75 kW Solar Electric System, Solar Attic Fan

Installer: Alternative Power Solutions Corp.



Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: $25/month or 17% of the home’s energy consumption. This system qualifies the homeowner for a $4,700 tax credit. It increases the property value by $6,000 and will pro-duce over $30,000 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn this grid-tied 1.75 kW solar PV system consists of 10 suntech 175 watt panels which face south. the panels are attached to composite shingle roof. this sys-tem uses a PVP 2000 grid tied inverter to convert power from dC to AC. An Attic breeze 25 Watt solar attic fan was installed to reduce the attic temperature and A/C loads for the home.

OwneRS nOteS since I moved to the United states ten years ago from Ireland I could not believe that we were not harnessing energy from the sun in texas. I thought about installing solar myself on my home and even went to two solar schools. then time became a factor so I was delighted when I came across APs on the internet. My APs contact was Pat McLeod whose manner was one of ease no matter how simple my questions might have seemed. If we all could contribute just a little, we can all make a difference. do your part. It’s fun to get up each day and see your solar system in opera-tion while you are saving money.

heigel ReSidence10127 Crescent Bluff Lane, Houston, 77070


Installer: Meridian Solar, Inc.

Date Installed: December 2008


Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kWh:$6,442 (32,210 kWh produced)

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn the solar array is comprised of sunPower solar panel modules and an inverter. these mod-ules provide greater power density in comparison to other solar modules, which translates to less roof space needed. the sunPower modules also have an aesthetically pleasing all black appearance. A total of 16 sunPower modules were used, with a power rating of 210 watts each. the total system power rating is 3,360 watts on the dC side. An inverter converts dC power to AC for household use. the

array is flush mounted on the south facing composite shingle roof of the residence, at a 20-degree pitch. In addition to the solar array, an sMA data monitoring system was installed (sunny Webbox, sunny Portal, sMA rs Card). the system monitors and collects data of the solar array from the inverter, which is then uploaded onto the web. OwneR’S nOteS Mr. Hiegel has been interested in installing a solar system for 5 years. After watching the cost and technology of solar electric systems improve, he decided to that the best time to install a system was now. gReen Building extRaS/nOtaBle infORmatiOn Other energy efficient features in-clude, double pane windows, radiant barrier insulation, compact fluorescent light bulbs, energy star washer/dryer and HVAC system.


fOng ReSidence11 West Isle Place, The Woodlands, 77381

Renewable Energy System: 5.25 kW Hybrid Solar Electric System

Installer: Installed by Alternative Power Solutions Corp. for Green Builders Source



Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: Approximately $80/month. This sys-tem qualifies the homeowner for a $13,500 tax credit, $13,200 Entergy solar rebate, increases the property value by $18,000, and will produce over $91,500 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn this grid-tied with battery back-up 5.25 kW solar PV system consists of 30 bP 175 watt panels which are southern facing. the panels are attached to the composite shingle roof. this system uses a Xantrex 6048 grid tied inverter to convert the power from dC to AC. sixteen MK L16s batteries provide back up power. this system was designed to power a portion of the home should grid power be lost dur-ing a storm and make free energy for the home during normal non-outage periods. the homeowner also installed a gas powered generator to be able to power the entire home during an outage. they also wanted the solar battery back-up due to concerns that the generator would be noisy during the evening hours. OwneRS cOmmentS While we built our home we were always trying to keep the environment in mind. Working with the Woodlands G.r.e.e.n. organization as a volunteer and member, helped spur our interest. Green build-ers source was instrumental in getting us everything we needed to achieve our goals. Power from the sun is free and plentiful here. With energy prices uncertain there was no better time to move forward on our long-term goal. As we started the solar process, we had to apply to our Woodlands gov-ernance board. that can be very intimidating, but as we moved forward they were very supportive. the Woodlands is just concerned about cutting down trees. We added the generator for extra protection from hurricanes and future power outages.

hill ReSidence27127 Rose Vervain, Spring, 77386


Installer: Alternative Power Solutions Corp. for Ameresco Solar

Date Installed: June 2009


Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: Approximately $80/month. This system qualifies the homeowner for a $13,200 tax credit, increase the property value by $18,900, and will produce over $91,500 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn this grid-tied 5.25 kW solar PV system consists of 30 bP 175 watt panels which are south facing. the panels are attached to the composite shingle roof. this system uses a sMA 5000 inverter to make the power conversion from dC to AC. gReen Building extRaS this home is located in discovery at spring trails which is being developed by Land tejas. discovery at spring trails is one of Houston’s first solar developments and is packed with energy efficient homes. Directions: Exit Spring Stuebner Rd off of 45N; turn right onto Spring Stuebner Rd. Spring Stuebner Rd. turns into Riley Fuzzell Rd. Follow Riley Fuzzell Rd. to Rayford Rd. (passing the Discovery Center). Turn right onto Rayford Rd. Turn left onto Breen Vista. Turn right onto Rose Vervain. Turn right onto the second street on the right. Hill Residence is the first house on the right.


diScOveRy at SPRing tRailSdiScOveRy centeR2711 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring, 77386

Renewable Energy System: GE Brilliance Solar Electric Power System with 12-85 watt solar panel.

Installer: En-Touch Energy


Approximate Energy Provided: Energy output annually is approximately 2,900 kWh’s AC

Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kwh: Cost saving at .20/kWh $320.00/yr

Project Participants: En-Touch System – Monica Hayes (Broadband provider) En-Touch Energy – Danny White (REP and Solar Installation) EcoEdge Consulting- Craig Lobel (Program Lead) Homewerks – John Short (Low Voltage Integrator)

PROject deScRiPtiOn discovery at spring trails is Houston’s first solar powered hybrid community, a high quality development that we’ve come to expect from Land tejas Companies, developer of Canyon Gate Communities. the 1200 acres discovery at spring trails community will have approximately 3000 homes at build out. A key groundbreaking aspect of discov-ery at spring trails is that we are creating community-wide energy efficiency guidelines for all our builders to follow. A one-kilowatt solar array will be included as a standard feature on each new home built in discovery

at spring trails. the solar system is expected to provide up to 15-20% of the electricity use of a typical home. Home buyer will be offered a builder upgrade option to expand the standard one-kilowatt system to two or three kilowatts. Other features and benefit of discovery at spring trails will include Ge energy star Lighting, Ge energy star Appliances, In-Home energy and Water management, Fiber to the Home broadband, Curb-side recycling and Gray Water recycling for com-munity irrigation.

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn Lot, home orientation and elevation will dictate placement of the solar panel system. there are two options that have been approved for this community, standard roof-mounted or trellis mounted. the one-kilowatt system takes up approximately 100 sq. ft. there are two rails in parallel, separated by 24 inches that attach to a set of 12 roof stand-offs or legs. Once in place, the rails rest three inches above the roof deck to allow proper ventilation. the 6-200 watt panels are attached to the two rails and secured by industry clips. the solar system produces dC power and will be converted into AC power at the inverter. the inverter is placed within 10 feet of the main electrical meter and breaker panel per code. Once the power is converted into AC it is immediately used by the home.

nOtaBle infORmatiOn Located in north Houston, near the Hardy toll road and rayford road, discovery at spring trails is the country’s first master planned community to incorporate Ge’s ecomagination Homebuilder Program across a diverse group of builders. Homes in discovery at spring trails are priced from $170’s to the Mid 400’s. discovery will offer resort-style amenities, guard gated neighborhoods and homes built with advanced wiring. For more information, visit the community website at www.canyongate.com/discovery.


Partner Profile ) HreGTHe HouSTon RenewABle eneRgy gRouP (HreG) was established in 1999 with the primary goal of educating the Houston region on the power of renewable energy. the HreG network of renewable energy enthusiasts, engineers, architects, specialists, and users provides a yahoo discussion group for sensible energy conservation and generation, as well as a cleaner Houston. HreG is a non-profit volunteer organization and a local chapter of the texas solar energy society, a 501 (c) 3 organization. HreG has been the primary hosting organization for the Houston solar tour since the first tour in 2004. For more information online go to www.txses.org/hreg

dean ReSidence304 Magnolia Road, New Caney, 77357



Date Installed: March 2007



deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn the dean family chose standard renewable energy to install their 4.2 kW system which consists of 24 bP 175 watt panels on the southern portion of their roof. the bP panels are mounted in 3 strings of 8 panels using eazy Feet railing on the shingled roof. sre staggered the panels to ac-commodate the optimum roof space and tied everything together with a sunny boy 4000 inverter.

OwneR’S nOteS Once the decision to build our new home was made in late 2007, we wanted our home to be efficient and structur-ally sound. On a hot, sunny, summer day our home is using the sun to produce energy. On a cold, dismal, rainy day our house is heated by a pellet stove. Our home maintains a consistent internal temperature because it is wrapped with spray foam insulation. And just in case a Category 4 hurricane comes up the corridor of Hwy 59 our house is engineered to withstand it. As for the decision to install solar and the benefits, the solar on our home is: limiting the dependency to traditional energy providers, reducing electric consumption by producing our own clean renewable energy, decreasing our carbon footprint improving the environment so that our grandchildren don’t have to deal with future en-vironmental issues. With the help of a federal tax credit and the $2/watt rebate from entergy, the system is being upgraded to a total of 9.8 kW. gReen Building extRaS In addition to the solar system, sre installed an 18 seer two stage condenser, zoned areas, variable speed furnace, spray foam insulation, and a home energy monitor. A solar sys-tem is best complemented with multiple efficiency products.

Sponsors ) Kilowatt

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animal faRm – a PeRmacultuRe centeR16723 Sycamore Road, Cat Spring, 78933

Renewable Energy System: Hybrid Solar Electric

Installer: Owner

Date installed: First Phase 1991, Expansion 2008

System cost: First phase $15,000, Expansion $35,000

Approximate energy provided: 10 mWh per year

Approximate cost savings at 20 cents/kWh: $2,000 per year

deScRiPtiOn Of inStallatiOn the solar array is mounted on a shed metal roof. the thirty 150 W panels are managed by a MX80 controller, the

twelve new 190 W panels are managed by a MX60 controller. two Outback VFX3648 are configured as a split phase Mini Grid system, and feed off a 48V battery bank consisting of 24 AGM cells of 2V/1500A each. that gives us 72 kW of backup power. the two 120 VAC phases are connected to both residences, the well, pool, barn and a recently completed guest cottage through AWG6 under-

ground cabling. the last phase of the expansion will consist of a sMI 4000 watt sunnyboy Inverter with about 2.4 kW of PV panels. this inverter will feed the loads of the main house, and will than export any excess power to the dual VFX inverters who in turn will charge their battery bank. this will allow us to do real load sharing and shedding between the different consumers of the system. the water well pump (1 kW, Grundfoss, 24 GPM) delivers about 14,000 gallons per day to the irrigation system of our organic vegetable operation, which is our main electricity load. OwneR’S nOteS We installed this system because we believe in, practice and teach sus-tainability. the fact that it would have cost us in excess of $15,000 to connect to the grid, made the economic justification very easy. gReen Building extRaS Animal Farm is a Permaculture center and is an example of a design for sustainable living. together with Urban Harvest and the Houston Permaculture Guild, we teach courses in designing for sustainability, organic farming, renewable energy and sustainable building. the courses are posted in the websites of Urban Harvest (UrbanHarvest.org) and Leisure Learning Unlimited (LLU.com)

Directions: Do NOT follow Mapquest or other on-line directions because you will get lost. Some of the roads on their maps do NOT exist. Go West on I-10, and at Sealy take exit 720 and go North on Highway 36. After the railway crossing go Northwest on FM1094 to New Ulm. A few hundred yards after you cross FM949, take a right on Hall Road. After a few hundred yards on Hall Road, take a right on Sycamore Road. After about 4 miles, Sycamore Rd will dead end at our farm. Call if you still get lost. Tel 979 992-3038 (Land Line) 713 240-8665 (Cell)

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TXU Energy is Proud to be Houston’s Educational Partner for our 2009 Solar Academy

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2009 6th AnnuAl Solar Tour Social...2009 6th AnnuAl Solar Tour & Social Saturday • October 3, 2009Solar Social 9am-11am Solar Tour 11am- 4pm Presented by the Ases national solar