Daughter Convinces Washington Couple to Invest in Solar
Monday, November 7th 2011 1:36 PM
By GetSolar Staff.
With its green hills and verdant forests, Washington state has an understandable reputation for environmental consciousness. Along with that comes a strong investment in renewable energy.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that in 2009 Washington drew nearly 75 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. That staggering number even represents a decline from a decade before when the state drew nearly 84 percent of its energy from renewable sources. The vast majority of this energy comes from the the state's plentiful hydroelectricity resources, providing roughly 70 percent of all the states power, amounting to more than 21 gigawatts of generating capacity.
A recent report from the American Council On Renewable Energy found that Washington has become a national center for green energy as well, according to Sustainable Industries. The state saw more than $7.5 billion of venture capital and private equity invested in clean energy projects in the state in 2009-2010, though much of it comes from the sale of some of the state's hydroelectric resources. By 2009, the EIA reports that the state already boasted more than 2 gigawatts of wind energy, as well as substantial amounts of wood and waste energy.
Yet the state saw very little investment in solar. As of 2009 it boasted only 1 megawatt of solar capacity. Many people might not find this terribly surprising, given the state's reputation for rain, wind and wood, but little sunlight. Aimee Carpenter, a solar design consultant with Washington solar installer Sunergy Systems, realized how common the misconception that solar was not feasible in cloudy states like Washington, but she was determined to prove that it could be as much a sound fiscal decision as an environmental one.
With that in mind, Aimee turned to her parents, living in Bellingham up in northwestern Washington. She knew just how stubbornly practical her father could be, and figured that if she could sell him on the idea then just about anyone could benefit. Bringing up the possibility on the long drive to Thanksgiving dinner, Aimee slowly won her father over to the idea that stabilizing electricity prices with an investment in solar could help control the rising costs of owning a home. Particularly for a couple who expected to stay put in their home for 15 to 20 years, it the savings were bound to pile up over time.
In the end, Aimee's parents decided to invest in a 20-panel rooftop solar installation, with California solar installer SolarWorld finishing the system in April of 2010. All told, the 230 Watt panels combined for a maximum capacity of 4.6 kilowatts. Though the roof was unfortunately facing westward, as opposed to south toward the sun, the Carpenters still averaged around 21.4 kilowatt-hours per day, a rate that would result in more than 7,800 kilowatt-hours over the course of the year.
According to the EIA, with an average electricity rate of 7.85 cents per kilowatt-hour through July of 2010, that would have saved the couple more than $600 in just one year. But through July of 2011, average residential rates had already risen to 8.18 cents per kilowatt-hour, up more than 60 percent from 1999.
The Carpenters were not the only to realize that solar power holds potential in Washington either. The Solar Energy Industries Association's 2010 annual report found that a growing number of residential solar installations have cropped up across the state, well behind the leading states in the country, but well more than the majority of the country.
With solar power showing its benefits around the country, more ground-mounted and rooftop solar systems are being constructed for companies to take advantage of its perks. Rebates ...
Dow Solar recently expanded the availability of its Solar Shingle to homeowners in northern California.The Dow Solar Powerhouse Solar Shingle is a complete roofing system that prot ...
The city of Claremont, California, was recently honored for its numerous efforts to increase environmental standards and practices. The California Green Communities program honored ...
Two Manhattan Beach, California, schools were recently nominated for the new federal Green Ribbon Schools Award.The Environmental Charter High School and Grand View Elementary Scho ...
Subscribe
With its green hills and verdant forests, Washington state has an understandable reputation for environmental consciousness. Along with that comes a strong investment in renewable energy.
