Tim Gaudreau’s eco-friendly art studios now have half of their yearly electricity supplied by this 2.5kw grid tied solar electric system.

For Tim Gaudreau, being green is more than just a lifestyle choice – it’s a responsibility.

“I think that those of us that have the means to buy in on the earlier side of this green wave have a responsibility to, and by doing this will do a lot to advance the whole movement … To me, a potent manifestation of the possibilities becomes tangible when, less than six months after my solar pv system installation, two different friends are installing pv on their homes.”

Tim Gaudreau Studios is situated in an old barn re-purposed into a green studio that incorporates passive solar energy, wood pellet heat, solar hot water and a 2.5kw solar electric system.

“Over the recent years, I’ve worked to reduce my oil consumption for political and environmental reasons, and going solar was the next step,” he says, “As a New Englander, I think I’ve got a fierce independent streak and I absolutely love knowing that my hot water and over six months worth of annual electricity are generated right at home — I find that thrilling.”

The thrill comes from generating roughly 3,350 kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity each year, as well as over 10,000,000 Btus of clean solar thermal energy.

The Experience

The solar hot water system on Tim Gaudreau’s home will produce over 10,000,000 btus of thermal energy each year.

“I chose ReVision to do the work because it was clear that they knew what they’re doing,” Gaudreau says. “I have been thoroughly impressed the everyone’s professionalism, from taking the time to listen to my concerns to explaining the equipment and what to expect.

“Actually, most things exceeded my expectations — especially how much power my pv system puts out! Nothing beats watching the PSNH meter spin backwards. I also love the guilt-free feeling taking hot showers provided care of the sun.”

But it’s not just the personal benefits that interest Gaudreau.

Spurring the Green Energy Economy

“I feel these green technologies are really on the cusp of becoming mainstream between tech advances, growing public awareness and acceptance, and federal/state subsidy,” Gaudreau says.

Tim Gaudreau’s “Self Portrait in Trash” documented the things he threw out over the course of the year to both showcase the artist’s relationship to trash as well as the explore the meaning of the things we discard.

Tim Gaudreau’s commitment to ‘eco art’ has lead him to create numerous art projects that challenge the viewer. His “Self Portrait as Revealed by Trash” was featured in the popular Treehugger blog and his “Sprawl Viewer” snapshots dot the landscape of Southern New Hampshire, calling attention to development issues.

He is currently helping to head up the Zero Waste Portsmouth initiative, which aims to put attractive decorated single-sort recycling bins throughout Portsmouth. ReVision is among the dozen or so business partners who have signed on to provide fiscal support for the project.

“It has been the responsibility of artists to mirror society, to challenge accepted thinking and to provide a critical voice,” Gaudreau says of his work.

In life, as well as in art, Gaudreau is among those proving that a more sustainable way is possible for all of us with the will to pursue it.

The Granite State has already been a solar leader in New England with their generous $6,000 cash rebate for residential solar electric systems up to 5kw as well as an average $1,500 rebate for solar hot water.

Now New Hampshire has taken the next step – mandating utilities to pay the customer for excess electric generation!

Yes, New Hampshire now requires utilities to pay customers when their solar electric system generates more electricity than they use.

The legislation, House Bill (HB) 1353 states that:

the customer-generator may elect to be paid or credited by the electric distribution utility for its excess generation at rates that are equal to the utility’s avoided costs for energy and capacity to provide default service as determined by the commission consistent with the requirements of the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA)

Emphasis Added

Wow!

How Much Will I Be Reimbursed?

In Germany, getting paid for solar electric generation is well-known, the special rate that you receive for excess solar electric generation is called a feed-in tariff.

New Hampshire’s program is a bit different, in that customers will get reimbursed closer to market rates for electricity, rather than a special “feed in” rate (which, in Germany, generates a roughly 8% return on investment for owners of solar systems).

The legislation puts it this way:

Each net energy metering tariff shall be identical, with respect to rates, rate structure, and charges, to the tariff under which a customer-generator would otherwise take default generation supply service from the distribution utility.

While the legislation is still in the process, should the full distribution cost of electricity be included in the reimbursement, that would result in a rate of close to .15c/kwh. We will post a follow-up once we better understand the details of the program!

When Can I Get Started?

The legislation is marked to be effective August 13, 2010.

In the meantime, solar electricity continues to spin your meter backwards and reduce your electric bill to zero so there’s no reason to wait!

Contact us to keep updated as we discover more details about this exciting new program (which hopefully shall inspire neighboring states to follow suit).

As they prepared for a move into a new home in Exeter, Eric and Cammie Savage considered a lifetime of energy costs associated with a home in New Hampshire’s climate.

A typical oil boiler needs 200 – 300 gallons of heating oil just to make hot water all summer.

As a result, it sends about 6,200 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere, and between $600 to $1000 out the window. Typical electrical bills account for another $1500 and 10,000 pounds of CO2 annually.

The Savages asked ReVision Energy to collaborate with their construction team, including local green builder Chinburg Builders to integrate both solar hot water (SHW) and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems into the project. The closed-loop solar hot water heater is actually backed up by an electric element, which benefits from the energy generated by the solar electric. In the summer months, the 3.0 kilowatt PV array will produce enough electricity to send a surplus back into the utility grid for a net metering credit.

State and federal incentives for renewable energy contributed roughly 49% of the costs of the systems.

“The bottom line is, even without incentives, the solar hot water and PV systems cost less in the long-run (about 15 years) than using fossil-based energy” says NH Branch manager and technician Will Kessler, “It’s a pretty simple and environmentally sound decision.”

ReVision Energy wishes the Savages well in their new home!

This photovoltaic array will offset roughly 3,473 lbs. of CO2 emissions annually.

Joe Persechino had wanted to invest in solar energy for years, but the economics were challenging due to system costs and a lack of incentives in northern New England.

Things changed in July 2009 when the NHPUC introduced a $6,000 solar rebate for homeowners to complement the existing 30% federal tax credit. In response to the incentives, Joe contacted ReVision Energy in late 2009 and recently had us install a 3.2 kilowatt grid-tied photovoltaic system on his home.

When it was all said and done, the system benefited from about $10,000 in federal and state incentives. Joe’s system will generate roughly 4,300 kilowatt hours of clean electricity per year, or about 70% of the household’s total electric demand. This system will also eliminate more than 5,700 lbs. of CO2 emissions per year.

From an investment standpoint, Joe will achieve simple payback in less than 10 years, assuming today’s electricity rates, which are set to increase as Maine and NH ratepayers will be paying for CMP’s recently approved $1.4 billion transmission upgrade project for years to come (in fact, this is already happening – on June 1, Bangor Hydro announced an immediate 4% rate hike).

The great news is that the solar electric panels come with a 25-year warranty and 40-year expected useful lifespan. This means that Joe has effectively locked in his own clean power rate for the next four decades, thereby deriving both economic and environmental benefits that are unobtainable through any other investment strategy available in the world today.

In addition to the high quality system installation, Joe appreciated the extensive paperwork assistance provided by Jen Hatch and Will Kessler of ReVision Energy – two people who know more about NH’s rebate applications than just about anyone. According to local building inspector Dan Vincent, this was the first photovoltaic system installed in Newmarket.

“We are now proud and happy owners of a sun powered electrical plant right in our own home!” Persechino said, “I would recommend Revision Energy to anyone. In fact my wife’s parents are having a PV system installed at their house.”

From our Residential Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

Meg Simone and Dave Eiermann contacted ReVision Energy to collaborate on their new construction – a home that was to incorporate sustainable material sources, and designed for high efficiency despite the harsh winters of the White Mountains.

The 30-tube Apricus evacuated tube array provides Dave and Meg with 80% of their hot water annually and, by reducing fossil-fuel usage, cuts CO2 emission by about 4,000 lbs.

You can visit their blog for information on sustainable living and their projects, with a focus on original and local woodwork.

From our Residential Solar Photo Gallery:

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The GO Home in Belfast, Maine is slated to be the first “Passive House” in Maine. ReVision designed and installed the solar electric and solar hot water systems.

Come see the new super-efficient GO Home — at a Talk-and-Tour at the Belfast Free Library on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 7 p.m.

On track to become the first Passive House certified home in Maine, The GO Home is the affordable and super-energy efficient model for the 36-home Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage slated to begin construction in the Spring of 2010.

Why Build A Passive House?

The GO Home is designed to solve the problems of energy consumption and greenhouse gases resulting from poorly built, drafty homes, which are increasingly more costly to heat and hazardous to the environment.

Among the energy efficient building elements of this remarkable home are triple glazed windows, doors with three air seals, foundation insulation and comprehensive air sealing – including sealing underneath the foundation and on the building envelope.

To offset what energy the GO Home does consume, GO Logic called in ReVision Energy to install solar electric and solar hot water systems. The solar electric system consists of 2.7KW of Canadian Solar panels, which will offset roughly 4,900 lbs. of CO2 emissions annually. The 60-tube Apricus solar hot water array is sized to meet the needs of a family of four, and will produce an estimated 14,200,000 BTUs of clean, renewable heat energy annually.

So far, we have received a report that in March the prototype has produced more energy than it has used. According to CMP we used 137KWH, and made 184KWH, with a surplus of 47KWH!

This Thursday’s event will feature an unveiling and discussion of The GO Home at the Belfast Free Library followed by a preview Tour at 83 Crocker Road, Belfast, on Saturday, April 10 at 11 a.m.

For more information, please contact Matt O’Malia or Alan Gibson at (207) 338-1566 or visit their website: www.gologichomes.com. To track construction and development on The GO Home, visit the prototype blog at: http://www.gologichomes.com/blog/category/prototype/.

What is a Passive House?

Similar to the LEED program, a Passive House (also known as the German “Passivhaus”) meets very strict requirements for building efficiency and performance, specifically regarding insulation values and energy consumption requirements.

More details of these requirements on the Passive House website.

This 3.4KW clean, renewable solar energy system will offset 3.5 tons of C02 emissions annually

In an effort to reduce fossil fuel dependence and CO2 emissions, Marc and Michele Sopher decided to install a Geothermal heating system and a grid-tied photovoltaic array in their new home.

The four-ton, ground source geothermal heat pump uses naturally stable underground temperatures to produce heat at relatively high efficiency, compared to resistive electric heating. But as a “renewable” technology this large heat pump is only as green as the considerable amount of electricity that is needed to power its pump and compressor.

The Sophers were aware of this tradeoff while designing their home, and made the conscious decision to use solar electricity (photovoltaics) to help power the geothermal system.

This dual renewable approach should result in a near ‘net zero’ CO2 household—how close will not be known until after a year or two of data collection to see if the grid-tied solar system is large enough to meet the geothermal systems’ power demand.

In addition to renewable energy systems, the home features modern building materials that are efficient, of sustainable origin, and non-toxic. Uncommonly high insulation levels of R60 in the ceilings and R40 walls help insure minimum heat escapes during the cold New England winter.

Pat Coon and Will Kessler of ReVision Energy were consulted by the Sophers to determine the best use of the house’s excellent southern exposure. “We took a look at their system design and it made economic and environmental sense. With the geothermal pump’s electric load, solar PV is the ideal solution,” says Kessler.

The system consists of eighteen Evergreen Solar photovoltaic panels and will produce around 380 kWh monthly, with an annual CO2 savings of around 7,000 lbs.

The recently installed solar system qualifies for an uncapped 30% federal tax credit and the $6,000 state rebate offered by the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission.

In order to track the gross renewable power generated on site, ReVision Energy installed a separate meter adjacent to the DC/AC inverter. PSNH’s primary meter is bi-directional, so when the panel’s electric production exceeds demand, the extra kilowatt-hours are banked under the NH Net Metering Program.

“It is very gratifying to see the meter outside spinning backward!” said Michele Sopher.

From our Residential Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

This solar hot water system will save an estimated 175 gallons of propane and 2,500 lbs of CO2 emissions annually.

Dr. Barry Rock has grandkids, as well a first hand knowledge of forest ecosystems as seen from space.  One of his areas of expertise at UNH-Durham is the factors contributing to the changing climate and the effects of atmospheric CO2 pollution.

ReVision employee and NH branch manager Will Kessler recalls lectures at the university that had descriptions of the “atmospheric sewer” produced by the SO2 and NO2 emissions of the mid-twentieth century, and vivid accounts of NASA’s first missions using satellite imaging to map the chemistry of forest canopies from above.

Dr. Rock and his wife Gerrie have shown their commitment to the environment by adding an evacuated tube solar hot water system to their house.  By only calling on the propane boiler for rare backup water heating, the system is estimated to save about 175 gallons of propane, and roughly 2,500 lbs of CO2 annually.

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map