This 10KW solar electric array will offset nearly 5 tons of C02 emissions each year!

Featured on WGME 13 this week was ReVision’s completion of a 10KW solar power installation for the Freeport Public Library!

You can visit WGME’s website for a video showcasing the solar project, with a word from ReVision project manager Josh Baston.

This clean, renewable solar energy system will offset nearly 5 tons of C02 emissions each year. Real-time system monitoring is available so that the public can see the impact of the system.

Here are some additional pictures taken by ReVision Energy of the installation, from our photo gallery:

We put a lot of effort into ensuring our systems will operate trouble-free in New England winters for 20+ years, which is no small feat!  Exceptional manufacturers help make this a reality.

We recently learned that one of the manufacturers we use for solar electric panels, Canadian Solar, received some of the highest rankings in PV USA (PTC) rankings.

These rankings, required by the State of California, exhaustively test module performance in laboratory settings and are required for a module to be eligible for California’s solar financial incentives.

Five of Canadian Solar’s solar module series, the CS6P- 220P, 225P, 230P, CS5P-240M and CS5A-180M obtained rankings that were near the top of all of those tested.

You can read Canadian Solar’s official statement, or see the full listing of PTC rankings and requirements.

Here are some pictures of recent installations that use Canadian Solar panels:

A solar power project completed this week in New Hampshire – clean energy is ready to go!

In his first official State of the Union address, President Obama offered a rousing challenge to Congress to get to work on a variety of issues – jobs, security, health care, and the transition to a clean energy economy.

With 2009 behind us, but its challenges far from over, Obama took an approach that was urgent, while at times light-hearted, as he analyzed the country’s problems and his suggestions for implementing change.

We were pleased to see “clean energy” make it into the speech some dozen times, though Obama mentioned “solar panels” only once.

Here’s our take on some of the key points raised during the State of the Union address:

• Obama Lauds Success of Recovery Act
  

  “Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. Two hundred thousand work in construction and clean energy”

  Obama put a lot of effort into defending the actions necessary in 2009, both the unpopular bank bailout and the ongoing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), aka the Stimulus.

  While Obama’s focus on clean energy jobs was on the manufacturing side – he mentioned both “the California business that will put a thousand people to work making solar panels” and a need to create “new factories that manufacture clean energy products,” the Stimulus also has had a big positive effect on those who install those panels thanks to financial incentives that were part of ARRA.

• Obama Sees Clean Energy as the Route to Tomorrow
  

  “We can put Americans to work today building the infrastructure of tomorrow … There’s no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products… I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But here’s the thing — even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy-efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future -– because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation.”

  Obama seemed very cautious about making the environmental case for a switch to a clean energy economy, instead rooting his argument in the need to create very real clean energy jobs.

  While we couldn’t agree more, and laud Obama for finding common ground, it’s a bit disappointing that the very real crisis facing our planet is still a point of argument.

  The reality is that regardless of the state of the economy, we need to make a move to clean energy now as an act of survival.

  That Obama was cautious to acknowledge this threat points to an even greater challenge of worldview we still have to resolve.

• Getting There – Incentives and Innovations
  

  “We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy-efficient, which supports clean energy jobs. … Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history, an investment that could lead to the world’s cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched.”

  Again, Obama mentions investment in research as a major player in the move to a clean economy. While we agree, the reality is that there are plenty of technologies that are already here which are reliable, affordable, and available.

  Both grid-tied photovoltaics and solar hot water are energy investments that make economic and environmental sense.

  We’re eager to see what Obama plans to offer with “rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy-efficient,” and wish we’d heard something about a feed-in tariff.

• The Economy of Old – Nuclear, Oil, and Gas?
  

  “But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And, yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.”

  After so much invigorating news from Obama, it was disappointing to hear his last word on energy mention nonrenewable sources of energy.

  While it may be necessary to find some common ground with Republicans to move the overall initiatives forward, we still disagree that more power plants and “clean” coal are the best way to build the nation’s infrastructure.

Disappointments aside, it’s encouraging to see how large a role clean energy fits into Obama’s plans to move the country back into recovery.

As Obama acknowledged, we have some mighty challenges ahead of us, but the technology is here to move to a clean economy.

What is difficult is mustering the will to act.

Apricus is one of our favorite manufacturers of evacuated tubes used in solar hot water installations.

We’ve found Apricus’ tubes to be reliable, affordable, and extremely efficient – with the average system eliminating the use of 300 gallons of oil in the ordinary home (and knocking 5500lbs of C02 out of the atmosphere each year).

New data by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation) shows that Apricus tubes tested to provide 10% more BTUs per panel in every combination of temperature and weather since their last testing in 2004.

According to the new data, on a day like today (overcast, 30 degrees) the tubes will generate up to 9,500 BTUs per panel.  To check this, ReVision Energy checked the temperature on our tubes on a cloudy day in January, and our rooftop collectors had heated water to 140 degrees.

The answer is yes, the technology still works if it is cloudy outside!

Solar hot water systems have proven to be as reliable as photovoltaic (solar electric) systems over time, and due to great incentives from federal and state governments, the cost of a system can be cash flow positive from day one.

A solar hot water investment can generally be paired with improvements to your oil boiler, which will drastically reduce (or even eliminate) the need to fire your boiler in the summertime, when running it is least efficient.

Pictures of solar hot water systems designed and installed by ReVision in Maine are available in our solar hot water project gallery.

Maine & NH have the highest per capita CO2 emissions of the New England states due to an over-reliance on fossil fuels. Continuing to rely on fossil fuels leaves one vulnerable to product supply and rising energy cost.

Learn how to be a part of the energy solution and protect yourself from future inflation by converting to a gasification wood or pellet boiler.

Attend our upcoming seminar Heating with Wood: Maine’s Abundant Renewable Energy Source.

Join us in Liberty:

August 13th, 2009; 6-8pm; 91 W Main St Liberty, ME. Call 589-4171 for more information.

Join us in Portland:

August 20th, 2009; 6-8pm; 142 Presumpscot St Portland, ME. Call 221-6342 for more information.

Presentation to Include:

Role of Biomass for Heat in Maine

Environmental & Peak Oil Issues

Economic Comparison between wood & oil

Cord wood vs Pellets

How to burn wood efficiently, and more. .

The event is free and all are welcome!

SunPower solar electric panels on a boathouse
overlooking Casco Bay in Falmouth

Efficiency Maine, a subset of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, reopened its rebate program on Monday June 29, 2009.

This is a great opportunity for people who are considering a solar hot water or solar electric installation.

UPDATE: The rebate program has continued into 2010!  See Efficiency Maine’s website for more details.

Solar hot water rebates, both commercial and residential, will be awarded in the amount of $1,000, and buildings that are Energy Star or Maine Home Performance rated may be eligible for a $1,500 rebate.

For all solar electric systems, the rebate amount awarded is $2,000.

In addition to the state rebates, you can receive up to 30% off a solar power or solar hot water installation thanks to federal tax credits.

The rebates will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. If you think you are going to purchase a solar hot water or solar electric system and have it installed in 2009 or 2010 please contact our office to receive help in filling out the state rebate application.

ReVision Energy is hosting a Grand Opening Event for our new Portland location! Please join us to view our showroom, learn about our systems, enjoy free food, drink, and live entertainment!

• Learn about solar energy for homes and businesses
• Demo a solar electric bike
• Local free food & drink!
• Moonbounce for kids
• Pete Kilpatrick and his band will be performing live!

WHEN? June 19th from 4-8pm

WHERE? 142 Presumpscot Street Portland, Maine 04103

WHAT TO BRING? Your family and friends! Come kick off your weekend by attending this great event. Meet wonderful people here in your community, and learn how renewable energy technology is the here & now; available to build sustainable community and way of life.

CONTACT JEN WITH QUESTIONS: 221-6342 or jen@revisionenergy.com

A Solar Open House event is a great opportunity to view a home with an active solar installation offsetting energy consumed by the power of the sun! All of our open houses are free to the public; wine and cheese are even provided! You will be able to view the components of the system, hear from the homeowner what it’s like to live with these systems, and ask questions in a casual and fun atmosphere. A ReVision Energy representative will be on site to answer technical questions, talk about cost and available incentives.

Kittery Open House; July 9th 6-7:30pm

Please come July 9th to 8 Devons Wood Drive in Kittery, Maine 03905 to view this beautifully constructed new home utilizing solar hot water panels to meet their domestic hot water demands. This home has two 20 tube solar hot water evacuated tube collectors on the south facing roof to heat an 80 gallon solar storage tank. The tank is connected to the propane boiler, which serves as the back up to the system. For times when the solar is not able to keep up with the demand, or in the winter months when there is not enough solar gain, the back up comes on to ensure a consistent supply of hot water at the tank.

These home owners installed necessary wiring when building their home so that adding solar electric panels would be easy and accessible when they were ready.

Come meet the homeowners to learn the processes they took to building their energy efficient home. We will be meeting at 8 Devon Woods Road in Kittery at 6pm.

Directions:

From South – 95N to Exit 3 Kittery; left at first light onto Wilson Rd; go 1 mile, Devon Woods Drive is on the right (no street sign, just NEW HOMES sign); third house on the right, #8 (red and grey); you can park on the Cul de Sac

From North – 95S to Exit 7; left at Spur Rd; right at US Rt 1 toward Kittery; right onto Wilson Rd; go 1 mile, Devon Woods Drive is on the right (no street sign, just NEW HOMES sign); third house on the right, #8 (red and grey); you can park on the Cul de Sac