Solarize Westport

Thanks! SOLAR WORKSHOP Solar. Simple. Together. What is solar? Solar photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity. Solar panels are most often mounted on the roof of your home, or on the ground, and are connected to the power grid. Meter: Measures the electrical output of your solar PV system Module: The system’s core piece, multiples of which make up an array PV cells: The module is made up of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are protected by glass and absorb the photons produced by the sun, turning them into electricity Inverter: The inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity from the module to the more commonly used alternating current (AC) electricity What are the purchasing options? What makes a home suitable for solar? South-facing roof 4-6 hours of direct sunlight Panels able to rest at a tilt of 30˚–45˚ Open roof area of about 100 sq. ft. per 1 kW Open space for a ground or pole mounted system What are the rebates and incentives? Next Steps How big a system do I need? Visit Your Town's Website! What's the difference between a kW and a kWh? A solar system is measured by the kilowatt (kW) — reflects maximum output under ideal conditions Your electricity usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) — customer usage as indicated on energy bill Why are we here? ECONOMICS Why are we here? FEASIBILITY Other Grid-connected projects will receive the benefits of net metering (utility meter spins backwards) In case of power outage, inverter shuts down SHADING Initial site feasibility can be determined online through aerial images. Shading can significantly reduce the output of a system, changing the financials of the project. Installer is the expert in determining feasibility. Contact: Toni Bouchard tbouchard@smartpower.org Rebates and incentives vary depending on a variety of factors. It is important to consider these opportunities that can further reduce the upfront cost of solar and solar hot water systems, so ask your installer for more information. Why are we here? SIMPLE TOGETHER SOLAR 4 TOWNS 4 INSTALLERS Tiered $ Installers set Tier 1 group price Once X number of kilowatts are achieved through sign-ups, towns enter Tier 2 pricing (cheaper), followed by Tier 3, etc. Whichever Tier is achieved by the December 14th deadline is the price for all participants Pricing www.solarizect.com/westport Here you will find: Upcoming events Pricing information Installer contact information Solarize Westport leaders and partners SOLARIZE WESTPORT Local Partners Homes with Hope League of Women Voters of Westport Westport Warm Up Fund Westport Woman’s Club Unitarian Church of Westport Conservative Synagogue Earthplace Nature Center ...add your organization! Installer Some of your Your Customer owns system and makes capital investment CEFIA incentive and federal tax credit lower total system cost Customer paid back over time through electricity savings What if my home isn't feasible for solar? Consider the following: A Home Energy Solutions (HES) assessment Energy Efficiency Upgrades (insulation, appliances) Solar Hot Water Sign up for CTCleanEnergyOptions All actions will help your town earn points in the Clean Energy Communities program! . . Levels will be even lower depending on the Tier achieved through Solarize . Lower energy bills Make a sound investment Improve home value Achieve energy independence Improve the environment Create local jobs Improve health Leave world a better place for future generations What can you do? Community Outreach: solar home tours potlucks green drinks organizational newsletters other ideas for Westport outreach Step 1: Determine your energy load Step 2: Calculate! 1 kW PV = approximately 1,200 kWh/year The average Connecticut home uses 8,800 kWh/year NOTE: If you sign up for a free Solarize site evaluation at this event, Encon will donate $100 to Earthplace for each completed installation. Solar Hot Water solar can be used to heat domestic water