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Reduced fuel consumption will displace fossil fuels, lower energy
bills and cushion against increasing energy prices. An optional
backup power system can keep the lights on if the utility power
fails. Adding a solar power system will also add value to your home.
- Photovoltaics (PV) modules convert solar energy
directly into electricity through silicon cells. Building integrated
Photovoltaics (BIPV) offset roofing costs since BIPV will be the
roof. Additionally, solar roofs last many times longer than traditional
roofs due to the materials used.
- Utility Interactive Inverters send excess electricity
generated from PV panels back into the utility grid and the electrical
meter reverses. At night, the system will draw electricity from
the utility grid. The inverter changes and conditions the electricity
made by the solar panels, so it can be used safely by household
appliances.
- Solar Thermal Collectors. This technology converts
solar energy into heat energy through heat transfer technologies.
Thermal collectors can be used to heat domestic hot water, space
heating and swimming pools.
- Thermal Storage Subsystems. This technology stores
the heat generated by the thermal collectors and transfers the
heat to the customer’s load.
- Optional Power Backup. Customers have the option
of installing a battery based power backup system that would provide
limited power if the power grid failed (for example during storm
conditions or rotating blackouts).
- Passive Solar Design is a holistic architectural
design strategy to use solar energy to heat houses in winter and
to cool houses in summer. ARISE can assist customers with information
on design practices and other building energy conservation techniques
when we design solar homes or systems.
Yes. Provision can be made to add additional solar panels or batteries
at a later date. A solar domestic hot water system could be installed
first and a solar electric (PV) system could be added later.
The range of costs is extensive, reflecting the modularity of solar
energy options. Small portable systems range from under $500 to
$2,500. Pool or domestic hot water systems can range from $5,000
to $20,000. A small grid connected PV system starts at $15,000.
A solar energy home with multi-function building integration providing
a significant reduction in home energy use would start at $40,000
and increase with size.
The savings for the examples in question 4 above depend on a range
of factors but could save between $100 to $5,000 a year. Water heating
accounts for as much as one-quarter of the average residential energy
consumption. A solar system can reduce that cost by 50 percent.
We estimate that the solar home shown on the homepage will reduce
greenhouse gas and smog producing emissions by 20 tonnes a year.
Reductions are directly proportional to the size of the system.
Each kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by a coal fired plant
results in emissions of 1 kilogram of CO2, plus SO2 and NOx emissions.
An ARISE system provides you with completely clean electricity unlike
the electricity that is produced from conventional energy sources
such as coal, gas, oil, and nuclear powered sources.
ARISE can provide a range of worry-free solutions. The strength
of an ARISE system is how it is engineered to work as a whole. They
are designed by professional engineers and installed by experienced
solar technicians and installers. An ARISE system gives you security
of price once you have purchased and installed your system. For
the portion of the electricity your ARISE system provides, you will
not have any price increases for the life of the system because
the source of your system's energy is the sun.
Most likely. It depends on a number of factors such as shading,
roof design, aesthetics and existing materials. It would likely
cost a little more than a new home or major renovation. Solar domestic
hot water systems can be installed on any home with a south-facing
roof. Panels can often be ground mounted as well. Each site is unique
and ARISE can help find the right solution.
Solar technology is very reliable. PV solar panels have manufacturer’s
warranties of 10 to 25 years. In most cases, when installed they
are also easy to maintain. When solar panels are set at an angle
of greater than 15 degrees, their surface is cleaned naturally by
the rain, and loss of efficiency due to dust and other obstructions
is minimal.
Yes. Through our retail products division, SolarSense.com, ARISE
has a range of small portable solar energy systems that can provide
moderate amounts of AC and/or DC electricity to power lights, small
appliances, computers, power tools, water pumping, TV’s, VCR,
cell phone, fridge’s and similar appliances.
Because the ARISE system can connect to the local electrical utility,
they are an important partner in the whole process allowing PV systems
to be connected to their grids. This helps cut pollution and lowers
the burden of electricity production by the power plants. ARISE
will work with your local utility to arrange inspections of the
system.
If you are grid-connected the no, you don’t need batteries.
The least expensive way to store the electricity is to obtain any
night-time usage of electricity from your local utility as you do
now. Your utility is then operating as your storage system. Batteries
can be added as an option for backup power if the grid fails. If
you are not grid-connected, such as a remote cabin, then batteries
are needed to store power
The size of your system will depend on how much of your electricity
needs you want met by clean solar electricity. A small system might
meet only 10% of your electrical needs to begin with. More PV modules
and inverters can be added at a later date. A larger system could
handle from half to all of your needs. PV modules produce approximately
10 watts of electricity per square foot. Therefore a system that
would produce from 250 to 450 kwh (kilowatt-hours) per month would
take up only some 240 square feet of roof space. That is an area
of 24 feet by 10 feet. The actual kwh produced each month on your
roof will depend on how much sunlight reaches your roof each month.
That varies according to geographic location and weather conditions.
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