Solar and the Eastside - What is in store for your home! Part I.

Ever wonder what energy source is powering the electricity needs of your home?   A good guess for our area is mostly hydropower.  Although, depending on the utility, hydropower can be as much as 99% (Seattle) or as little as 50% (many areas on the Eastside) of the fuel-mix make-up.  That leaves a good 50% portion that may come from greenhouse gas producing Coal/Natural Gas/Oil power plants.  To be sure, search your utilities website for "fuel-mix."  The fuel-mix portion is quickly containing more of the new renewables, like wind and biomass, but the question here is "quick enough?"

If you are like Lora Hein in Kirkland she has taken matters into her own hands and is already on the 7th year of powering a portion of her home's power needs with solar energy and at a short distance away.... from her roof.  Her green-retrofited cottage home was part of the Green Home Tour 2013 this past weekend.

Not only did Hein have the PhotoVoltaic (PV) panels installed 7 years ago, but also a thermal water heat and radiant hydronic heat system put in.  One part of her roof is dedicated to the PV panels, while the other part is dedicated to the thermal water heat system.  In the later system, the antifreeze liquid circulates and receives heat from the roof and sends it to the hot water tank.  That way in the winter time, the water only needs to be heated up from about 60 degrees to the desired temp.  The rest of the time the water is warm enough for use.

After passing by the Solar converter positioned outside Hein's home, the tour continued to her entryway and kitchen.  Here, she talked of her latest read, "Eaarth."  Not the 'Earth' the way we know it, but the Eaarth that will eventually come to a new equilibrium due to global climate change.  From this type of knowledge, she is especially glad that her home is sending power back into the grid during the hot parts of the summer, which she said, "Also happens to be the part of the year that my utility company is burning the most Coal for its energy source."  She wishes she could go around the neighborhood advocating solar panel additions and suggesting which rooftops would be prime.

Costco Warehouse would be an example of a prime location for panels as well.  "Currently solar projects are happening off in Eastern Washington where no one lives and the electricity has to travel a long distance", Hein said.  "What would be better is if they placed these solar panels right in our area of use."

Not quite convinced the PNW is the right place for solar?  Check out these websites ...

Does solar work for Seattle?  Seattle City Light's website prints, "While we are known for our cloudy skies, Seattle receives more sunlight than Germany, the world's leading solar market."  Example of a PNW solar panel output is Meridian Park Elementary School in Seattle with its live feed here.

Also on-site at the NW Home Tour was Josh Robertson of Robertson Greenbuilt.  As a resource in the green building market he mentioned, "The return on investment of a solar unit is completely dependent on the size of the home, the thermal and mechanical efficiency of the home, and most importantly, the behavior of the homeowner."  The following are some websites Robertson recommends:  Puget Sound Solar is a great way to get all the information you could ever need.  http://pugetsoundsolar.com/.  Federal credits are active until December 31st, 2016, as shown here.  The complete list of Washington State tax incentives can be found here. 

Convinced or already a fan of Solar Energy for the Eastside?  We want to hear your thoughts.  Still not convinced about solar?  Send us your comments as well!  A follow-up article is shortly on its way!