How could solar energy benefit your neighborhood? Who we are - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

How could solar energy benefit your neighborhood?

Who we are Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) • Rooftop Solar Challenge I and II awards from the U.S. Department of Energy • Working to streamline the process of installing solar to make it more accessible

Purpose of this presentation • To learn more about rooftop solar • To provide your community with accurate information about how rooftop solar looks and how it could integrate into your neighborhood

Solar PV Basics Cell Panel / Module

Solar PV Basics Production Kilowatt-hour (kWh) e - e - e - Capacity / Power kilowatt (kW)

Solar PV Basics Residence 5-10 kW

Net Metering: Overview Morning Customer Utility

Net Metering: Overview Afternoon Excess Credits Customer Utility

Net Metering: Overview Night Customer Utility Solar covers the customer’s energy needs, even at night!

Design: Shading 10 percent shading of an array can lead to a 50 percent decline in efficiency Source: Renewable Energy World

Design: Pitched Roof

Benefits to homeowner • 30 percent federal tax credit (for system purchase) • Savings on electricity bill (up to 100 percent, depending on size of system) • Adding value to home

Panel location N • Panels are ideally located on a south- facing roof (or alternatively an east- E W 75% 75% or west-facing roof) • No shading 100% S

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What your HOA can do • Include covenant language permitting solar in your by-laws • Include a green mission statement in your by-laws • Create solar guidelines for your HOA

Typical language • Solar systems must be located in a position on the roof which is least visible from any street or common area, so long as such location does not reduce estimated annual energy production more than 10 percent over alternative roof locations Source: Lakewood Cove HOA (Houston, Texas)

Other solar technology

Contact Information/Resources • Laura Machala, Solar Energy Coordinator at MARC, lmachala@marc.org • Solar mapping website: www.kcsolarmap.org • Consumer Guide for Solar: www.marc.org/solarguide