Description Of Our Soon-to-be Solar Energy System

Things are moving along nicely with our roofing/solar installer, 360 Solar, based out of Lake Elsinore. We've designed a 4kW DC solar system for my parents house. The system is estimated to produce 6,608 kWh of power annually, which is more than we'll use for the entire year, enabling us to take advantage of net-metering and AB920, the new CA law that allows us to sell excess electricity to the utility company (a utility company actually writing US a check, imagine that!). Net-metering allows us to rack up credits for the excess electricity our system produces and supplies to the grid. So, for example, if we generate more power than we use in one month, we'll credited that net surplus amount on our next month's bill.

Our PV system will be applied to the standing seam metal roof and should look great! 360 Solar is helping us apply for the upfront solar rebates - California's New Solar Homes Partnership (part of the Go Solar California Program) - which will pay us $2.55/watt installed. That comes out to a wopping $10,094 cash rebate, or 40% off the total cost of the system. Couple these savings with the 30% federal tax credit and we're saving about 60%!

System Description:
Total System Size: 4.080 kW DC / 3.537 kW AC
Estimated Annual Production: 6,608 kWh
PV Panel Description: 30 X Uni-Solar thin film laminates
Inverter: SMA America Model: SB4000US (240V)


Uni-Solar thin film laminates


SMA 4000kW Inverter

Progress On The Main House!

The family met up in Idyllwild to document the progress that's being made on construction. So far the foundation and rim joists are in place, and in a few weeks the walls will be going up!

We've Broken Ground!

We officially broke ground! My parents never thought they'd see the day - the past couple of years have been marked by indecision, engineering tests, and permit delays. But all that's behind us now and we're finally Rockin' N Rollin'. Barring any major surprises, our home should be finished by Christmas (early 2011 at the latest).


Our builder, Rob Gray


Framing


Pouring the foundation


Crawlspace (huge boulder under our house)


Footprint


Lucy approves of what she sees