On the LAKE Front

28 SolarWorld panels, 5.25 kilowatts --Paul Wolff @ TVC 2012 02 17

Paul Wolff showed us his solar panels on Tybee Island:

That's 28 panels. They're SolarWorlds, roughly 18% efficiency rating, and it's a 5.525 kilowatt system.

And another thing I tell people if your roof is at all questionable... right now there's a 30% federal tax credit on the materials for an EnergyStar roof....

Here's the video:

28 SolarWorld panels, 5.25 kilowatts --Paul Wolff
renewable energy,
Paul Wolff, The Volta Collaborative (TVC),
Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

-jsq

11% return on solar panel investment —Paul Wolff @ Tybee 2012 02 17

Paul Wolff told us how he came to invest in solar energy:

I did the math on it ahead of time. I had a bunch of mutual funds that hadn't done anything in a long time. I figured out given the state and federal tax credits what the payback would be, and it came out to be about eight years. So I just divided that out, and by selling mutual funds and investing that money in solar panels on my roof it's an eleven percent return. And in this economic climate I have nothing else yielding anywhere near that. So that's a selling point.

Here's the video:

11% return on solar panel investment —Paul Wolff
Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

-jsq

Heat Pump —Paul Wolff @ Tybee 2012 02 17

The one on the right is 10 SEER (he had two); the one on the right is a 17 SEER (the new one). The new one has a separate dehumidifier and a two-stage compressor. It doesn't have to cut on full blast every time, which cut Paul's energy cost for cooling by 40%.

Here's the video:

Heat Pump —Paul Wolff, Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

-jsq

Electric outlet plugs —Paul Wolff @ Tybee Island 2012 02 17

Paul Wolff at his house on Tybee Island said air practically whistles through open electrical plugs, so stopping those up saves a lot on heat and air conditioning.

Here's the video:

Electric outlet plugs —Paul Wolff @ Tybee Island 2012 02 17
renewable energy,
Paul Wolff, The Volta Collaborative (TVC),
Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Programmable electric meter —Paul Wolff 2012 02 17

Paul Wolff showed us his programmable electric meter at his house on Tybee Island.

It shows night, day, evening hours....

That's exclusive of the solar. This is strictly what I've used off the grid. The solar, I keep a spreadsheet.

The still picture shows Paul and Gretchen comparing notes on solar generation and usage over time. He writes his on a pad of paper. She records hers on an iphone. Either way works.

Here's the video:

Programmable electric meter —Paul Wolff 2012 02 17
renewable energy,
Paul Wolff, The Volta Collaborative (TVC),
Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Weatherstripping —Paul Wolff, Tybee Island, 2012 02 17

Paul Wolff explains weatherstripping on his door on Tybee Island. Inexpensive and very effective.

Here's the video:

Weatherstripping —Paul Wolff, Tybee Island, 2012 02 17
renewable energy,
Paul Wolff, The Volta Collaborative (TVC),
Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq