Middletown resident Jim Esrey just added a new addition to his house that should reduce not only his effect on the environment, but, to a slight extent, the town’s effect, too.
With the aid of a grant from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Green Energy Program, Esrey recently hired KW Solar Solutions, LLC, to install 24 solar panels on the roof of his garage.
“This is going to be the first solar installation that’s going on the town’s grid,” Esrey said.
The solar panels are expected to produce 6 kilowatts a year of energy. Esrey said since his family usually uses 16 kw a year, this should be a substantial amount of savings. Potentially, the panels could reduce the family’s energy costs by 40 percent.
“Everyone that’s had a system installed said it performed better than expected,” he said.
Esrey began looking for a company to install the panels in June, and signed a contract with KW Solar, whom he said came highly recommended, in July. After waiting four weeks for the parts to come in, installation began last week.
Esrey said the panels on the garage collect energy from the sun that is converted into electricity and sent to the house using a device similar to a circuit breaker. During peak sun hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the panels are expected to create so much energy that it will move on from the house into Middletown’s grid.
The system is expected to last 25 years. Dale Wolf, co-founder and co-owner of KW Solar, said the system requires little maintenance. Rain usually washes off the dirt and the panels can take up to an inch of hail.
“There are no moving parts to this system,” he said, explaining why they were so easy to maintain.
KW Solar has also helped Esrey get the state grant. Esrey said the total cost of the project is $38,000, and the grant should pay for $15,000 – the highest grant you can receive for adding a photovoltaic system to a residence in the Town of Middletown. Overall, the project should pay for itself in 10 years, or less if energy prices rise.
“I think that’s pretty good,” Esrey said.
Esrey said there is no special requirement for the grant, so long as you install a renewable energy system in your house.
In addition, Esrey will be able to sell carbon offsets of 1 kw per year to power companies. Previous carbon offsets have sold for $215 a piece.
“That’ll help me pay for the system,” he said.
Esrey said he wanted to have solar panels installed, as environmentalism is important to him. He said his family recycles everything they possibly can. They have an electric lawnmower and two hybrid cars.
“We only have one Earth,” he said. “I’d like it to be in good shape for our children.”
If you are interested in installing a solar energy system in your own house, applications for an energy grant can be printed from DNREC’s Delaware Energy Office Web Site at www.delaware-energy.com.
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Middletown resident Jim Esrey just added a new addition to his house that should reduce not only his effect on the environment, but, to a slight extent, the town’s effect, too.
With the aid of a grant from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Green Energy Program, Esrey recently hired KW Solar Solutions, LLC, to install 24 solar panels on the roof of his garage.
“This is going to be the first solar installation that’s going on the town’s grid,” Esrey said.
The solar panels are expected to produce 6 kilowatts a year of energy. Esrey said since his family usually uses 16 kw a year, this should be a substantial amount of savings. Potentially, the panels could reduce the family’s energy costs by 40 percent.
“Everyone that’s had a system installed said it performed better than expected,” he said.
Esrey began looking for a company to install the panels in June, and signed a contract with KW Solar, whom he said came highly recommended, in July. After waiting four weeks for the parts to come in, installation began last week.
Esrey said the panels on the garage collect energy from the sun that is converted into electricity and sent to the house using a device similar to a circuit breaker. During peak sun hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the panels are expected to create so much energy that it will move on from the house into Middletown’s grid.
The system is expected to last 25 years. Dale Wolf, co-founder and co-owner of KW Solar, said the system requires little maintenance. Rain usually washes off the dirt and the panels can take up to an inch of hail.
“There are no moving parts to this system,” he said, explaining why they were so easy to maintain.
KW Solar has also helped Esrey get the state grant. Esrey said the total cost of the project is $38,000, and the grant should pay for $15,000 – the highest grant you can receive for adding a photovoltaic system to a residence in the Town of Middletown. Overall, the project should pay for itself in 10 years, or less if energy prices rise.
“I think that’s pretty good,” Esrey said.
Esrey said there is no special requirement for the grant, so long as you install a renewable energy system in your house.
In addition, Esrey will be able to sell carbon offsets of 1 kw per year to power companies. Previous carbon offsets have sold for $215 a piece.
“That’ll help me pay for the system,” he said.
Esrey said he wanted to have solar panels installed, as environmentalism is important to him. He said his family recycles everything they possibly can. They have an electric lawnmower and two hybrid cars.
“We only have one Earth,” he said. “I’d like it to be in good shape for our children.”
If you are interested in installing a solar energy system in your own house, applications for an energy grant can be printed from DNREC’s Delaware Energy Office Web Site at www.delaware-energy.com.
