Frustrated Prince Georges County Homeowner Reduces Carbon Footprint and Saves Cash
With a backdrop of high energy prices, concern over global warming and a growing desire to achieve energy independence, the Blackwell household set out to make a monumental change.
After disappointing conversations with BGE, The Blackwell’s started with one simple step – a Home Energy Audit. The audit recommended that they install ENERGYSTAR qualified CFLs (compact fluorescent light), unplug energy draining appliances, use a power strip so they could easily turn off electronics when they were not in use plus other energy saving initiatives. But, it just wasn’t enough.
With a renewed desire to cut back, The Blackwell’s were motivated to reduce their electricity bill further when reviewing their annual electricity costs, a steep $7,550 per year.
The Blackwell’s reside in a large single-family home built in 2006 in Bowie, Maryland. The two-story home is occupied by 3 adults and sits upon an approximate 40,000 square foot lot. So, with available space, the Blackwell’s explored the use of ground mounted solar panels to reduce their energy costs.
After contacting Solar Energy World in the fall of 2009 – the solar analysis showed that it would pay to go solar. The Blackwell’s opted for a 10.32kW solar electric system that includes 48 – 215 watt ground mounted panels. After the federal tax credit, state grant and local property tax credits, the Blackwell’s expect the $74,450 solar panel system to cost them $39,573.
In addition to the government incentives, the Blackwell’s will be saving $2,471 per year on their electricity bills and earning an estimated $4,435 per year by selling their Solar Renewable Energy Credits; making their ground mounted solar electric system pay back in less than 5.73 years.
Savings
Over the next 15 years the Blackwell’s will save about $57,000 in avoided energy costs.
Earnings (SRECs)
Through the Maryland Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, the Blackwell’s could earn an estimated $39,744 over 15 years. The program requires electricity suppliers like BG&E to use renewable energy sources, including solar energy, to generate a certain portion of their utility mix. One way power companies can do this is to buy, through a third-party, renewable energy credits from homeowners with solar panels.
Solar Energy World installed the Enphase monitoring system along with the solar panels. The monitoring system showed that during the first 10-days the Blackwell’s produced 505 kilowatt hours; which could power 1,529 light bulbs, 505 computers and 15 homes for one day.
Powering up the Blackwell solar panel system has also reduced their carbon footprint, with a carbon offset of 865lbs. Within the same 10-day period the offset equivalent of planting 10 trees, saving 45 gallons of gas, and taking 26 cars off the road for a day. A carbon offset is a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) and represents six primary categories of greenhouse gasses.
When asked about her new energy saving solar system, Mrs. Blackwell said, “I love my solar energy system. Besides having a warm fuzzy feeling when I think about going green, there are so many benefits to home owners that it almost seems ridiculous not to look into solar energy”.
Ultimately, it’s the incentives that make solar affordable, and the annual savings and earnings that are encouraging homeowners most to install solar. Solar homeowners are taking advantage of the abundant solar energy resources and are providing relief to a stress and aging electricity grid.
