Solar Power reimbursement, beginning tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.

I will send an email to Rocky Mountain Power containing my filled-out Utah Solar Incentive Program Capacity Reservation Application Form.  Yep, that's what it's called.

Over a month ago, my hubby and I decided to check out getting some solar panels put on our roof.  We're already trying to reduce our impact on earth by building a house with a radiant roof barrier, ground source geothermal heating/cooling, and xeriscaping instead of a lawn.  We've always been interested in solar, but didn't have the money to add that when we were building our house.  Then  manna from heaven drifted down in January, enabling us to go forward.

I called our neighbors with solar power for a referral and then called the contractor they used to come out and give us an estimate.  I followed him around in my (broken ankle) boot and watched with trepidation as he climbed up onto our flat roof, tromped around on it, and then jumped down.

"Don't break anything," I shouted.  He laughed, because the jump was only about 4 feet on that side of the house.

He told me that the parapets were high enough to hide solar panels over the living room area, which would give us room for about 3700 watts.  The next day he emailed a cost estimate:  $19,000!

At first hubby and I said it was too much.  Then we checked into energy-efficient credits.  A residential energy efficient property credit from the feds amounts to $5,730 and from the state of Utah, $2,000.  And if Rocky Mountain Power picks my email in their lottery tomorrow, we will get an additional incentive of $4,960.  Wow.

One problem with Rocky Mountain Power:  they say the lottery is open from 8:00 a.m. March 1st to 5:00 p.m. March 14th.  However, our contractor says that, judging from past experience, it is REALLY over at 8:01 a.m. on March 1st.  Only one minute is needed for all the allotted applications to be chosen.  So tomorrow morning I will be sitting in front of the computer with my forefinger poised over "send" and my eyes on the computer's clock to strike 8:00 a.m.

The whole procedure is fascinating.  We will be plugged directly into the grid.  On days when we use all our available wattage generated and need more, we will be sucking electricity into the house.  On other days when we generate more than we use, Rocky Mountain Power will be sucking it back.  Once a month, we will see our energy usage and bill decrease by at least a third and once a year they will issue a check for the amount of energy they bought from us. 

What I found surprising was that solar panels are most efficient at 65-75 degrees and lose efficiency at higher or lower temperatures.  I also got to see the contractor do a solar shade analysis.  He brought out a convex dome that shows the surrounding trees, mountains, houses, etc on the edges of the circle.  He set the dome on six corners outlining the future solar array and analyzed the solar shade at those points.  From what I can gather from the application information, it looks like we will have no shade at all on the roof.

One of the neighbors I talked to above monitors and records his solar generating and energy usage daily.  He puts all the data on a website he created.  I don't think he'd mind if I shared his website:  http://www.casteyanqui.com/ev/solar/index.html

If you take a look at it, you will be able to see his solar panels, and the charts and graphs he made detailing the ins and outs of his energy usage.  In comparing his solar panels with ours, we will have the same manufacturer, model and inverter but will have fewer (16 compared to his 36) panels.  According to his website, his total generating capacity is  8,280 watts while ours will be ?? because then you get into the math. 

According to our application, we will have an estimated 6068.8 annual kWh (kiloWatt-hour) production before the inverter, which has a 95.9% efficiency level.  This reduces our energy generation to 5820 AC kWh/year.  Then you multiply by the number of modules (16) and efficiency per module and get 3,438 Watts (per day, I guess).  At least all you electricians will know what I'm talking about!

The bottom line is that our solar array should save us about $550 per year at current prices.  It will only take us 20.5 years to break even (without winning the lottery) and 11.4 years if we win.  Wish us luck!!

Update:  even 8:00 a.m. on the dot was too late!!

Decisions for the Year of the Dragon

On January 23, 2012, the date of the Chinese New Year, I began my diet.  Over the past 2 months, inactivity combined with eating well, eating junk, and drinking wine expanded my waistline, stomach and rear end.  I had finally taken my boot off the day before to weigh myself and UGH--I had gained over 5 lbs and 2% in body fat since Thanksgiving.  Even the jean skirt I wore almost every day began to tug at my waist.


January 1st, being only one month after my ankle surgery, came too early for me to get motivated for change.  I was really mad that my classes would begin on January 2nd, knowing that for the next 9 weeks I would be teaching nonstop.  Teaching online classes is a all or nothing proposition and--because my last set of classes ended on Dec. 4--I didn't get the break I needed.  I was still in quite a bit of pain, and sitting in the easy chair with my foot on two pillows and my laptop and one or two cats on my lap became a daily routine.

In increments, my pain decreased, and the time periods standing and walking increased.  On the day of the Chinese New Year I was ready to get my life in order.

# 1  Lose weight.  Beginning on the day of the Chinese New Year, I weighed myself, took my measurements, and began my diet.  I reduced my calories to about 1200 a day by cutting out chocolate chips, tortilla chips and most carbohydrates. I can't let go of the wine, though.  But at least I changed from white wine to red wine.

On tomorrow I will begin Week 3 of my diet.  So far I have lost approximately 3 lbs., and 1/2 inch from my waist, stomach and rear end.   I hope I will eventually get back to my normal weight, where will I fit into my clothes and have more energy.  Perhaps I will push past that goal to lose some of those 15 pounds I've been carrying since I had the kids.

# 2 Reduce my workload.  Beginning with my next class, I am going to teach one class at a time.  I have been teaching 2 classes at a time for about a year now.  As I said above, teaching online classes is all or nothing proposition.  I spend 7 days a week online which really bites chunks out of my creativity.  After grading 32+ assignments and rating 32+ student's class participation every week, I don't have any time or motivation to begin a writing project.  For example, I started this post 3 weeks ago and it took me this long to finish it!


#3  Heal myself physically.  I've just dipped my baby toe into that path.  Now that finally got out of the boot and into an ankle brace, I can drive, shop, do my own errands and get into the hot tub!  A regular stretching and exercise routine is on the horizon.  I've been doing range of motion exercises for my ankle and stretching my back and neck already.  But I'm going to add more yoga stretches,  vigorous household chores, and walking daily.

#4  Heal myself mentally.  I added up all the stresses I've gone through in the last year and it reaches into the severe stress category.  Two family deaths and a major injury top the list.  I haven't had a chance to process everything yet and need the time to do so.  Therefore, I'm going to take a long break before I start another class, and stop listening to and watching the news. I need to decompress, spend some time daydreaming, get something done around the house, relax, and do some creative writing.  Wish me luck on that last one.