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The Middle Tennessee Solar Tour sponsored by Tennessee Environmental Council and LightWave Solar Electric drew record crowds on Saturday October 3, 2009.  Solar homes all across Middle Tennessee were open to the public to view and learn about solar energy as part of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour Day. Two of the nine featured homes saw over 100 visitors, while other homes saw 40-60 visitors.“It was quite a turnout and a great opportunity to educate Middle Tennessee about the benefits of solar energy.  The systems are more affordable than ever and TVA offers a great payback incentive.  My home was featured on the tour and my latest electric bill was actually a credit of over $50,” reported Steve Johnson, President LightWave Solar Electric.

The tour featured active and passive solar powered homes in Sylvan Park, West Meade, Green Hills, Antioch, Brentwood, Franklin, Mt. Juliet & Cookeville.  Homeowners and installers answered questions and showed off system components.  These homes also featured energy efficiency, conservation, and other renewable energy systems.

The tour also included the new passive solar home of Council Executive Director John McFadden in Mt. Juliet and Council Board Member Mary Mastin’s home just outside of Cookeville.  Mary and her husband Brian Paddock participated in the ASES tour for the fourth time. Over the last three years, they’ve had more than 140 people from all over the state visit their partially earth sheltered, passive solar designed home, to which they put on 4kW of photovoltaic panels in July of ‘06 and just recently added an additional 2 plus kW.

Mastin and Paddock built their house on a south facing slope 25 years ago to be passive solar, and they recommend making homes as energy efficient as possible before investing in solar panels.  Below is a list of energy-saving features of their house, which they printed up for the tour.

The Middle Tennessee Solar Tour is a unique opportunity to learn about solar and is scheduled to take place again next fall.  LightWave Solar Electric can answer your solar questions at any time, visit www.lightwavesolarelectric.com or call 615-641-4050.  You can also learn more at the American Solar Energy Society www.ases.org

Energy Saving Features of Mary Mastin and Brian Paddock’s Home

Step 1 - Design, orientation & construction.
Earth sheltered, waterproofed with Bentonite clay.  Passive solar gain from large windows which face true compass & solar south. Roof overhangs calculated to allow direct sun Oct. 10 to April 10 but no direct sun during summer. No east windows, 1 on the north, 2 on the West. (Heat reflective) Two water heaters for short runs to kitchen, utility, and bath water use areas.  Ducted for air circulation from cool tubes. Supplemental wood heat — circulating Rumsford fireplace & master suite wood stove & sauna. Add on room constructed with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). Roller shutter for light control and tornado resistance.

Step 2 - Energy conservation & efficiency.
Insulation, & multipane windows.  Solar clothes dryer, paddle fans, night venting, compact fluorescent lights, energy star refrigerator & front load clothes washer, super efficient dishwasher & water heater. Geothermal heatpump (separately metered for energy use monitoring) with heat scavenger for water heating. Solar pool heater, two-speed pool pump. Solartube for electricity free daytime lighting.

Step 3 - Photovoltaic solar electric power generation.
4 KW max from 40 panels. Cost $39,000, installed. Subsidies: Federal income tax credit $2,000, TVA Generation Partners installation rebate $500, Generation Partners electric bill credit of 15 cents for every kilowatt hour generated.

On TVA’s Generation Partners program, we had to pay electric bills in only January and February of the first two years — a total of a $50. That is for a house with three computers, two printers, a scanner, two TV’s, central heat and air, a swimming pool pump and an air conditioned wine cellar and includes our household water which comes to the house from a spring via electric pump.  TVA has just changed its Generation Partners program to make participation even more beneficial. They will now pay you 12 cents more per kilowatt-hour for the electricity you produce than whatever their current charge is.

Thanks to the Tennessee Environmental Council for this article.

I was interested in the poll that showed the respondents identified the main obstacles to growth as the lack of financing (81.8 percent), little support from utilities (62.9 percent), lack of customer knowledge (61.3 percent), and insufficient level of incentives (59.1 percent).  I could not agree more.  The entire article can be accessed at: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/poll-prospects-good-for-the-us-solar-industry#at  .  These are the main drivers for the work that Jim and I are actively engaging.  Financing is getting better with some of the federal programs supporting solar.  The electric utilities still are reticent about the intermittent nature of solar and our thoughts are that energy storage at the souce of the solar is one way to promote better acceptance from the utilities.  Lack of customer knowledge can be combatted with the all our members speaking to public groups about the benefits of solar to the homeowner, businesses and to churches.  Come to Nashville on November 10 and participate in the Solar Energy Symposium.  Maybe the Governor and legislature can come up with better incentives.  Maybe our electric utilities can do the same. Hope to see you there.

Steve Levy and Jim Hackworth

You have an idea and have done some work.  Now you are seeking some seed money to fund the idea.  Well, there is a new seed money fund in Tennessee thanks to our legislature.   It is called the Tennessee Small Business Investment Company Credit.  Go to the website and start making plans.  This should be great for those interested in unique solar projects and inventions.  Who knows, you may be able to get an investment. 

Everyone

Please all register for the Tennessee Solar Symposium planned for Nashville on November 10th.  This is the Governor’s Economic Conference on solar.  He is returning from his recent trip to China and hopefully, he will have some good news for our state and its employment opportunities in the solar energy manufacturing.  The location of the event is the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Nashville and the Governor is the opening speaker.  There will be breakout sessions with some of the state’s leading solar experts and businesses.  It is for one day and the best news is the registration is free!  The symposium starts at 9:30 Central Time and concludes early afternoon.  I urge anyone interested in solar energy development in Tennessee to be there.  Like to meet you all.  Jim Hackworth  and I will be there.  Look for the guy with the Stetson and that will be Jim.  I am the tall guy with him.  Come over and introduce yourselves.

-Steve

Welcome to the Tennessee Solar Energy Association blog! We encourage all members and non-members alike to talk about the questions posted here and post some questions yourself about solar energy, problems or progess with solar in Tennessee and anything in between. We hope to link the solar community throughout the state of Tennessee!