Tag Archives: retro fit

Top Solar PV Testimonial, Ever.

(What follows is quite possible the best Solar PV testimonial we could ever ask for.  With pictures!  We hope you agree.)

 

SBS Solar
401 South Orange St, Unit C
Missoula MT 59801

Dear SBS Solar:

Solar PV Pergoal, Central Missoula, Montana

I’m writing to share my great experience with your company and my 100% solar-powered home. In the fall of 2011, SBS installed a 24 panel, 6 kW, grid-tied solar PV system at my home in central Missoula. Because my house had additions, I don’t have one flat surface for the panels, so SBS hired subcontractors to design and install a covered back porch structure for the panels. I started producing all of my own power in the early spring and now in the summer am producing 50% morepower than I need. I will receive a credit for this extra power and it will mitigatethe power use in December or January when I might be producing as little as 30%of own my power.

100% Solar powered electric car, from home Solar PV system in Missoula, Montana

I recently installed more efficient appliances, and thus I will probably producemore power than I use this year. This surplus of power led me to decide to lease a 100% electric car, which will be 100% solar-powered car for at least 6 or 8 monthsout of the year.

I felt compelled to act because we can’t afford to ignore the signs of climate change or the role we play in it. I feel a moral obligation to reduce my carbon footprint, to protect biodiversity and protect the planet for future generations. Can you imagine the reduction of coal and oil consumption we could achieve if every family in Western Montana had a solar-powered home and solar-powered electric car? Maybe mega-loads, tar sands mining, and Otter Creek coal mining would all become unnecessary. The technology is available and ready for this now inWestern Montana.

The cost breakdown for my solar system:

COSTS INCLUDING STRUCTURE:

Materials and installation for PV system: $28,570
New back porch structure:$8,640
Engineering of structure:$1,643
City building permit for structure:$285
Relocation of power/gas lines for structure:$3,605
Electric panel relocation:$620
GROSS Total:$43,363

Northwestern Energy Grant ($6,000)
Federal Tax Credit($11,208)
State Tax Credit($500)
NET Total including structure:$25,655

 

COSTS EXCLUDING STRUCTURE:
Materials and installation for PV system: $28,570
Northwestern Energy Grant ($6,000)
State Tax Credit($500)
Federal Tax Credit($8,625)
NET Total excluding structure:$13,625

So essentially, the solar system had a net cost of less than $14,000 for 100% annual power.

The system will eventually pay itself off and then the power I use in my home and the “fuel” I use for my car will be free. While this is certainly a meaningful reward, for me the bigger reward is knowing that my decision to choose an alternative to coal and oil is a concrete physical step toward a safer planet for future generations. As Terry Tempest Williams has said: “The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time. They are kneeling with hands clasped that we might act with restraint, that we might leave room for the life that is destined to come.”

Thank you for the important work you are doing.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Smith
(contact info withheld to maintain customer privacy.  Please contact SBS Solar directly for more information) 

 

 

Green Blocks – Final Phase

SBS has had a wonderful and successful time on the side-order list for the City of Missoula’s Green Blocks energy saving program.

We began work back in the Fall of 2010 by getting 2-inters from the University of Montana’s COT Energy Program and got them fully trained on doing a basic solar site assessment.

Our Team ended up doing over 120 assessments over the course of 3-months last fall.  They braved blazing sun, side-ways rain and blowing snow from October – December.  But, it was well worth it.

This spring 2011 marked the final phase of this project.  The City added about 60-90 participants to get to their total count of 300.  We got ourselves another COT Energy intern for this past Spring and he went out and did about 48 more solar site assessments.

Half way through this phase we saw an 18% REDUCTION in the cost to install solar, plus the state and feds decided to KEEP the tax credits in place for renewable, Northwestern Energy gave us a dozen more $6k grants to hand out to customers in good standing, and the MT DEQ revolving loan fund keeps on chugging along (although they are 8-10 weeks out on funding).  To top it off, SBS starting taking credit cards for deposits.

The wet cold spring made for a slow start, and with the unseasonably cool summer, folks were not thinking about solar.  But with the aforementioned incentives, and a little 90 degree weather, we are in full swing.  Over half of the installs we’re doing in July and August came from Green Blocks leads and SBS is now booked out until September.

Thanks to the City of Missoula for this great opportunity!  We’d love to do it again.

If you’re interested in information about solar – get in touch: www.SBSlink.com or info@sbslink.com.

There is Hope: Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy Tax Credits & Grants for 2011

Over 80% of Montana’s housing stock was built prior to 1980. These homes offer the largest opportunity for Montana to reduce energy consumption through retrofitting and consumer education, as well as a huge opportunity to bolster our local economy by growing the green-collar job sector with verifiers and installers to do this work.

The fact remains that the majority of residents in these 1980 and older homes tend to be first-time home buyers, the elderly, and working-poor. Even when the desire is there, the main sticking point in Montana seems to be the ability for a consumer to cover first-costs on a project. There is a fair amount of assistance out there for those who qualify and are willing to do the work to recover it.

As of late, there has been much debate and confusion over the continuation of certain tax credits, grants and rebates that were implemented during or enhance as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In many cases, a project must be third-party verified or certified to qualify for some of these rebates or credits.  There is good news and bad news:

The bad news is that a few of these options have shrunk back to pre-recession era levels.

The good news is that there is still a lot of money out there for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy applications in the residential and commercial sectors.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TAX CREDIT:  There has been an Energy Efficiency tax credit around for a while. It was traditionally a 10% credit, maxing out at $500. For the past couple years this was increased to 30% and $1500 cap. For 2011 we are back to the originally levels of 10% and $500 cap. This article offers a great overview of the information for 2011 as well as eligible projects, mounts and forms to get started, scroll down to point 3 for 2011 info.

RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDIT:  The big kicker that keeps on giving is the 30% renewable energy tax credit. It has no monetary cap and is still in place through 2016. This credit can also be carried forward for a few years should you expect a year in the future where it might be more helpful. In addition to the website above, the information at Energy Star is also quite good.

NEW HOME TAX CREDIT:  While these credits are for retrofitting to existing buildings, there are great incentives for new construction as well. A credit of $2000 is still available to home builders who build homes (including both site-built and manufactured homes) projected to save at least 50% of the heating and cooling energy of a comparable home that meets the standards of the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (the 2003 code including the 2004 supplement). A $1000 credit is available to manufactured home producers for models that save 30% or that qualify for the federal Energy Star Homes program.

In most cases a third-party verifier is needed to qualify that the home is indeed projected to save at least 50% over a comparable home. Businesses should have RESNET or BPI certification and the ability to offer a REM/Rate reading. Other incentives are offered through Northwest Energy Star homes and the NAHB Green program.

CHECK LOCALLY:  It is also a great idea to see what sort of complimentary tax credits or rebates are offered by your state governments and local utilities. In Montana, the Energy Conservation Installation Credit is a tax credit applied against a taxpayer’s income tax liability. Montana resident individuals can claim the credit for energy conservation investments made to a home or other building. The credit is equal to 25% of expenses, up to a maximum credit of $500. Two or more people may each qualify for the credit, as long as the building in which the investment is made is owned by all of the people claiming the credit.

As well, The Alternative Energy System Credit is a tax credit against income tax liability for the cost of purchasing and installing an energy system in a Montana resident’s principal home that uses: (1) a recognized nonfossil form of energy such as, but not limited to, solar energy, wind energy, solid waste, and organic waste; or (2) a low emission wood or biomass combustion device such as a pellet or wood stove. The credit cannot exceed $500. Two or more people may each qualify for the credit, as long as the building in which the investment is made is owned by all of the people claiming the credit. For further instructions on the alternative energy system credit, and to calculate this credit, see Montana Form ENRG-C.

SOLAR PV GRANT IN MONTANA:  As far as utilities go, there Co-Ops and others tend to have different offerings and you’ll have to check with yours for the best information. For much of Montana, Northwestern Energy offers a $6000 grant for Solar PV installations that are at least 2kW in size. The installer must be NABCEP certified for the project to qualify for the grant. Here at SBS both of our installers have the NABCEP certification, so we have a handful of these grants to give away to customers in 2011 and were able to do apply over 10 of these grants to projects in 2010.

MT REVOLVING LOAN FUND FOR RENEWABLES:  As well, here in Montana, we have access to the MT DEQ revolving loan fund. This is a 10-year note at 4% for renewable energy implementation. Each project must be at least 80% renewable energy and can have up to 20% energy efficiency in the mix. That would mean on a $10,000 loan a minimum of $8000 would have to go to renewable implementation and up to $2000 for efficiency implementation. We find that at least half of our customers take the time to go through this application as it is well worth their while.

Here is the breakdown on the rebates for a basic 2kW qualifying solar system for a Missoula household with 2-income earners. A system of this size tends to offset 20-30% of the average MT home’s energy use. Coupled with basic energy efficiency measures and small changes in behavior, it is not uncommon to find 35-50% of energy use offset in the end:

$15,000 2kW Solar PV system
-$6,000 NWenergy PV grant
=$9,000 NET COST
-$2,700 30% Federal Tax Credit
-$1,000 MT Alternative Energy System Credit
=$5,300 NEW Net Cost

If this couple also wanted to implement energy efficiency measures and get the MT DEQ loan, this is a plausible breakdown. They could choose to take the loan based on the gross amount of the System or the net cost at the bottom. If they take it on the gross, this couple would end up having much more than the $3500 allocated below for their efficiency work:

$15,000 2kW Solar PV system (including parts, labor, permits, engineering, etc…)
+ $3,500 extra for some energy efficiency work
= $18,500 TOTAL MT DEQ Loan amount
$ 180 approx. monthly payment

In addition to the federal& state tax credits as well as the utility solar grant in the example above, this customer would also qualify for the additional $500 in federal tax credits from the Energy Efficiency tax credit listed above, as well as numerous rebates from Northwestern Energy with a few more here.

Here at Sustainable Building Systems (SBS) we have the needed certifications listed above in order to work with you on your energy efficiency projects.  Of course, SBS is not a licensed tax preparer and more information on tax credits and energy efficiency incentives is available at www.dsireusa.org .  This summary in no way constitutes guaranteed savings; we recommend consulting an accountant to verify how tax credits apply to you.

If you would like more information of getting started with an energy audit, implementing energy efficiency measures or a renewable energy application, give a call today: 406/541.8410 or visit us at www.SBSlink.com. Here you’ll find access to our Solar Calculator and a basic questionnaire on getting started with SBS.

Remember, the Greenest Energy is the Energy We Don’t Use.

Molly Bradford
Marketing Director
mbradford@sbslink.com

Green Blocks, Phase II

WOW – 120 solar site assessments!

That right, out of the 300 participants in the City of Missoula’s Green Blocks Program we were chosen by 120 participants to do solar site assessments.  This is great news.  I had hoped we’d be a popular Side Order, but this blew our minds.  In fact, we are even getting a second intern from the UM-COT energy program to help with the work load!

Over the next 6-week our interns will be going block by block through the 120 sites to do a basic assessment with our Solar Pathfinder.  We will contact folks a week in advance so they know their block is up next.  Then we’ll do a quick visual assessment and/or a Pathfinder assessment in each yard.

Each participant will be told if they are a good, fair or poor site, why, and what options are available to them according to their results (i.e. PV, Thermal or other renewables like ground source heat pumps).  We will also provide info on available grants, tax credits, rebates and financing for their Solar and Renewable options.

SBS is very excited to be working with the City of Missoula, Northwestern Energy, the COT’s Energy degree program and all of the other Green Blocks Side Orders.  This really is a model public-private project to be duplicated.

SBS Teams up with “Cool Green Home”

The Montana Radio Company and Sustainable Building System’s have teamed up to bring Cool Green Home to Missoula, where over $135,000 in home renovations will be given to a few lucky Missoula homeowners.

The project was started with a simple idea, take an existing Missoula home and create a “showcase” for energy-efficient and sustainable products offered by local businesses.  It has gained so much attraction that 24 area businesses have partnered with us on this unprecedented project, and each will contribute in their area of expertise.

Our goal is to show our community that sustainable and green homes are not only good for our planet but good for our bank accounts, and with planning, big improvements can be made with modest steps.  We intend on setting an example as to what a sustainable green home could look like.  We don’t intend on building one from ground level but getting an existing home started on the path to green. We will start the home remodel by completing an energy audit of the home to identify the best places to improve the energy efficiency.  For the next year we will continue to monitor the Cool Green Home and track how much money the family saved in energy costs and how their lives improved.

We received over 180 applications from Missoula-area homeowners and paired them down to a set of 10.  From here the winners were chosen.  Congratulations to our winning homes:

  • Elke Govertsen & Paul Donaldson
  • Jana & Chuck Doyle
  • Ross & Norma Nickerson
  • James Dodge & Jenny Daniel
  • Paula Raines & Michael Hoffer

Keep checking here and at www.CoolGreenHomeMissoula.com for updates and information on the progression at these five homes.  And if you entered and were not a winner, do not fret, there are great tips and DIY projects associated with this year’s projects and we’re already looking to 2011 for another round.

Introducing Our New Green Window

Window

The Clawson NorthSlope Window, Montana-Made with sustainably harvested Larch and US Glass

Okay, it’s not really our window per se.  But that doesn’t stop us from being excited about SBSs new relationship with the exceptionally rad window.

We are pleased to announce our official relationship as a dealer of one of the most unique, greenest, and most handsome windows manufactured anywhere in the world – the NorthSlope Window by Clawson.  Framed in Treadlight™ larch, harvested only from forest restoration sites, this window highlights the beautiful honey and cinnamon grain and dark pinhole knots of the wood, while giving high performance in energy efficiency and durability.

The NorthSlope Window incorporates a top–of–the–line, energy–efficient spacer system with high–performance, double Low–E glass to offer unmatched thermal performance, meeting Energy Star requirements.  Because these products are manufactured by U.S. regional glass makers, there is the added value of still greater “locally sourced” benefits.  The window contributes toward satisfying several credits under green–building rating systems, including LEED® and NAHB’s National Green Building Program.

Read the rest of the store at Treadlight by NorthSlope Sustainable Wood.

Zandy’s New Bio…

SBS is proud to announce (okay, we’re bragging a bit, but you’ll understand why)… that our very own Zandy Sievers  was appointed to the City of Missoula’s Greenhouse Gas and Energy Conservation Team!  He says, “Hopefully my say will have an effect on local energy reduction measures!”

As if that weren’t enough, Zandy is also on a 7-person verifier panel shaping the functionality of the green scoring tool for  NAHB Research Center’s National Green Building Standard.  The City of Missoula is about to incentivize  the NGBS for local green builders.  How yet, the panel is not sure.

Here is Zandy’s new bio:

Alexander (Zandy) Sievers, SBS Project Technician, began working in the building industry as a handyman, doing everything from plumbing and electrical work to carpentry, while finishing his B.A. degree in Psychology at the University of Montana.  After working in the human service field and a couple years in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Zandy made his way back into the building industry working as a carpenter and was hired by Eclipse Engineering, Inc. in 2006 as a Structural Draftsman.

In 2008 he convinced Eclipse to support his interest in Green Building and become a NAHB Green Home Verifier for the company.  After completing his Energy Star Verifier and Home Energy Rater training, his interests in ecology and building science led him to Sustainable Building Systems.   Since working for SBS he has been noted by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) as one of the top 15 most active verifiers in the country and has assisted the NAHB research center in developing the scoring tool for the ANSI approved ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard.   In May of 2010 he was appointed to the Missoula City Greenhouse Gas & Energy Conservation Team, helping lead the City in conservation measures.

Currently Zandy is studying to be a consultant for the most stringent energy standard in the world, Passive House.  Literally meaning “home that conditions itself” homes certified to the Passive House Institute standard use a tenth of the energy of conventional code built homes.

Zandy and His wife Prairie are bringing sustainability to their neighborhood by starting a small scale CSA garden on their lot in city limits.  They also have chickens, a German Sheppard, a barn yard cat, and a stellar son, Bannin.  Zandy has always had a love for the outdoors and when there is no snow to ski you’ll probably find him Mountain biking or juggling at the farmers market.

We are proud of our staff and their accomplishments.  It’s not just enough for us to talk about green energy around here, we strive to live it and do it, as well.

NICE WORK, ZANDY, YOU MAKE SBS PROUD!

for more information on SBS, Energy Consulting or to talk with Zandy:

Alexander (Zandy) Sievers
RESNET Home Energy Rater, NorthWest Energy Star Homes Verifier, NAHB Green Building Verifier
T/(406)531-3143
zsievers@sbslink.com

The Start of a Success Story

Hello SBS Folks,

As we’ve discussed Jen and I are intent on using our big, old, drafty, inefficient home as a test case and guinea pig for Sustainable Building Systems.

Just how much energy can we save at the “Elrod House”?  If we can show that this house that was built before the turn of the century can be made efficient than it will be proof that we can do it anywhere. And we can show just how much energy could be saved if a larger percentage of existing homes were addressed in the same manner.

Jeff's “Elrod House”

So we’ve been in the house since July of last year and we are already seeing some compelling results. At this point Jen and I have implemented about 3/4 of the easy and cheap energy savings measures. We’ve retrofit about 3/4 of the light bulbs with cfls, we’ve installed and programmed the thermostat to set regular set-backs (a simple technique I’d like to expand on later), we’ve turned the water heater down, insulated the walls and ceilings with urethane spray-foam where we gutted them for the upstairs remodel, and we’ve installed a lot of spray foam in the crawl space, gasketing and thresholds and other air barriers including a quilted curtain at the stairs to the largely un-insulated attic. We’ve also taken simple operational measures like turning the thermostats to 50 when we are gone overnight and replaced one of the original single pain windows with a therma pane unit and covered the rest with plastic film for the winter.

So we are just starting really. New projects will include insulating the attic, insulating the crawlspace, installing a crawlspace vapor barrier, continuing to work on finding air infiltration and sealing it, and eventually installing Solar PV and/or Solar Thermal as well as some energy modeling.

So how are the results looking? Well, I’ve got to say pretty spectacular so far!  The year to year monthly comparison between this winter and last shows that we have reduced our electricity use by about 60% and our gas use by about 15% as compared to the previous owners. The monetary savings are impressive too. We are saving an average of over $3.10 per day on elasticity and over $2.20 per day on gas for a total savings of around $150 per month in these winter months.  And this with just the simplest of measures.

Obviously it’s important to note the differences between the previous owners and us. They had a hot tub which would explain a lot of the electicity savings, and we assume they must have used the electric baseboards that are upstairs as well. (We have barely used them at all) We know that they are both staunch environmentalists who care about global climate change issues, so they were certainly within the realm of SBS clients.  And they were living in the house with just the two professional adults, like us. It is also important to note that Jen and I have not totally traded in our American habits, we didn’t turn the heat off and hunker around a single candle for warmth. For the most part we had the house temperature set to 67 or 68 when we were home and awake; and we still both take pretty long hot showers.

Clearly, this isn’t a scientific analysis and it isn’t meant to be. But it IS a real life example of a house and people who fit the SBS target market. It is just another clear example that we can make a very large dent in our client’s building energy footprints.

Cheers,

Jeff