Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Conserving Electricity: Larry Hale shows the eight golf cart batteries and the power conversion center he installed to help run power to his 2300-square-foot home in Campbell to keep it running during the rolling blackouts expected to occur during the summer.
Resident jump-starts the solar energy movement in Campbell
While the city goes dark, Larry Hale's lights stay on with the sun's energy
By Erin Mayes
It's 9 a.m. and the temperature is already 80 degrees. Forecasts predict it's going to be a scorcher, with rolling blackouts almost inevitable. For many people, there will be no escape from the heat.
If the power goes out, Larry Hale and his family might not know about it. The television won't turn off, nor will the microwave, the washing machine or the lights.
Hale owns the first fully solar-powered home in Campbell, but it definitely won't be the last. Several Campbell residents have applications pending with the city to install photovoltaic solar panels on their roofs; thus ensuring their power stays on, even if every other house in the neighborhood is dark.
Photovoltaic panels convert radiation from the sun into an electric current.
Hale started conserving energy long before the power crisis. He described himself as "green"-- an environmentally conscious person.
During the power crisis in the '70s, Hale thought America would wise up, that electric cars would become the standard mode of transportation. But as the crisis became a nonissue, Americans seemed to take on an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude, resuming their gas-guzzling ways.
Now, in this age of monster homes and oversized sport utility vehicles, people seem to be surprised to find themselves in the same predicament they were in only 30 years ago. Hale, however, was not surprised. He was prepared.
A few years ago, he insulated the outer walls of his house. Almost all of the light bulbs in his house are fluorescent and even his attic is insulated. These actions alone cut his electricity bill by 75 percent, he said.
The photovoltaic panels on Hale's roof are a rather new addition to the world of homeowners. Other solar panels look similar to photovoltaic panels, but are actually used to heat water.
Thirty-six panels, each 2-by-4 feet, sit Hale's garage roof, behind his house on N. Second Street. Each panel generates 80 watts, altogether producing more than enough to supply the house with energy throughout the day. In fact, Hale's meter runs backward, pushing energy back onto the grid.
At about noon, the panels will be at their height of production, kicking out more than two kilowatts of energy. Hale says he and his family consume about 4,800 kilowatt hours annually, but he estimated that the average home uses between 5,760 and 6,720 kilowatt hours per year.
"So our neighbors next door are getting power from us," Hale said, smiling.
Hale has a power conversion center in his garage, which converts the solar energy to an electric current. Adjacent to the high-tech converter is the battery backup system. This is not necessary, Hale said, but he figured he'd set one up just in case. He's got eight golf cart batteries stashed in a corner, storing up energy for the not-so-perfect moment.
The converter monitors, whether or not there is a blackout or a brownout, and ensures that the house stops pushing power back on the grid in these instances, as it could be dangerous if PG&E workers worked on the wires in his neighborhood, while assuming the power was out.
To be on the safe side, Hale said he's going to set up a "gizmo" to indicate when the power has gone out. This will also keep the family from unknowingly using up battery power.
So, have all of these gadgets paid off? Well, not yet, although it's getting close.
Hale and his wife Yanmin, both engineers, spent $27,000 on their new system--about $13,000 for the photovoltaic panels, $4,000 for the converter, $800 for the batteries and the rest was spent on labor. They financed it with a home equity loan.
Subtract a rebate the Hales received from the state of California, and they only paid $15,000. Recently, another $500 million was added to the state rebate program so the amount refunded to homeowners has gone up from $3 to $4.50 per watt.
"That means the state is basically paying for the solar panels," Hale said.
Photograph courtesy of Larry Hale
Power Alternative: Solar panels on the roof of the Hale home in Campbell are helping conserve electricity and avoid rolling blackouts.
One of the state requirements for getting rebates is at least a five-year warranty on all of the equipment. Residents have to apply to the California Energy Commission for these.
Hale also hopes that Pres. Bush's energy plan goes through, because it would mean an extra rebate for him.
"At this point, it looks pretty positive that Bush's energy plan will kick in," Hale said. "I thought it was going to take about 10 years to pay for itself, but, if the Bush thing goes through, it'll be less than five years."
The Bush plan seeks to give oil and gas drillers easier access to public lands, to speed up the review process for refinery and power plant expansions and spur renewed interest in nuclear power.
The Hales may also receive cash from PG&E because they are, in essence, supplying power. Although they have not yet received any money, if they do, they will receive it based on both wholesale and retail prices.
Hale is also paying low energy bills--low compared to the rest of the Bay Area.
The last few energy bills for his 2,300 square foot home have been between $100 and $150. He attributes much of the cost to his wife's use of the electric stove.
City planner Bill Bruckart said more and more people are going to start installing photovoltaic panels on their roofs.
"With the energy crisis that we're in, there is a real strong push by the contractors, the Public Utilities Commission and PG&E to encourage solar power systems," Bruckart said. "Used in residential applications, it hasn't been user-friendly for the homeowner-type applicant. We're seeing the technology become more practical. As technology advances, they're learning how to make these panels less expensive and more durable. We are seeing several new applications come forward for the systems. I expect, with the continued energy crisis, that we'll see several more applications."
Bruckart said that although the technology of photovoltaic panels has been available for 30 or 40 years, used most noticeably on satellites, they've just begun to emerge in residential areas.
"This is a brand new technology to most cities," he said. "This is something that we've seen probably in the last six months."
Hale found out about the photovoltaic panels through a lot of reading and research. He also found out that the panels are quite durable and can last up to 50 years. His battery backup system, if kept well charged, could last from seven to 10 years.
"If I were to move from here, I would seriously consider taking the system with me," the eight-year Campbell resident said.
Hale's main concern is creating awareness of this technology. If photovoltaic panels were spread out over California's deserts, enough energy to supply the whole country would be generated, he said.
While blanketing the desert with shiny panels may be a bit far off in California's future, Hale said individuals can start helping now.
"It just seems like the right thing to do," he said. "You can start out small by making sure you have the right light bulbs and insulation. Those things make a big difference."
Campbell, California
