2010 7th annual solar tour socialhoustonsolartour.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/hts...2010 7th...

2010 7th AnnuAl

Solar Tour & Social

Saturday • October 2, 2010Solar Social 9am-12pm

Solar Tour 12pm- 5pm

www.HoustonSolarTour.org

Presented bythe Ases national solar tourAmerican solar energy society (Ases)Houston renewable energy Group (HreG)Houston Advanced research Center (HArC) City of Houston (COH)University of Houston, Gerald d. Hines school of Architecture

Real SOluTiOnS fOR Real PeOPle

2 www.HoustonSolarTour.com

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Solar Growing Strong in HoustonTHank yOu SO mucH for being a part of the American solar energy society (Ases) Houston solar tour! the Houston solar tour provides Hous-tonians with more than just education about the benefits of solar energy. It also allows participants to tour solar installations and sustainable build-ings in person. I know you will have an inspiring day. From the federal level to the municipal level to the personal level, solar power is gaining prominence. the Us department of energy (dOe) launched its solar energy technologies Program, among other solar related programs, to increase solar energy technologies’ presence in the market. specifically, the dOe is working to make electricity from solar technologies economically competitive with grid electricity by 2015. On the municipal level, the City of Houston is striving to be the greenest City in the nation. the environmental Protection Agency (ePA) recently recognized the City of Houston as the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy in the nation. the City loves solar power, installing solar panels on the George r. brown Convention Center, the City’s Code enforcement building, discovery Green Park and the City Hall Annex building. Additionally, the dOe has designated Houston as a solar America City. And we are purchasing 25 solar powered generators for disaster preparedness and other uses. the City of Houston is also a leader in Leed™ buildings. Currently we are eighth in the nation in the number of Leed™ certified buildings and sixth in the nation in the number of en-ergy star buildings. Our goal is to be #1. We will get there with the recent launch of the Houston Green Office Challenge for property managers/owners and tenants. sign up to participate today at www.houstongoc.org. And we are a leader in energy efficiency. the City of Houston has led in weatherization through our residential energy efficiency Program (reeP). We are spending $23 million to help thousands of Houston residents reduce their energy usage and their energy bill. Check out our program at www.reephouston.net. And lastly, Houston is a leader in electric vehicle readiness, building infrastructure and developing programs to make it easy and affordable to drive an emission-free electric car. Find out more at www.greenhoustontx.gov. As the director of sustainability, my job is to direct and stimulate Houston’s growth as a sustainable, green city. the only way to achieve that is to work with great organizations such as Ases, HreG, HArC and the University of Houston school of Architecture – all strong partners in the Houston solar tour. I commend the Houston solar tour team on their fantastic efforts to make solar more accessible and affordable for Houstonians. thank you to the many participants and volunteers for your commitment and hard work. I am excited to participate with you, and I hope you enjoy the Houston solar tour!

laura Spanjian, Sustainability Director, City of Houston

insidesolar social ........................................... 4Green Office Challenge ..........................5University of Houston .............................6residential energy efficiency Program .....7reeP Program ........................................7 rice University ........................................8Lone star College ...................................8not All Watts Are Created equal ...........12solar tour Map............................... 12-13About Leed ........................................ 14Houston Community College ...............19How solar systems Work......................19Partner Profile ) HArC ..........................20the economics ) residential solar Panels ........................22Partner Profile ) HreG ..........................23

cenTRal HOuSTOn TOuR SiTeS sPACe ................................................... 5City of Houston Code enforcement bldg ........................ 7Project row Houses ................................9burghli Homes .....................................10the riser residence ..............................10Healthy Green Hue solar Home ............11Krahn residence ..................................11Cuathen residence ..............................14Zercher residence ................................15Green Mode LLC development .............16

cleaR lake TOuR SiTeS nAsA Gilruth recreation Center ...........17nAsA Child Care Center ......................17ePO Computering electronics etc ..........18Arnao residence ..................................18seabrook Intermediate school ..............20

SuRROundinG ReGiOnS Houston Habitat for Humanity .............21trim electric Inc ....................................22Animal Farm ........................................23

How to Take the Tour - it’s freeTHe aSeS HOuSTOn SOlaR TOuR is a self-guided tour. Look over the sites in this tour guide, gather a few friends to carpool with and visit the projects that interest you. Or, you can opt to take the organized group Metro bus tour (visit the HreG table at the solar social to learn more). enjoy spending the afternoon learning about solar systems and energy efficiency. tour sites are open from 12 noon to 5 pm. the Houston solar tour is part of the American solar energy society’s (Ases) national solar tour event, “the largest grassroots solar event in history.” Last year close to 160,000 attendees visited some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 participating communities around the UsA. Please be sure to sign up at the social or at a tour site so we can keep track of how many people have attended the 2010 Houston tour!

The annual ASES Houston Solar Tour is made possible by the participation of many volunteers and both in-kind and paid sponsors. If you or your company would like to participate, please contact Matthias Jung at (832) 683-7779 or email him at [email protected].

2010 BOaRd Of diRecTORSTour chair

Matthias Jung, transition Houston

Tour Site chairMike ewert

nAsA; HreG, President

Sponsor chairKathleen reardon, AIA, Leed APrd Architecture LLC, Principal,

UsGbC, HreG

marketing chairMary Frances blatchley

Hollinden, senior director

marketing chair, Public RelationsPam McConathy

Foresight Communications Group, Principal

Solar Social chairsusannah devine, Leed AP

rd Architecture, LLC, designer

Volunteer chairtonya britton

Lone-star College-Montgomery, Program Manager, Workforce education

Laura Spanjian, Sustainability Dir.,City of Houston

4 www.HoustonSolarTour.org

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University of HoustonGerald D. Hines College of Architecture

parking available in lot 18B

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meet companies and organizations of Houston’s renewable energy community as we kick-off the Houston Solar Tour

Visit the first Tour site - SPace!SPACE stands for Solar Powered Adaptive Container for Everyone. An in-novation developed by the uH Green Building Component Program – It’s a shipping container transformed into a mobile sustainable workspace.

Sign up for a free bus tour! meTRO will be on site to transport you to and from some of the tour sites. For more information and to sign up, visit the HREG table. First come, first serve.

meet local businesses! Solar installers, green builders and architects are among those who’ve been growing Houston’s renewable energy industry. They’ll answer your questions about energy efficiency and renewable energy for your home or business.

Get educated!Visit with students and professors from uH and other local colleges and universities to learn more about careers in solar technology. Attend one of the short presentations in the lecture hall.

Talk with non-profit groups about what they are doing in your community! Organizations include: the Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG), the uS Green Building Council (uSGBC), Green Team America and Houston Habitat for Humanity.

Take a walk!Read interesting facts and a bit of history about “green” building and renewable energy as you walk through the uSGBC’s Green Building Maze.

don’t forget the door prize!!!Sign up at the HREG table for one of the door prizes. Win a solar attic fan, or a home energy audit and more.

2010 aSeS Houston Solar Tour

SOlaR SOcialuniversity of Houston

Gerald d. Hines college of architecture

Saturday, October 29 am – 12 pm

Gerald d. Hines college of architecture 122 College of Architecture Building

Houston, Texas 77204

PARKING Parking is free and right across the street from the College of Architecture. Park in lot 16B off of uH Entrance 18A on Elgin Street.

18A


SPace : a u of H Green Building component Program Project uniVeRSiTy Of HOuSTOn, GeRald d. HineS ScHOOl Of aRcHiTecTuRe

PROjecT deScRiPTiOnPV System Size: 3.5 kW to 5 kW from Twenty to Thirty 175 Watt Panels Producing an Estimated 15-18 KWh/ Day (In the 5 kW system, an addi-tional row of ten panels is included to supplement critical power require-ments through the use of PV Pods, SPACE’s proprietary and cost effective solution to mounting solar panels to flat surfaces using water filled plastic molds.)

Battery Capacity: 3-4 Days Battery Backup using Sealed AGM Solar Batteries

Additional Solar/ Battery Equipment: Solar Inverter with On and Off Grid Mode, Battery Charge Controller, and 2 KW Backup Gas Generator (For optimum battery performance, it is advised to keep batteries charged to at least 50% capacity at all times. The backup gas generator maintains this charge in the event of prolonged low solar exposure.)Interior SPACE Features: High Efficiency Mini-Split HVAC, CFl and lED lighting, and Multiple Power Outlets (Cabinetry, Millwork, and Other Options Available)

Interior Square Footage: 140 sq. ft.

Total SPACE Ground Footprint: 20 ft. x 8 ft.

OwneR’S nOTeS employing patent-pending design and material innovation, sPACe is a sustainable workspace and mobile solar gen-erator made up of four major components: an up-cycled 20 ft. x 8 ft. shipping container housing a climate controlled work/ storage space, a proprietary solar rack capable of producing up to 5 kW of solar power, a self-contained battery end-cap with 3-4 days of battery backup, and an advanced renewable energy power management system. Fully integrated, sPACe units are capable of accommodating job site activi-ties, special events, and emergency response operations. because shipping containers are made to travel in extreme conditions, they are robustly built and are ideal for affordable structures that require mobility, security, and reliability. by combining the container strength with engineered green building components, this system can withstand hurricane force winds, travel securely with panels attached and wired, and be operational within an hour of deployment. sPACe has been permitted, tested, and complies with building codes. Purchase and leasing options are available, and units can be customized to user specifications. All sPACe units are built in Houston, tX. For additional information, contact Joey romano at 713-829-3156 or by email at [email protected].

Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston are challenging manage-ment districts, commercial property owners, property managers and of-fice tenants to participate in improving the environmental and economic performance of their business operations. the Houston Green Office Challenge will help participants reduce their energy use, waste, and water use and provides an exciting way for businesses to make Houston a greener place to live and work.

How It Worksby reducing energy, water, and waste, participating management districts, commercial property owners, property managers, and office tenants will be acknowledged for greening their operations through mayoral and media recognition. the Houston Green Office Challenge helps participants move down the path toward environmental sustainability and, in some cases, toward third-party green building certification through the energy star and Leed™ rating systems.

Take the Houston Green Office challenge!

1) Generate your baseline score your baseline will help you

determine what improve-ments can be made.

2) Make improvements to your score Over the course of one

year, the Houston Green Office Challenge team will provide training opportu-nities and other resources to help you along the way.

3) Show off your achievements!

Mayor Parker and the City of Houston will recognize you and your company for your efforts.

Take the Challenge Today! sign Up by going to www.HoustonGOC.org

Complete the Challenge in 3 Easy Steps

And don’t forget to follow us @HoustonGOc


THe alTeRnaTiVe eneRGy ReSeaRcH inSTiTuTe (aeRi) brings together strengths in alterna-tive energy technology, architecture, policy, legal and regulatory, business development and work-force training at UH through the partnership and integration of the following elements at UH: Center for Advanced Materials Center for Public Policy College of Architecture Center for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Law College of Technology Global Energy Management Institute

AerI addresses future sustainable energy needs while reducing climate impact by promoting new alternative energy sources and the implementation of resultant energy consumption strategies. AerI spurs research and development, provides testing and applications analysis, integrates alternative energy technologies with building and architectural design, undertakes educational outreach and workforce development in the area of alternative energies, promotes new energy businesses, and actively contributes to the development of sustainable energy policies and regulations. AerI promotes develop-ment of currently underrepresented texas energy resources, including photovoltaics, fuel cells and Led lighting technologies, while seeking to establish systematic energy-saving strategies based on: • Grid-independent remote energy sources • Efficient, cost-effective urban solar cell usage • Distributed self-contained energy sources • Solid state lighting for homes and public facilities • Energy efficient architectural design • Alternative energy regulations and policies • Alternative energy workforce development • New business development in alternative energy technologies • Alternative and renewable energy public outreach

AerI develops these strategies by integrating researchers at the University of Houston in science, business, law, social science, technology and architecture into a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing alternative energy problems. this is further enhanced by incorporating researchers at local and national industry partners, as well as local economic development organizations and the City of Houston through its solar America Cities program.

university of Houston ) Alternative Energy Research Institute (AERI)

The University of Houston (UH) has announced its participation in a new program to encourage sustainability in all aspects of higher education. The program, called the Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustain-ability in Higher Education (AASHE). To date, nearly 230 higher education institutions have registered as STARS Charter Participants. UH recognizes the importance of unified, holistic criteria for university sustainability. “Following the STARS guidelines were instrumental to the establish-ment of the University of Houston’s sustainability programs,” said Emily Messa, assistant vice president for university services and campus sustain-ability officer. “We didn’t have to spend a lot of time defining a road map to sustainability because everything was defined in STARS. We are able to build on our areas of strength like recycling and then take our time focusing on initiatives that require more of a community approach, such as developing and implementing sustainability policies.” AASHE’s STARS program is the only one of its kind that involves publicly

reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in three overall areas: education and research; operations; and planning, administration and engagement. “The advantage of STARS is that institutions can earn credits for all of their contributions to sustainability,” said Paul Rowland, AASHE executive director. “From providing sustainability coursework, to using green cleaning products, to energy efficiency in campus buildings, there are lots of opportu-nities for a school to identify and track its sustainability progress.” Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Canada, and the criteria that determine a STARS rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal com-parisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions. UH looks forward to participation from its students and staff and will be watching its sustainability efforts grow on campus through the STARS pro-gram Messa said.

——— uH Registers as charter Participant in new Sustainability Rating System ———


ciTy Of HOuSTOn cOde enfORcemenT BuildinG3300 Main Street, Houston, 77002

Renewable Energy System: 6.6 kW Solar Electric System

Installer: Standard Renewable Energy

Date Installed: May 2008

Approximate Energy Provided: 8,800 kWh per year

Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kWh: $1,760 per year

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn standard renewable energy was contracted by the City of Houston for the installation of 40 bP 165 W solar panels mounted on the southern facing wall of the Code building. the solar array overlooks the front entry of the building on the third level. though Hur-ricane Ike destroyed many Houston properties, these panels did not suffer any damages despite the angle in which they were installed.

CodE ENfoRCEMENT GREEN buILdING REsouRCE CENTER oPEN foR soLAR TouR

• See samples of green building materials.• Consult with Public Works and Engineering staff and Program Director,

Steve Stelzer.• The Code Enforcement Building itself demonstrates green building technolo-

gies and is registered to achieve LEED for Commercial Interiors. • Don’t miss the solar powered irrigation system! A 250 gallon rain tank

collects water from the roof drain line. A moisture sensor in a planter controls the irrigation. If the soil is dry a timer will start the solar powered pump to water the plants in the reclaimed planters.

Park in the lot just south of the building. Light Rail Stop: Ensemble/HCC

the City of Houston, through a grant from the department of energy, is offering a free weatherization assistance program to low-income househoulds throughout Houston. based on an assessment by a qualified energy efficiency provider, eligible applicants may receive attic and wall insulation, air condition-ing systems, energy efficiency lighting, solar screens and/or refrigerators. since 2006, the City has weatherized over 8,000 homes and has reduced Houstonian’s energy bills by an aver-age of 12 to 18% per month. to find out more about the program, please contact the reeP Hotline at 832-393-8101 or go online to www.reephouston.net.

iT’S yOuR TuRn HOuSTOn! Residential energy efficiency Program

832-393-8101 reephouston.net


By TRacey RHOadeSrice University is at the head of the class in texas for sustain-ability, according to the 2010 College sustainability report Card issued by the sustainable endowments Institute. the uni-versity was named a “campus sustainability leader” in the an-nual evaluation of 322 campuses in the U.s. and Canada and it was the only university in texas to earn an A in the “green building” and “climate change and energy” categories.

rice University is committed to constructing all new buildings to meet the U.s. Green building Council’s Leadership in energy and environmental design (Leed) standards. to date, eight buildings have been built to achieve Leed certification guidelines: the bioscience research Collabora-tive, rice Children’s Campus, the barbara and david Gibbs recreation and Wellness Center, brockman Hall for Physics, McMurtry and duncan colleges, and the new wings of baker and Will rice colleges. both the Children’s Campus and the rec Center have already achieved Leed-silver, and a ninth structure, the Oshman engineering design Kitchen (formerly campus’ Central Kitchen) was rice’s first renovated building to be awarded a Gold rating by the council. duncan College, rice’s 11th residential college, is one of the most environmen-tally sustainable buildings ever built in Houston and recently achieved rice’s first Leed-Gold rating for new construction. Featuring a green roof with low-maintenance plants to reduce heating and cooling needs, smart controls to automatically shut off air conditioners and prefabricated bathrooms that reduced on-site construction waste, duncan, along with other campus initiatives, contributed to rice being named the top environmental performer among universities in the state of texas. that’s an achievement worthy of shouting from the rooftop — the green one.

RecenTly THe STaTe eneRGy cOnSeRVaTiOn Office (seCO) stimulus Program awarded Lone star College system (LsCs)’s Lone star College-CyFair and Lone star College-Montgomery campuses a $406,000 grant to purchase equip-ment to train students as alternative energy electrical system specialists able to work with renewable energy technologies. students will use this equipment to design and build: wind turbine systems, fuel cell systems, and solar photovoltaic systems in courses at LsC-CyFair. solar photovoltaic specialty students will design and install a solar photovoltaic system each semester at LsC-Montgomery. As part of Lone star College-CyFair’s Advanced technol-ogy Program headed by director, richard Gilbert, the courses are for students enrolled in the electrician Program, resulting in a Marketable skills Achievement (MsA) Award. the MsA prepares students for electrician work in renewable energy technology, construction, installation, operations and mainte-nance. the Photovoltaic system Course is available now and the Fuel Cell system electrician and Wind turbine electrician courses will begin in 2011. Lone star College system’s commitment to renewable en-

ergy technologies is evident on all of its campuses from highly visible solar panels to biofuels research using algae at Lone star College-Montgomery. Alternative energy courses are also available at Lone star College-tomball and Lone star College-north Harris. Available at Lone star College-Montgomery is a two year Associate of Applied science (AAs) degree in Land surveying and Mapping technology. As part of its continuing commitment to the community, Lone star College system is proud to support the Houston solar tour by providing coordination for volunteers.

Rice university ) Shout It From The (Green) Rooftop

lone Star community college ) Alternative Energy Courses

duncan college, Rice’s 11th residential college features a green roof with low-maintenance plants to reduce heating and cooling needs.


PROjecT ROw HOuSeSZeROw HOuSe2306 Stuart St., Houston, TX 77004

Renewable Energy System: A 4.2 kW DC array consisting 24 BP175B PV modules and 24 En-phase microinverters supplies electricity to the house, and sells back to the grid when surplus is produced.

Solar water heating is performed using an Apricus 30 Tube evacuated collector mounted on the roof.

Installer: Rice university

Date Installed: October 2009 (DOE Solar De-cathlon), August 2010 (Project Row Houses)

System Cost: According to the Means construc-tion estimation, the as-contracted cost of the solar PV system is $40,166.

The solar hot water components have a total retail cost of $5,100.

Approximate Energy Provided: nREl’s PVWatts v2 software predicts generation of 5311 kWh/year for the fixed-tilt solar PV array assuming an azimuth of 180° S, a tilt of 15°, and a conservative AC/DC derate factor of 0.77.

It is predicted that all hot water will be generated from the Apricus solar collector, requiring only minimal energy for pumping.

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: $796.50

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn 24 enphase microinverters convert dC production from each bP175b PV module to AC. Losses from partial shading or individual panel failures are avoided allowing each panel to provide electricity at its optimum operating condition. small inverters convert back to dC at the point of use for Led lighting. the enphase microinverters send individual panel production information to an off-site web server, showing near real-time production for each panel and allowing for troubleshooting.

OwneR’S nOTeS the Zerow House demonstrates sustainable energy practices in a modest home. Complete plans for the house and all systems are freely available at http://www.solardecathlon.gov/past/2009/team_rice.cfm.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn the Zerow House incorporates modern sustainable technology into the traditional row house concept of Houston’s 3rd Ward. the house was designed for its final donation and implementation at Project row Houses (projectrowhouses.org) by students from the rice University school of Architecture and George r. brown school of engineering. After serving as rice University’s entrance in the 2009 dOe solar decathlon in Washington dC, the Zerow House returned to Houston to its permanent location at PrH. PrH is a neighborhood-based nonprofit art and cultural organization encompassing six city blocks and more than 20 houses and 40 properties, including a dozen artist exhibition and residency spaces, seven houses for young mothers, a community gallery, a park, and low-income and mixed-income residential housing. the Zerow House is constructed with 2”x6” walls filled with Icynene insulation for improved thermal efficiency. A green wall provides a passive thermal barrier. Led lighting is used throughout, totaling less than 200 Watts for the entire house. Heating and cooling are via a mini-

split ductless system mounted at the two ends of the house, and an energy recovery Ventilator (erV) provides fresh air from the exterior, while exchanging heat and humidity to minimize losses.

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SpeCIal THaNKS!Ases Houston solar tour & social would like to thank all the

home owners and businesses who have so graciously opened their residences and work places for us to tour. your participa-

tion is what makes Houston a great city to live!plUS - A special thank you to solaris Homes for sponsoring the Houston solar tour! We look forward to having you on the tour next year, showcasing your newest project!


BuRGHli HOmeS - mid TOwn2906 Paige St., Houston, TX 77004

Renewable Energy System: 3.78 kW PV System

Installer: Solar Solutions uSA

Date Installed: August 2010

System Cost: $30,240

Approximate Energy Provided: 6,208 kW, or approximately 80% of the load needed for the home

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: $930.00 per year

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn twenty one 180 watt panels, flush mounted on the roof with a southern exposure.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn this is a Green built energy star home with super energy Features that surpass energy star standards. the savings go beyond the production of the solar panels. this home should save 70-80% on ALL utili-ties (electric, Gas, and Water) by comparison to a standard code built home. We have homeowners throughout Houston living in burghli solar Homes with monthly negative electric bills. We have a total of 13 homes at this location within a 3 block radius; all have PV systems mounted on the roof. typical home features include:

THe RiSeR ReSidence3462 Nathaniel Brown Street

Renewable Energy System: 2.7 kW Solar System

Installer: Texas Renewable Energy

Date Installed: March 2010

Approximate Energy Provided: 4374 kWh annually

Approximate Energy Provided: $1,740 annually

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn the solar system at the riser residence includes ten 270-watt solar panels mounted on the roof and one inverter installed inside the garage. the grid-tied solar system was purchased from texas renewable energy. the 2.7 kW solar system generates enough electricity to cover 95% of the entire home energy usage.

OwneR’S nOTeS the risers searched for and purchased this ‘all-electric’ new home in 2007 with the intention to install solar panels. solar panels were installed in March 2010. texas renewable energy offers flexible payment plans. Prior to installing a solar system, the average monthly electricity bill was $175; after installing the solar system, the average monthly electricity bill is $30. the 2.7 kW solar system generates enough electric-ity to cover 95% of the entire home energy usage. Considerate neighbors were kind to re-move a tree that caused shade to cover the solar panels. the riser residence is a bilingual residence (english/spanish) located 7 minutes from reliant stadium and the medical center; and 12 minutes from the University of Houston. the risers will save about $1,740 per year on electricity.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn the riser residence is a sustainable green home. All appliances are energy efficient. every year the risers maintain a garden that produces a variety of fruit and vegetables. no pesticides are used; only homemade compost is used. the risers’ next project is installing a rainwater collection system.

• R-25BIBS in exterior walls• Foamed Attic deck• 18 SEER High efficiency HVAC system• AC Ducts are in Air conditioned space• Heat Pump Furnace• Smart Fresh Air Supply• Balanced air and temperature pressure• Solar Batch Collector Water Tank

• Temperature censored, Gas, Tankless Water Heater

• Energy Star Appliances• Energy Star Fixtures• Dual Flush Toilets• Motion Sensor lavatory faucets• ALL self closing exterior doors• And many other items


THe HealTHy GReen Blue Hue SOlaR HOme7510 Prestwick, Houston, TX 77025

Passive Solar Cooling Design: laVerne Williams, AIA, lEED AP

Renewable Energy System: 4.8 kW STC DC, 3.84 kW AC Solar Electric System

Installer: Standard Renewable Energy

Date Installed: April 2010

Approximate Energy Provided: 6,284 kWh per year

Approximate Cost Savings: $1,032 per year/2010 rates according to SRE

Architect: laVerne Williams, AIA, lEED AP, Environment Associates, Architects & Consultants

General Contractor: les Albin, lacon Homes, Structural and Flood Vent Engineering, Gary Beck, P.E., Eco-Holdings llC

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn What do you do when your property is in a flood zone, and you want to build your solar home there? even with the flooding, staying in the same neigh-borhood where they had put down roots was desired because it was so convenient to where they worked. but they also wanted a green home with low energy bills, to have solar power, and to house their eclectic furniture and reflect their colorful tastes. Knowing how poor indoor air quality adversely affects health as the years go by, having in a healthy home as their “daily oasis” retreat and being easy care for their busy lifestyle were givens. the resulting home, designed by Houston’s very own nationally recognized pioneering healthy home green architect, has its main living area built above a floodable closed conditioned crawl space and has their daughter’s and guest bedroom located above the garage with vapor barriers to prevent contamination from garage area fumes below. by angling the south wall of the garage, this design decision and the positioning of the back yard fence and gate allows cooling breezes to be redirected to their much used elevated screen porch and to an open porch and back yard pool area beyond. the solar panels are mounted high on the roof over the 2nd floor area, above the height where they won’t be shaded by the mature trees. twen-ty-four suntech 200 watt panels were mounted directly to the standing seam metal roofing were used in this grid tied system. since the home was purposely designed according to the architect’s signature “design for Passive sustainability,” should some event or storm prevent them from not having any power at all from their energy provider or their PV solar system, the home’s passive solar cooling and heating design features will allow them to remain at home in relative comfort. should they ever want to solar heat their swimming pool or expand their PV system to make their home become a net Zero energy home or take it completely off the gird, there is ample optimally positioned roof space purposely designed to do this. A rain water harvesting system, a passive solar greenhouse, and the A/C system water condensate drain to replenish evaporated pool have yet to be completed.

kRaHn ReSidence 7819 Windswept, Houston, TX 77063

Renewable Energy System: 3.5 kW DC Solar Electric System with Battery Back-up

Installer: Alternative Power Solutions

Date Installed: March 2010

Approximate Energy Provided: Solar Electric – 350 kWh per month

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kwh: This solar PV systems saves the home owner approximately $60/month or 35% off this 1970’s era homes standard electric bill. This system qualified the homeowner for a $9,900 tax credit, increased the property value by $12,600, and will produce over $61,000 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn this 3.5 KW grid-tied solar PV system with battery back-up consists of 20 suntech 175 Watt solar panels which are mounted on the south facing roof of the home and attached to the composite shingle roof. this system uses a Xantrex 6048 grid tie inverter and 12 MK L16s batteries to make the power conversion from dC to AC. this system was designed to power certain electrical circuits inside of the home such as the refrig-erator, laptop computers, and a few lights inside the home should grid power be lost during a storm, and make free energy for the home during normal non-outage periods. A special battery room was built on the outside of the home to hold the batteries and enable the homeowner greater access to monitor the system.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn this ranch style home has been renovated with multiple energy efficient upgrades to make the impact of energy offset using solar energy much greater. this includes Led lighting throughout the home.


Sites Open 12 - 5pm

THe waTT (w), named afTeR ScOTTiSH enGineeR jameS waTT, is our most fun-damental unit of power; it is how we measure the rate at which energy is produced or con-sumed. electric power, expressed in watts, is power generated from an electric generating system which could range in size from a small solar photovoltaic system to a large nuclear, hydroelectric, or coal-fired utility plant. One kW (kilowatt) is equal to 1,000 watts, while 1 MW (megawatt) is equal to 1,000,000 watts. A residential solar system may produce about 3.5kW of electric power; whereas, a large coal-fired power plant may generate 1 GW (giga-watt) which is equivalent to 1,000 MW of electric power. If you look at your electricity bill you will see that the amount of electric power used for a given amount of time is expressed in kWh (kilowatt hours). the cost of your electric bill reflects the amount of electric energy your household used for that month. According to the energy Information Administration (eIA)1, the average texas home uses 1,136 kWh of electricity per month at an average rate of 12.24 cents per kWh.

We use electricity everyday for air condi-tioning, lighting, cooking, washing, drying, computers, televisions, radios, small appli-ances, electric toothbrushes, etc.. We often become unaware of the amount of electricity we consume and waste until …………we see the electricity bill! to provide an example of electricity usage, a 75 watt light bulb that is left on for 2 hours every day will consume about 4.5 kWh worth of electricity in a month (75W x 60hours/month). If electricity sells for 12.24

cents/kWh, the cost of keeping that 75W light bulb on for 2 hours every day is 55 cents per month (4.5 kWh x 12.24 cents/kWh). not all watts are created equal. some utility companies will determine the cost of each kWh by the demand of electricity needed for a particular time of day. For example, the cost of a kWh in August at 2 P.M., when air-conditioners are running full blast and people are working, would cost more than the kWh used at 2 A.M. when the night is cooler and most people are sleeping. When the sun shines, solar panels work – offsetting electricity that would be purchased through the grid. According to the department of energy, each kWh is equivalent to releasing approximately 1.37 lbs of CO2 (carbon-dioxide) emissions in texas. by switching to a renewable energy source, such as solar or wind power, we are able to bypass the emissions generated by today’s power plants. As a homeowner and consumer we may be concerned about the cost of each kilowatt hour, but as a community we should also be concerned with the amount of GHG emissions we produce. As texans we are fortunate to have the ability to utilize the sun as a natural renewable and sustainable energy resource. aCTIvITy 1 1. review your electric bill to see how many kilowatt hours your household uses per

month and per year. 2. Compare this to the average texan home. does your home use more or less kWh than

average? 3. discuss ways to reduce electricity usage and devise a plan.

aCTIvITy 2 1. Make a list of the number of light bulbs you have in your home, their wattage, and the

number of hours you use each light bulb per day. 2. Calculate your average rate of electricity per kWh. Look at your most recent electric bill

and divide the total cost of your bill by the number of kilowatt hours used. 3. For each light bulb in your home: calculate the kWh used per month; calculate the cost

per month and per year to use that light bulb.

not all watts are created equalby Lizabeth Price, research AssociateHouston Advanced research Center (HArC)

1 http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#electricity_use_home

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cenTRal HOuSTOn sPACe at U of H ......................................1Houston Code enforcement bldg ............2rice Zerow House ..................................3burghli Homes ........................................4riser residence .......................................5Green blue Hue solar Home ....................6Krahn residence ....................................7Cauthen residence .................................8

Zercher residence ...................................9Green Mode designs development .......10

SOuTH HOuSTOn/cleaR lake aRea nAsA Gilruth recreation Center ............11nAsA Childcare Center .........................11seabrook Intermediate school ...............12ePO Computer electronics .....................13Arnao residence ...................................14

nORTH HOuSTOn Houston Habitat for Humanity ..............15trim electric, Inc ....................................16

weST HOuSTOnAnimal Farm .........................................17

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cauTHen ReSidence 5409 Valerie, Bellaire, TX 77401

Renewable Energy Systems: 3.85 kW DC Solar Electric System, 64 sf Collector/120 Gallon Solar Water Heating System, 120 sf Solar Pool Heating System


Date Installed: March 2009 and Oct. 2009

Approximate Energy Provided: Solar Electric – 400 kWh per month Solar Water Heating – Produces 220 gallons of hot water/day Solar Pool Heater – used to preheat hot tub

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: The solar PV systems saves the home owner approximately $65/month or 35% off this extremely energy efficient home’s standard electric bill. This system qualified the homeowner for a $10,700 tax credit, increase the property value by $14,760, and will produce over $71,500 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

The solar water heating systems save the homeowners another $70/month since the home is all electric. That equated to another 35% savings monthly.

A solar pool heating system was added to the project to defer the cost of heating the outdoor hot tub in the cooler months of the year. This system is designed to blend in with the roof tiles and extend the tub usage without the use of fossil fuels to eight months per year.

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn the grid-tie 3.85 kW solar PV system consists of 22 suntech 175 Watt panels which are southern facing. the panels are attached to the substructure of the spanish tile roof. this system uses 22 enphase Micro grid tie inverters to make the power conversion from dC to AC electricity at the panel itself. the micro-inverters reduce the standard current loss in the solar system. the solar water heating system consists of two 32 sf water heating collec-tors and one 80-gallon solar storage tank. this is an Aet solar drain-back water heating system. APs installed three 40 sf terracotta colored solar pool heating collectors on the tile roof in the same vicinity as the PV and water heating collectors.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn the Cauthen residence is one of the most energy efficient and green homes in the city of Houston. the size of this home and the many green certificates that are being attached to this property are a true testament that anyone can build green. this home is pre-certified Leed Platinum, nAHb emerald, and energy star with a Hers rating of 40.

leed iS a naTiOnal GReen rating system that has been developed by the Us Green building Council (UsGbC). It’s a process of designing, building and evaluating a building to the high standards of sustainable design. Leed homes encompass the ideas of careful site treatment, energy effi-ciency, water conservation, indoor air quality and sustainable materials and resources. Homes built according to the Leed program are third party verified and given a Certified, silver, Gold or Platinum rating based on the number of Leed points that the project has received. the use of solar panels on this home, paired with other state of the art systems, makes this high rating possible. ener-gy efficiency is a critical part of a Leed home. buildings in the United states account for 70% of electrical consumption, and

it’s easy to imagine the cumulative effect of homes becom-ing more energy efficient - or continuing to require more and more power for newer, larger homes. Please consider the power your own home consumes, and all the decisions that can affect its energy consumption. For more information about Leed and the UsGbC please visit www.usgbc.org. For more information about local Leed efforts and residential projects visit www.usgbchous-ton.org.

about leed ) leadership in Energy and Environmental Design


ZeRcHeR ReSidence 11006 Doud Street, Houston, TX 77035

Renewable Energy System: 2.8 kW PV System and Solar Thermal

Installer: Standard Renewable Energy, a GridPoint Company

Date Installed: July 2008

System Cost: $26,066.29

Approximate Energy Provided: 5,622 kWh

Approximate Cost Savings for PV system at 15 cents/kWh: $843

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn Solar PV: the system consists of one string of fourteen (14) bP sX3200 modules (14 total mod-ules for the system) facing south with a 150° Azimuth. the modules are roof mounted with a 30-degree tilt. AC and dC disconnects are integrated in the inverter located on the wall adjacent the existing service panel. A sMA sb3000Us inverter with a rated CeC efficiency of 95.5%, sends power to a 2-pole, 240 VAC breaker. Power runs from the AC disconnect on the inverter to a utility AC disconnect and then to the main service panel. solar thermal: the solar water heating appliance system consists of the enerWorks 2 collector solar hot water system and an 80 gallon solar thermal storage tank. At the location of the solar thermal collector, a penetration in the roof is made to connect the collector with the energy Pack via two copper fluid transfer pipes. the solar thermal storage tank, with the energy Pack, is installed next to the existing hot water tank. Cold water supply enters the enerworks energy Pack, then passes through the solar storage tank, and enters the existing back-up hot water tank. From here hot water enters the home and operates as it did previously, but taking advantage of solar energy to reduce operat-ing cost.

OwneR’S nOTeS Our reason for going solar is to leave a lighter carbon footprint. down the road we may save lots of money if the price of electricity and gas go up.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn Vegeta-ble garden, old-fashioned clothes drier, extra insulation. Our average gas usage is 57 ccf/month (home uses gas for cooking and clothes drying). Average electricity usage is 925 kWh/month.

Sponsors – megawatt


GReen mOde deSiGnS llc deVelOPmenT6120 Maxie Street, Houston, TX 77007

Renewable Energy System: Three 2.1 kW PV Systems


Date Installed: February 2010

Approximate Energy Provided: Solar Electric – 210 KWh per month for each system

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kwh: The solar PV systems will save each home owner approximately $32/month or 30% off this extremely energy efficient homes standard electric bill. This system qualifies the homeowner for a $3,600 tax credit, increase the prop-erty value of each unit by $7,000 and each system will produce over $34,000 worth of solar energy during its lifetime.

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn each grid-tie 2.1 kW solar PV system consists of 12 suntech 175 Watt panels. the panels are attached to the composite shingle roof. each system uses a PV Powered 2000 grid tie inverter to make the power conversion from dC to AC electricity.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn the Maxie Moderne development is the first production home to be Leed Gold certified by the UsGbC in Houston this year.

OwneR cOmmenTS It makes sense with inner city developments going taller, and with three-story townhome roofs that are above the tree line, to utilize that roof space for solar powered generation. Green Mode designs decided to incorporate solar PV systems into this home development to illustrate that it is easy for home builders to implement systems that generate energy on spec built homes in Houston. by partnering with Alternative Power solutions, we were able to size a PV system that is appropriate for these homes. being above the tree line allows for optimal solar generation since the PV panels are not affected by the possible shading from trees and/or power lines. some homeowners may say they can opt for renewable energy plans with their retail electric provider, but that power is transmitted across the grid and you don’t know the source of the power. With your own solar PV system, you can see exactly how much power you produced, and the volume of extra power that is sent back to the grid. In essence, you become your own retail electric provider by generating power from a 100% clean renewable resource.

SOlaR fun facTS a single typical photovoltaic panel can

generate from 40 to over 200 watts the sun provides approximately 1000 watts per square meter. silicon from one

ton of sand, used in PV cells, could produce as

much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal.

In late 1950s solar panels were used to power U.S. space satel-

lites. In 1954, scientists at bell telephone discov-

ered that silicon created an electric charge when

it was exposed to sunlight. pC panels have been operating in the field for 30 years

or more.


naSa GilRuTH RecReaTiOn cenTeRVisitors must enter from Space Center Blvd. between Bay Area Blvd. & NASA Rd. 1

Renewable Energy System: Solar Thermal System for Hot Water, Day-lighting

Installer: Sacred Power

Date Installed: July 2009

Approximate Energy Savings (water heater): 500,000 BTus/day (avg.)

Approximate Energy Savings (daylighting): 14,000 kWh per y

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOnS Solar water Heater: this installation of twelve 4 x 8 ft. Heliodyne GObI solar thermal collectors is a good example of matching solar energy to user needs. the Gilruth Center serves nAsA and contractor employees with athletic facilities as well as hosting special events in the community. showers and dishwashers create a big demand for hot water, especially in the late afternoon, which is the best time for solar heated water availability. Pumps circulate a propylene glycol and water mixture through the col-lectors and heat is exchanged with potable water that is stored in three 200 gallon tanks until it is used.

daylighting: Another good use of solar energy is for natural lighting or “daylighting.” this was implemented in a gymnasium at nAsA to save money on electric lights. sixteen special daylight fixtures were put in the roof to allow ample light to enter the building while filtering out some of the heat. the electric lights were put on automatic dimmer controls to keep the lighting level constant when the sun goes behind a cloud.

OwneR’S nOTeS As a federal agency, nAsA is committed to leadership in energy performance in accordance with executive or-der 13514. Among other things, this order, signed by President Obama in October 2009, requires “increasing agency use of renewable energy and implementing renewable energy generation projects on agency property.”

naSa cHild caRe cenTeRVisitors must enter from Space Center Blvd. between Bay Area Blvd. & NASA Rd. 1

Renewable Energy System: Solar Electric, Solar Thermal, Wind

Installer: Sacred Power

Date Installed: September 2007

Approximate Energy Provided (PV & wind): 51,000 kWh/yr

Approximate Cost Savings at 10 cents/kWh (PV & wind): $5,100/yr

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOnS the nAsA Child Care Center was selected as the site for a Multi-Platform renewable energy system because the facility size allowed for renewable energy system flexibility. the tie into the electri-cal grid was straightforward and it provided excellent educational opportunities.

Solar electric: there are 3 separate solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays at this installation.a. eight 2.8 kW PV modules with solar trackersb. three 1.0 kW PV modules with solar trackersc. three 1.0 kW fixed PV modules fashioned in a decorative “lollipop” design.

Solar Thermal: A solar Water Heating system with one flat plate collector on the roof of the building and an 80 gallon hot water storage tank in the attic

wind: two 33 ft. tall 1.8 kW Wind turbines (cut-in wind speed is 8 MPH and rating is at 20 MPH).

energy efficiency: Many energy efficiency improvements have been made to the building, including high efficiency appliances, solar window screens and setback thermostats. Also, a ground source heat pump has just been installed to greatly reduce the energy required to heat and cool the building.

Directions for both properties: From I-45 south, take exit #26 Bay Area Blvd. east 3 miles to Space Center Blvd. Turn right and the Gilruth Center will be on the right after about 1 ½ miles.


ePO cOmPuTeRS elecTROnicS, eTc.110 E. Medical Center Blvd., Webster, TX 77598

Renewable Energy System: Solar Water Heater/PV/Wind Turbine

Installer: Self-installed

Date Installed: August, 2010

System Cost: $1,300/unit for Solar Water Heater, $30,000 for PV and Wind Turbine

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: About $225/unit for year from the solar water heater, about $675/year from PV and Wind Turbine.

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn this solar water heater is uniquely simple, reli-able, low cost, and highly efficient. no pump, no controller, no extra solar storage tank and no heat exchanger are required with simple mounting and plumbing connections. the cost is about half that of typical active solar water heating systems. A 20 gal unit can produce enough solar hot water for 2-3 people year around. the 6 kW system consists of solar panels and a wind turbine. there are 42 panels. twelve are mounted above windows and used as awnings. thirty are mounted in a fixed position off the ground. the wind turbine is mounted on a 50 foot pole near the building. there is also a battery bank that stores approximately 150 kWh of power. this system is completely off the grid!

OwneR’S nOTeS We incorporated alternative energy systems into our business because we have a general interest in the technology. We wanted to learn more about renewable energy. We use the electricity from the PV and Wind turbine system to run lights and A/C in our warehouse. this solar water heater system is interesting. It combines the advantages of evacuated-tube technology and integral collector storage systems in a simple and reliable way. We hope it can “make renewable energy acces-sible to everybody”.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn We are going to distribute this unique solar water heater nationwide in the future. We also sell small solar panels and charge controllers which are great for small projects, especially for people looking to learn and experiment. We sell large batteries which are great for battery backup or off the grid systems. We have 12V 95Ah and 12V 500Ah batteries available.

aRnaO ReSidence3898 Summer Manor Dr, League City, TX 77573

Renewable Energy System: 2.52 kW roof mounted system and a 1.935 kW ground mounted system. Total installed is 4.455 kW

Installer: Standard Renewable Energy, a GridPoint company

Date Installed: September 2009

System Cost: $13,981

Approximate Energy Provided: 2,250 kWh annually

Approximate Cost Savings at 20 cents/kwh: $563 per year

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn this system consists of both roof and ground mounted panels. On the roof solar panels are mounted on the southwesterly facing garage with a 238° Azimuth at a 18.4° tilt. the array consists of a single string of (12) Canadian solar Cs5A-180 modules. the array connects into a Xantrex Gt2.8 inverter, with a 94% CeC efficiency rating. Power from the array runs in conduit to the dC disconnect integrated on the inverter. From the inverter 240VAC power passes through the AC utility disconnect and ties into the main service panel through a backfed breaker. the inverter and AC utility disconnect are located on the wall next to the utility meter. the ground mounted modules are facing 180 degrees south at a 20 degrees tilt, and are located on the left side of the house. the arrays consists of (9) sanyo HIt Power 215n modules, each connecting to its own 95% CeC efficiency rates enphase microinverter.

OwneR’S nOTeS these systems account for 20% of the Arnao’s overall needs.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS this home also features a solar Attic Fan.


THe HOuSTOn cOmmuniTy cOl-leGe-nORTHeaST eneRGy inSTiTuTe has developed three one year certificates to serve the solar and wind workforce energy sectors. these certificates are: solar energy technology-Photovoltaic, solar energy technology-thermal, and Wind energy technology. the institute has been recognized regionally and nationally for its educational and training services. It has been awarded funds from the department of energy to develop the south Central solar training Consortium, Jobs and edu-cation for texans (Jet) and state energy conservation Office (seCO) to develop it programs, purchase equipment and offer critical education and hands-on learning experience to the region and the Houston-Galveston Area Council to provide training to low income populations in the area. the HCC-ne energy Institute serves as Co-PI of the texas renewable energy education Consortium (treeC; www.treec.org<http://www.treec.org/>) a project that is funded by seCO. this con-sortium operates a 44 ft goose neck solar powered trailer that is used as a mobile lab, a classroom, an emergency response center and a renewable and sustainable

energy awareness and community infor-mation center. In a dual credit partnership with Furr High school, the institute offers wind and solar energy courses to junior and senior students, who upon graduation, transfer to the northeast College to complete their Certificate and/or Associate of Applied science degrees. the Institute has also de-veloped a similar partnership with booker t. Washington. the HCC-ne energy Institute is sup-ported by 19 laboratories, two computer centers, and 11 classrooms. Innovative and well qualified Professors provide excellence in teaching and lab training to enrolled students. numerous projects have been completed by the students and currently are displayed at the institute. As the leader in meeting the workforce education needs of the local energy industry, the institute has developed numerous critical and meaningful partnerships with Houston based energy companies, scientific and engineering organizations, workforce services, state and city critical divisions and other organizations contributing to the local economy and growth. the HCC-ne eI provides leadership in environmental

initiatives, “green” best practices efforts, and article contributions to the Houston Community College Green Council. For more information, please visit: http://northeast.hccs.edu/northeast/career-technical/energy-institute or contact dr. John K. Galiotos at [email protected]. Please visit the http://northeast.hccs.edu/northeast/hcc-energy-institute-partners-with-national-energy-company-to-train-solar-workforce site for a recent event hosted on campus in offering solar training-thermal to dOe project consor-tium members.

Houston community college ) Offering Solar Energy Technology Training

solar panels are mounted on your roof with a custom racking system. solar panels collect energy from the sun and turn it into direct current (dC) electricity.

dC electricity flows into an inverter, which converts it into alternating current (AC) electricity, the type of electricity your home uses.

AC electricity from the inverter is fed directly into your home’s main electri-cal panel where it immediately provides power to your home. If you need more power than your system is providing, you continue to receive power from your elec-tricity provider just as you do now.

How Solar electric Systems work


THe HOuSTOn adVanced ReSeaRcH cenTeR (HArC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organiza-tion based in the Woodlands, texas dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and principles of sustainable development. HArC’s mission is to move knowledge to action to improve human well-being and the environment. In a non-partisan and collaborative manner, HArC is a conduit from basic research to action that fosters the implementation of policies and technologies based on rigorous principles of social sci-ence, natural science, and engineering. HArC’s research themes support sustainability solutions in ecosystems, water, air & climate, clean energy, the built environment, and environmental health. HArC’s primary geographical focus encompasses the greater Houston area and the texas Gulf Coast. For more information online www.harc.edu.

Partner Profile ) HaRc

SeaBROOk inTeRmediaTe ScHOOl2401 Meyer Rd, Seabrook, TX 77586

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOnS Solar electric, Grid-con-nected: seabrook Intermediate was one of the first schools in texas to receive a small-scale solar energy systems from the state energy Conserva-tion Office in 2003, along with a renewable energy educational curriculum. Green Mountain energy provided matching funds for the 1.1 kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system. the PV array is connected to the building’s electrical system with a sunny boy inverter and is visible from the front of the school. the array consists of 8 sP-140-PC modules. A system to view energy production data via the Internet was also included. Solar Battery charger: A bP A+ for energy Grant allowed the school to add several renewable resource systems in 2010. A custom built solar battery charger allowed replacement of the school’s alkaline batteries with rechargeable niMh batteries. A small PV panel is mounted outside of a window in a hallway of the school and an indoor cabinet with all chargers and batteries visible allows the students to see and understand how the energy for their batteries is coming from the sun. wind/Solar Power Station, Off-grid: the bP A+ for energy Grant also allowed seabrook Inter-mediate to become the first school in the area to have a wind turbine. the turbine is a 400W Air Marine Industrial model atop a 30’-45’ telescoping tower, installed by the school district. the wind turbine and PV panels charge batteries on a mobile cart that can then be used to power direct current water pumps, lights and other electrical loads. the wind turbine is mounted on a hinged tower that can easily be lowered by one person in the event of a hurricane.

RainwaTeR cOllecTiOn SySTem the bP A+ for energy Grant also allowed seabrook Intermediate to become the first school in the area to harvest rainwater. two 370 gallon, 3’ diameter x 7’ tall corrugated aluminum rain tanks hold water collected off the roof of the school’s greenhouse when it rains. A “rain Alert” tank level monitor lets the students keep track of their stored water and use it to water plants in their garden. the water can drain through a faucet by gravity or be pumped out of the tanks with a 12V dC pump powered by the Wind/solar Power station.

OwneR’S nOTeS In the 1993-94 school year, Clear Creek Isd began offering a science Magnet Pro-gram housed at seabrook Intermediate school for stu-dents in grades six through eight. the Program provides a unique science curriculum including additional science electives and partnership opportunities for students enrolled in the Program.

Directions: From Houston, exit NASA east off of I-45 south. Proceed eight miles east to Seabrook. Turn left on Hwy. 146, then right on El Mar a few blocks later and go until you see the school on the left at Meyer Rd.

Visitors can view the school’s solar PV panels, a unique solar battery charger, a rainwater collection system on our greenhouse and a wind turbine. they will also hear about the solar Cart built by students in Future think Class.

Renewable Energy Systems: Solar Electric was funded by the State Energy Conservation Office and Green Moun-tain. The other three were funded by a BP A+ for Energy Grant

Solar Electric, 1.1 kW grid connected

Installer: Conservation Services Group

Date installed: 2003

Approximate energy: 1000 kWh/yr

Cost savings at 15 cents/kWh: $150/yr

Solar Battery Charger, Charges AA, AAA, C, D & 9 volt batteries; Installer: Heliosolar Design, Inc.

Date Installed: 2010

Approximate savings: 5 00 disposable batteries/ yr.

Wind/Solar Power Station, Stand-alone off-grid

Installer: Heliosolar Design, Inc.


Rainwater Collection System, Collects water off greenhouse roof for irrigation

Installer: Gulf Coast Renewable Re-sources



HOuSTOn HaBiTaT fOR HumaniTy HOme9814 Hydroville Court, Houston, TX 77078

Renewable Energy Systems: GE - 2.0 kW Solar Electric System Alternate Energy Technologies - AE-32 Solar Water Heater


Date Installed: August 2010

System Cost: $17,900 Total GE - 2.0 kW Solar Electric System $13,000 Alternate Energy Technologies - AE-32 Solar Water Heater $4,900

Approximate Energy Provided: 2440 kW/year.

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: Solar utility Annual Savings = $366 Solar Water Heater Annual Savings = $278

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn the solar panel array consists of ten Ge 200-watt photovoltaic GePVp-200-M solar panels connected in series, with a Ge energy brilliance™ Inverter. the 58.5 x 38.6 inch poly-crystalline panels are mounted using the Unirac’s sunFrame anodized aluminum racking system on the south-facing roof, allowing full sun exposure. Unirac’s sunFrame shared-rail racking has a low profile for aesthetics and provides a gapless installation. Hot water is delivered from an Alternate energy technologies system; model Ae-32 that features an eaglesuntM collector mounted on an extruded aluminum frame and battens. the 4x8 foot unit has an srCC water-heating rating @ 32,000 btU/day.

OwneR’S nOTeS the Abu family has two young sons and twins on the way. they are purchasing this home from Houston Habitat for Humanity at an affordable rate, and working to help build their neighbor-hood. the family has been eager to learn about the new green lifestyle they will experience as the owners of the nation’s greenest Habitat for Humanity home to date. since 1987, Houston Habitat for Humanity, along with thousands of sponsors and volunteers, has built more than 830 affordable homes for purchase by hard-working, low-income Houstonians. Qualified Houston Habitat homebuyers agree to a no-interest mortgage and contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” in lieu of a down payment. Partner families are also provided with classes on money management and home main-tenance. More information about Houston Habitat and the Houston Habitat restore, a discounted building supply outlet, is available at www.houstonhabitat.org or by calling 713-671-9993.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS/nOTaBle infORmaTiOn Houston Habitat is a three-time national energy star Award recipient for 2008, 2009 and 2010. the home’s energy star features include 5/8-inch radiant barrier decking, 30-lb felt lining, 30-year shingles, vinyl low ee double-pane windows and 80+% CFL lighting. donated energy star appliances and ceiling fans are also included in the build and the total annual energy star savings for the homeowner is near $881. the current design has a low Hers rating of 68 before the reduction adjustments for solar installa-tions. Usage reduction for the energy star features on this home is 8,812 kWh per year that yields elimination of 12,150 lbs. of CO2 annually. the home also includes several green options on the interior contributed by new Living, a local green building materials supplier. the interior green features are: Wagner Millworks cabinetry constructed of Forest Certified service (FCs) recycled wood and new Living’s own

branded non-VOC wall paint. Courtesy of new Living, the home has low-VOC products such as Pro Foam II insulation and Acrylic Ure-thane from sealant OsI’s GreenseriestM. Houston Habitat’s mission is to change lives and empower fami-lies through building homes. Our green initiative changes families’ lives both financially and culturally. thanks to the commitment of partner companies such as Ge energy, Green Mountain energy and

new Living, our families of modest means will save on their utilities (more disposable income) and be empowered by the knowledge that they are contributing to a cleaner environment.


TRim elecTRic, inc21625 Rhodes Rd., Spring, TX 77388

Renewable Energy System: 3.15 kW Solar Electric system

Installer: Emerald natural Resources Group (EnRG) nABCEP Certified Installer


System Cost: $22,500.00 installed

Approximate Energy Provided: 3821 kWh per year

Approximate Cost Savings at 15 cents/kWh: $574.65

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn enrG installed 18 traditional crystal-line silicon modules. suntech 175’s (stP175s - 24/Ab -1 with 3.15kW-stC) are attached on top of a Unirac mounting system, especially designed and manu-factured with aluminum triangle brackets. the solar array was placed on the southern facing side of the building as an awning so we could showcase the array and provide visibility for the enphase micro-inverters attached to each suntech panel.

OwneR’S nOTeS trim electric signed a distributed Generation agreement with Centerpoint en-ergy which allowed us to install the PV array with a new smart meter that calculates kW/hours sent back to the grid. trim also signed up with Green Mountain energy, a retail electric provider that gives trim electric credit for kW/ hours that get sent back to the electrical grid, which is in effect net-metering. We also have the ability to monitor each of our solar panels in real time! Check this link out: http://tiny.cc/trIMPV

nOTaBle infORmaTiOn Using the enphase micro-inverters made it convenient for the installation because the trim electric building has 3-phase service. With the electricity coming off of the solar panels in AC, we avoided the use of three traditional inverters or a more expensive 3 phase inverter. We also have the added benefit of monitoring panels individually which helps detect problems on each panel. Unlike a traditional inverter, shading issues with one solar panel does not cause a deficiency on the entire solar array.

ReSidenTial SOlaR SySTemS HaVe BecOme more af-fordable over the years. now, with the American recovery and reinvestment Act of 2009, home owners can benefit from an uncapped 30% tax credit. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are rated in kW dC stC which is kilowatts (kW) of direct current dC power at standard test conditions (stC). Our homes use alter-nating current (AC); therefore, we must convert the electricity generated by the PV panels from dC to AC using an inverter. residential PV systems generally range in size from 1 - 9 kW (dC) stC with the texas average being 6 kW dC stC. A 3.24 kW dC stC (eighteen 180 W panels) will cover approximately 280 square feet of roof and produce about 10.7 kW of AC power on a sunny day if oriented in the southern direction. In Houston, this would generate approximately 3,900 kWh of usable electricity in its first year. If the average PV array loses about 0.5% of its efficiency on an annual basis, we can estimate the overall consumer cost to be about 12.5 cents per kWh. (see right inset) this example is based on an installed cost of $5.37/watt. the typical installed system cost in texas is between $4.90 and $5.90/watt. the tax exempt property value increase for this example is projected to be $8,570. Please note that the total cost of a PV system will depend on system size, type and manufacturer of system elements,

mounting required, electrical system, grid tied or grid tied with battery back-up, roof height and type, and other factors. the daily usable power generated from the PV array will also vary due to losses from the inverter and variable operating condi-tions, such as cloud coverage, temperature, and relative hu-midity. the example above uses generalized data from various resources. Please contact a solar installer to receive a quote for a solar installation specific to your home.

The Economics : Residential Solar PanelsSystem life time of 30 years will generate

104,000 kwh:

Price of 3.24 kW PV system ....................... $ 17,430

sales tax @ 8.25% ........................................$1,120

Federal tax credit (30%) ........................... $( 5,464)

neT cost ............................................... $ 13.0862

COst = = 12.5 cents/kWh

net Cost pv system_______________

kWh lifetime


Partner Profile ) HReGTHe HOuSTOn RenewaBle eneRGy GROuP (HreG) was established in 1999 with the primary goal of educating the Houston region on the power of renewable energy. the HreG network of renewable energy enthusiasts,

engineers, architects, specialists, and us-ers provides a yahoo discussion group for sensible energy conservation and genera-tion, as well as a cleaner Houston. HreG is a non-profit volunteer organization and a local chapter of the texas solar energy society, a 501 (c) 3 organization. HreG has

been the primary hosting organization for the Houston solar tour since the first tour in 2004. For more information online go to www.txses.org/hreg

animal faRm – a PeRmaculTuRe cenTeR16723 Sycamore Road, Cat Spring, TX 78933

Renewable Energy System: Hybrid Solar Electric

Installer: Owner

Date installed: First Phase 1991, Expansion 2008

System cost: First phase $15,000, Expansion $35,000

Approximate energy provided: 10 mWh per year

Approximate cost savings at 20 cents/kWh: $2,000 per year

deScRiPTiOn Of inSTallaTiOn the solar array is mounted on a shed metal roof. the thirty 150 W panels are managed by a MX80 controller, the twelve new 190 W panels are managed by a MX60 controller. two Outback VFX3648 are configured as a split phase Mini Grid system, and feed off a 48V battery bank consisting of 24 AGM cells of 2V/1500A each. that gives us 72 kW of backup power. the two 120 VAC phases are connected to both residences, the well, pool, barn and a recently completed guest cottage through AWG6 underground cabling. the last phase of the expansion will consist of a sMI 4000 watt sunnyboy Inverter with about 2.4 kW of PV panels. this inverter will feed the loads of the main house, and will than export any excess power to the dual VFX

inverters who in turn will charge their battery bank. this will allow us to do real load sharing and shedding between the different consumers of the system. the water well pump (1 kW, Grundfoss, 24 GPM) delivers about 14,000 gallons per day to the irrigation system of our organic vegetable operation, which is our main electricity load.

OwneR’S nOTeS We installed this system because we believe in, practice and teach sustainabil-ity. the fact that it would have cost us in excess of $15,000 to connect to the grid, made the economic justification very easy.

GReen BuildinG exTRaS Animal Farm is a Permaculture center and is an example of a design for sustainable living. together with Urban Harvest and the Houston Permaculture Guild, we teach courses in designing for sustainability, organic farming, renewable energy and sustainable building. the courses are posted in the websites of Urban Harvest (UrbanHarvest.org) and Leisure Learning Unlimited (LLU.com)

Directions: Do NOT follow Mapquest or other on-line directions because you will get lost. Some of the roads on their maps do NOT exist. Go West on I-10, and at Sealy take exit 720 and go North on Highway 36. After the railway crossing go Northwest on FM1094 to New Ulm. A few hundred yards after you cross FM949, take a right on Hall Road. After a few hundred yards on Hall Road, take a right on Sycamore Road. After about 4 miles, Sycamore Rd will dead end at our farm. Call if you still get lost. Tel 979 992-3038 (Land Line) 713 240-8665 (Cell).

kilowatt Sponsors

Solar Tour & SocialThanks to all of our participants and visitors!

You’re helping to make Solar History by joining the tour and raising awareness for

renewable energy!www.HoustonSolarTour.org

Bringing Solar to Houston Since 2004The ASES Houston Solar Tour is the local event for the ASES National Solar Tour sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society. Annually, as part of the ASES National Solar Tour, various communities across America simultaneously hold their own local tour during the first Saturday in October, creating the world’s largest grassroots solar event. The Houston Solar Tour was originally organized and run by volunteer members of the Houston Renewable Energy Group. It is now hosted by a larger committee of members with solar interests.

2004 )The first Tour was launched in 2004 with six sites including the “Bellaire Solar Home” which was Houston’s first solarized neighborhood home, and Spawglass headquarters, Houston’s first certified “green” building. About 70 people at-tended the Tour. This was a guided tour, starting at the Texas Southern University’s solar lab with vans carrying people from site to site. At this time Houston only had a handful of solar hobbyists.

2005 )The Tour had its “first picnic” at the Gardner residence. Approximately 150 participated in the Tour.

2006 )The Tour increased to eight projects. Five of the projects featured active solar systems. This was the first year the Tour had a professionally designed and printed Tour Guide.

2007 )This was the first year to have an orga-nized solar tour committee. Although it

rained most of the day, well over 150 attendees participated in the 8 project tour and picnic.

2008 )In 2008 the City of Houston and HARC became solar tour partners by becoming involved with tour planning and presenta-tion. The Tour picnic was reorganized to create a larger event, the Solar Social. It was held at Discovery Green enabling more participation from attendees, spon-sors and education resources. Although the event was pushed back due to Hurri-cane Ike, approximately 1,000 people at-tended the tour, with about 500 attendees at the Solar Social. With over 20 projects, this tour demonstrated the increase in solar installations during 2007 and 2008.

2009 )The 2009 ASES Houston Solar Tour con-sisted of 20 projects, plus the Solar Social as the kick-off event. Metro donated two buses for the day to give the option of a guided tour. In addition the ASES Houston Solar Tour developed its own designated website, along with a strong brand pres-

ence. Sponsors such as TXU, Direct Energy and Green Mountain demonstrated their commitment to solar energy. HARC teams up with the Solar Tour group for enhanced on-line information about the tour sites and solar energy in Houston. Through HARC, the Houston Solar Tour also supports the goals of the Solar Houston Initiative.

2010 )In 2010, the growth of renewable energy in Houston is more evident than ever. This year’s tour highlights the efforts that universi-ties and colleges are making to provide training and research opportunities. The Solar Social, held at the University of Houston, Gerald D. Hines College of Ar-chitecture, showcases the Green Building Component Program. Houston Community College – Northeast Energy Institute has a one year certificate program, and is poised to educate trainers for the rest of the country. Rice University’s Solar Decathlon project is part of the tour, and Lone Star College offers renewable energy courses, and has helped to organize this year’s tour.

2010 7th annual solar tour socialhoustonsolartour.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/hts...2010 7th...

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