SOLUTIONS: Residential solar heating is catching on

Echewing worry over the Mayan apocalypse, many New Jersey residents are taking matters into their own hands, saving money and reducing their carbon foot prints, so there wont be anything like an environmental apocalypse.

Families, businesses, and institutions have been adopting cheaper and greener energy systems. Indeed, Wikipedia reports that New Jersey is second nationally in total number of homes and businesses that have solar panels installed.

Here are two brief stories of residents who have made the switch. The stories of business and institutions that have changed over will follow in the next column.

Hedy DiSimoni, a Princeton planning analyst for a manufacturer, wanted to renovate the house she and her two daughters live in. One of her reasons for doing so was to lower her energy bills by making the house tighter and possibly by changing energy systems.

Having heard of the possible benefits of solar power, she began calling contractors who install the panels. She wanted to hear not only their overall price but what services they included, such as applying for approval to the state and township and yearly maintenance. She notes that it is important not only to shop around for the right installer but also to make sure the installer uses the best solar panels.

(One SREC certificate is earned for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity generated, and those certificates can be sold directly or through an intermediary back to electricity suppliers, primarily utility companies. The selling price varies widely depending on demand and supply.)

Interest-free loans for this upgrade are also available from the NJ Clean Energy Program, with payback due in 10 years. She pointed out that the township will continue to inspect her system two to three times a year, primarily the metering, while her installer will continue to provide yearly maintenance.

Her goal in installing the solar panels has been reached; she has substantially reduced her electricity bill, and the SRECs offer further income to offset the remaining cost.

William Wolfe, a Princeton architect who has designed or co-designed many local residential, commercial and institutional buildings, including his own handsome borough home, first became intrigued by solar heating as a Princeton University undergraduate taking a drawing course that investigated the effects of sun and shadow on buildings.

Passive solar heating and the shading of windows by overhangs were two of those effects that he eventually incorporated in his designs. He went on to earn his masters in architecture at the university, then worked for a local design firm before forming his own partnership.

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SOLUTIONS: Residential solar heating is catching on