Solar Array and Battery Backup

User: gjs@gm-snyder.net

Vendor: Drive Green - Green Energy Consumers Alliance

Action: 2593 - Get Solar for your House!

In 2012, under the Solarize Massachusetts program, we added a 7.7 kW solar array to our south-facing roof.  In 2013 we added a 20 kWh residential battery backup for power outages. It can support about one day of normal electricity use, or about three days with stringent conservation.  If the solar panels are not covered with snow, they can recharge the batteries for even longer outages.

We used New England Clean Energy for both projects.  They were very helpful and experienced, and we are happy with the results.

Initially the solar array provided about 85% of our electrical usage.  Since we installed EV chargers and GSHP, solar provides only about half of our power.  However, our total annual energy cost is now 25% lower than it was in 2011 (adjusted for inflation).