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A self-sufficient,
interconnected house with a photovoltaic solar panel system may sound
futuristic, but Key Largo homeowners John Hammerstrom and Diane Marshall
built a smart house that recently produced more energy than it used,
creating a credit on their electric bill.
The two-year-old
home, the first of its kind in the county, is "interconnected" to the
Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC), giving the home the ability to
draw power from FKEC's system when needed. FKEC spokeswoman Rebecca
Callahan said a "zero-energy home" like this is an example of how
residents can make a difference when it comes to conserving our precious
resources.
"Our goal is to
serve our community in the most environmentally friendly way possible,"
she said. "We all care about our environment…we have to, because of our
limited resources."
The residents of
the island founded the member-owned FKEC back in 1940. Callahan
explained the Keys does not generate any resources such as electricity
or water, so they has to be brought in. "We buy 98 percent of our power
from FPL [Florida Power and Light], but our rates stay low because we
are owned by the consumers, so there is no profit motive."
FKEC CEO Tim
Planer said Hammerstrom and Marshall's home is a model for the future.
"As our population increases, interconnected systems may fill the gap
between our area's limited power supply and its growing energy demands,"
Planer said.
The photovoltaic
solar system is made up of solar cells that convert sunlight into direct
current electricity. "The entire home can be run by the system, except
for the air conditioner. But in the cooler months, the home is at zero
energy." Callahan said.
For two
consecutive months, the system generated more power than was needed. Jim
Dunlop of the Florida Solar Energy Center said that this home is among
the first in Florida to be a sustained "net supplier" of electricity.
Callahan said
that after living in California, where the technology has been utilized
for 30 years, utilizing the energy just makes good sense. She said
anyone can start by making small changes that, in the long run, pay off
big. "There are simple things that make good sense, like replacing
incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs," she said. "They
produce the same amount of light, but will save energy and save you
money."
Another
suggestion is to replace water heaters with solar water heaters. She
said in a sunny state like Florida, a solar water heater pays for itself
within a year and a half.
Hammerstrom and
Marshall designed their home to be almost entirely environmentally safe
and self-sufficient, from storing solar energy and catching rainwater
using environmently friendly paint and flooring. Marshall said they are
passionate about educating others about this sensitive environment.
"It is important
to buy energy-efficient appliances," she said. "The Department of Energy
recommends energy star-rated appliances that use significantly less
energy. There are unlimited ways to lessen the demand of energy."
The home's
flooring, for example, is made of bamboo, which is a "sustainable
product." "Laying an oak floor involves cutting and processing a tree
that takes 30 years to grow. Bamboo is really a grass that can be
replaced in a short period of time and is as hard as maple," Marshall
said.
She said many of
the items are reasonably priced, easily installed and can be found
locally. The fans that help cool the home, found at Home Depot, are
designed by the Florida Solar Energy Center; they cost less than $200,
and are 40 percent more energy efficient than standard fans. The stains
and paint found at Rock Harbor Paint are labeled low or no VOC (volatile
organic compounds). The energy efficient windows are covered with
shutters and solar shades that keep the house from heating up. The home
is designed to let the hot air out by drawing it up and out through
vents.
"It is energy
efficient in every aspect, which gives them the most return on their
investment," Callahan said.
The homeowners
said that there are many environmentally smart changes residents should
consider that can have a sizeable impact in helping to conserve the
Keys' resources.
Said Hammerstrom,
"It is our belief that the key to reducing our dependence on foreign oil
is not to increase the supply, but to decrease the demand." They
estimate that they produce approximately 12 kilowatt hours of energy per
day.
Today, the
industry's production of photovoltaic system modules is growing at
approximately 25 percent annually, and major programs in the U.S., Japan
and Europe are rapidly accelerating the implementation of photovoltaic
systems on buildings and interconnection to utility networks.
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