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Energy and the Alternate
Solution
Non renewable energy can be hazardous to
your health, not to mention your wallet. With all the potential dangers in generating non renewable energy
today, it’s no wonder we should all have some concern. Lets face it, nuclear and coal fired power generating plants
may not become obsolete in our lifetimes. You can be rest assured that in the coming years our current 'inexpensive' utility
rates will slowly creep upwards if not drastically. Thanks to the renewable energy sources developed years ago, we can now
begin to feel somewhat at ease in knowing we now have choices for our energy solutions and for the environment.
Solar energy is one of the most efficient alternative
energy sources available today. The system is silent, non-polluting and requires virtually no maintenance. The high reliability
comes from having no moving mechanical parts. This technology for orbiting satellites is now available to you.
A recent TD Canada Trust Green Building Poll,
conducted by Ipsos Reid to examine Canadians' views on environmentally friendly housing, found that 73% of Canadian homeowners
or those considering buying a home would be willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly features. Among those considering
a purchase in the next two years, this propensity increases to 85%. When asked how much more they would be willing to pay,
the average response was 10%. For more info, go to: http://micro.newswire.ca/62342-0.html and look for the November 21 /07 release.
Solar Thermal, Geo Thermal, Solar PV and/or
Wind Systems are among the top sought after environmental attributes. Homeowners who have installed one or more of these types
of Renewable Energy systems have seen their property values increase. Thus proving that these systems are an appreciable
asset and investment.
RET Power has solar panels for homes, cottages,
recreation vehicles and industrial applications. We have up to 24 different sizes and capacities available and all can
be easily adapted to your requirements. We also have specially designed kits for your cottage and recreation vehicle. These
kits include all the necessary components for an easy and trouble free installation. The solar panel technology is so reliable
that the manufacturers offer 20-30 year warranties with an expected life span of 40-55 years.
 Solar (photovoltaic) panels have been around
since the 1950's. A proven technology used by NASA and the aerospace industry for orbiting satellites and space stations.
Wind generators from 100 Watts to 10 Kilowatts
and from 12 Volts DC to 240 volts AC are also available. Most wind generators incorporate a protection system for winds up
to 193 km/h (120 mph). They also have their own charge control system built in with shunt load capability. These generators
are ideal for applications where there is a strong prevailing wind or for a hybrid system (solar & wind combination) to
compensate for the lack of sunshine during the winter months. Marine units are also available. Wind generators can have a
great influence on the total yield of any system.
The first step to determine which type
& size of renewable energy system is best for you is to find out how much power you currently consume in your household.
Have a look at your electric bills over the past 12 months. Add up all the monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly kWh
(Kilowatt Hour) consumption readings and divide by 12 to determine your average monthly kWh consumption or divide by 365 to
arrive at your average daily kWh consumption. If you don't have a record of your past electric bills you can contact your
local utility and obtain the information from them or their website or you can learn how to read your meter at: http://www.glps.net/meterread.htm
Alternately, for a small off grid cottage
or cabin, you can estimate your power needs by determing the load in watts of all the appliances you would like to power,
whether they are AC or DC, and the number of hours per day they will be used. To help you with this calculation, click on
the links below to download and print our Power Consumption Worksheet.
The next step would be to decide on how much
power you would like your renewable energy system to produce. Whether it will be as small as a 10% grid tied system
or 100% off grid. For more information on whether a wind generator will work at your location, go to our Facts and Frequently Asked Questions about Wind Generators page on this site.
Reducing your energy requirements will allow
you to use a smaller, more efficient power system. Choosing energy efficient appliances and using electricity only where it’s
needed will add to the efficiency of the system. Remember, saving a watt of energy is more cost effective than producing one.
Knowing the solar and wind resources available
in your area is the key to designing an efficient and affordable renewable power system. You can obtain solar radiation values
and wind velocity readings from our Informational Links page on this website or we can take care of that for you, just drop us a line.
Power Consumption Worksheet GIF Image
Power Consumption Worksheet PDF file
We can provide Expert Site Analysis Assessments for areas of Ontario within a 2 hour
driving radius of our location. If you would like to arrange for us to come to your location and perform a Site Analysis,
please fill in the request form on our Contact Us page.
Please Contact Us for complete system quotes, offer any comments or join our mailing list for sales and specials!
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Don't forget your
AC Power Consumption Meter.
Keep track of how much power
your appliances really use.
$42.99
P/N # EM-100
What Will You Miss The Most The Next Time The Power GOES
OFF ?....LIGHTS,
WATER, SUMP-PUMP, TOILET, HEAT, REFRIGERATOR, MICROWAVE OVEN, RADIO, ... perhaps your computer, MP3 / ipod, LCD
large screen TV, Wii, X-Box , cordless telephone ?
or more importantly,
the safety and security of your family
?
"If you wait until the next electrical blackout to consider installing
an emergency back-up system , you will already be at least 1 DAY TOO LATE
"
DID YOU KNOW ?....." A typical house fire resulting from a knocked
over candle results in an average $100,000 loss "
Please consider an 'off-grid' system or at least an emergency back-up system to protect your
family in the event of disaster.
If you think we're having a 'financial crisis', just wait til you encounter our
looming 'energy crisis' !
"Coal power is relatively cheap, but that's partly because the cost to the climate through
greenhouse gas emissions or to the peoples' health through pollution isn't included in the price"
Dr. Bryne Purchase, Energy
and Environmental Analyst
Queens University - Kingston,
Ontario
Buying a New Car vs. buying a Renewable Energy System.
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It's really up to you how you spend your money
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Brand New Vehicle
(example: crossover utility vehicle)
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Renewable Energy System
( 2.3 kW Rooftop Solar PV, Batteryless, Grid Tied )
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Initial Expense
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$30,000 + options, surcharges and GST, PST
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$28,000 or less
installed + GST
(PST rebate eligible)
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$9000
Insurance, Fuel , Repairs, Finance Charges, Licensing, Depreciation
(source…CAA)
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Bottom Line After 10 Years!
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You've spent close to
$120,000
on this!
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You've just received $22,739* in Feed-In Tariff dollars plus the system could
be paid off early from an immediate 10% increase in property value.**
See detailed calculations below
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* How will the new FIT program benefit me?
Example 1
If you have a "FIT" install with a grid tied 2.3 kw (2376W) rooftop
solar PV system based on an average of 5 peak sun hours per day you'll produce an average of 11.88 kWh per
day (2.376 kW x 5 hrs/day) and receive $9.53 per day (11.88 x 80.2 cents/kwh) or $289.87
average per month income.
If your average daily consumption is 30 kwh, you would be paying out $3.30 per day (30 x 11 cents/kWh*) or $100.38 average per month to the utility
+ taxes.
* 11 cents is an average figure since rates do vary but it also includes charges for delivery,
regulatory and debt retirement.
This leaves a net gain of $189.49 per month ($289.87
- $100.38) or an annual GAIN of $2,273.88 per year or $ 22,738.80 over 10 years. That's an annual Return On Investment (ROI)
of just over 8% and the system will be paid off in just over 12 years.
The larger the system, the better your ROI (Return On Investment) ;
Example 2
If you have a "FIT" install with a grid tied 3.5 kw (3564W) rooftop
solar PV system based on an average of 5 peak sun hours per day you'll produce an average of 17.82 kWh per day (3.564
kW x 5 hrs/day) and receive $14.29 per day (17.82 x 80.2 cents/kWh) or $434.70 average
per month income.
If your average daily consumption is 30 kWh, you would be paying out $3.30 per day (30 x 11 cents/kWh) or $100.38 per month to the utility.
This leaves a net gain of $334.32 per month ($434.70
- $100.38) or an annual GAIN of $4,011.84 per year or $ 40,118.40 over 10 years. That's an annual ROI of 10%.
The average installed cost for a 3.5 kW batteryless grid tied rooftop solar PV system
is approximately $40,000 so the system can be paid off in just under 10 years.
You'd be hard pressed to find these kinds of
ROI on anything else even in the best of economic times!
Please note: we are not representing ourselves as accountants
or investment analysts. Other contributing factors will determine exact ROI and payback results. All figures used in these
calculations are based on current rates. We can provide you with basic ROI calculations, a complete costing for equipment
and installation, current utility rates, rate projections and general trends. However, we
strongly suggest that you personally consult with a certified accountant or investment representative of your choosing to
get a detailed analysis on your own rate of return.
** An Increase in Property Resale
Value occurs in homes with solar electric systems because these
systems decrease utility operating costs. According to a 1998 US Appraisal
Journal article by Rick Nevin and Gregory Watson, a home’s
value increases $20,000 for every $1,000 reduction in annual operating
costs from energy efficiency.
click here for a pdf copy of this article
A recent TD Canada Trust Green Building Poll, conducted by Ipsos Reid
to examine Canadians' views on environmentally friendly housing, found that 73% of Canadian homeowners or those considering
buying a home would be willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly features. Among those considering a purchase
in the next two years, this propensity increases to 85%. When asked how much more they would be willing to pay, the average
response was 10%.
Example: If your home is valued at $300,000
and you've installed a $30,000 rooftop solar PV system, you could realize an immediate 10% increase in property value
($30,000) which would pay for the system if you decide to sell your property. That's a TAX FREE GAIN for primary residential
properties. Commercial and/or rental properties would be subject to a capital gains tax but you will be allowed an accelerated Capital
Cost Allowance (CCA) deduction for these systems and the income generated. See your accountant or tax specialist for
more information.
For more info on this poll, click on the
link below and look for
the November 21 /07 release titled;
Home Buyers and Renovators Willing to Spend on Green Upgrades, Says TD Canada Trust Poll
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