Spreading Sunshine: A Solar-Powered Home in New Mexico

(Page 3 of 3)

July/August 2008
By Lori Tobias 
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MS: Richard and Betsy’s system has one electric meter. To simplify, the meter spins forward at night when the lights are on. During the day, the meter spins backward, and the system feeds electricity to the local utility. If they use more than they produce, they pay the utility for the small difference; if they produce more than they use, they get a nominal credit on their utility bill. But recently, the deal has gotten sweeter for the consumers in our local area. Now, we set up grid-tied systems with two meters. One is the Renewable Energy Credit meter and the other is the net meter that goes forward and backward. The REC meter tracks whatever electricity is produced and our local utility pays the homeowners approximately 1.5 times the going rate for that electricity. In addition, that electricity can be used by the homeowners for free. It’s like getting paid double. It’s almost too good to be true!

RELATED CONTENT

Any other bonuses to a solar-powered system like this one?

MS: Currently there are attractive tax incentives in New Mexico, and almost any home can be retrofitted. If we all had our own solar systems, imagine how many power plants we could take offline.

The good stuff

■ A 10,000-gallon cistern collects all roof runoff and distributes it to low-water landscaping.

■ A subterranean reclaimed water system irrigates and nourishes the landscape and orchard.

■ Superinsulated building envelope with an average rating of R-57

■ Grid-tied solar energy system

■ Passive cooling and heating; no mechanical air conditioning

■ Sustainably harvested and FSC-certified woods throughout

■ Natural gypsum plaster walls

■ Energy-efficient compact fluorescent and low-voltage lighting

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