The light converting photovoltaic panels look great on a roof
as a badge of environmental responsibility. The electricity
generated by a 1.5 KW solar PV array may be 10 KW hours a
day depending on your latitude and season. If you have a home
and lifestyle that uses 50 KW hours per day, then the solar
panels are for show. It is far more efficient to reduce consumption
of energy than to produce it. Once you have a thermally efficient
home, install high efficiency lighting and appliances. Get
your average daily consumption down to 10 to 20 KW hours a
day and then install grid interactive solar PV panel system.
The grid interactive systems mean that you do not need battery
back-up; the electricity grid becomes the back-up with a two
way meter. The electricity supply authorities will credit
any excess electricity sold back to the grid against your
usage.
Llewellyn Pritchard, Director
of Conscious Homes is an ESD consultant, registered Architect,
a registered Builder (Domestic Unlimited and Commercial Unlimited),
an HIA Greensmart Builder and writer. Conscious Homes won the 2006
National
HIA Greensmart Resource Efficiency Housing Award.
