GOGREEN A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE BERMUDA SUN • MARCH 27, 2013
Shining a light on the myths of solar energy Did you know you could install a system at your home for as little as $10,000? SUPPLIED BY BERMUDA ENGINEERING COMPANY Have you ever thought about installing a solar energy system but heard a rumour it will cost $50,000 and you won’t be able to sell the power back to BELCO, or the roof panels could get blown off? None of these rumours are true, but still many people believe them and as a result, decide against installing solar energy. In this article, the team from Bermuda Engineering Company identify the most common myths surrounding solar energy and explain why your concerns are unfounded.
Myths
You cannot sell electricity back to BELCO. Reality: BELCO has paid homeowners for electricity fed back into the grid for several years. Many homes across Bermuda are already receiving credits for the electricity they produce, and more are being added every week. ■ Solar energy systems cost $50,000. Reality: The average home can install a solar system large enough to generate all of its electricity for $10,000-$16,000. Systems can also be financed through a loan, or added to a mortgage, so you could save more
■ PHOTO SUPPLIED
RENEWABLE ENERGY: Solar panels at a house in Overock Hill, Pembroke, catch the sun.
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money each month on your electricity bill than your payment costs for the solar energy system. ■ Solar panels are not hurricane-proof. Reality: Properly engineered solar energy systems are designed to withstand 150mph winds, and are tied in to the rafters more securely than roof tile. There have been examples of homes in the US where the only roof remaining after a hurricane is where the solar panels were located. ■ Solar energy is more
expensive than electricity from BELCO. Reality: Solar electricity generation systems installed in Bermuda routinely generate electricity for 11-15 cents per kilowatt hour. Electricity from BELCO costs 30-47 cents per kilowatt hour, so solar is less than half the cost of BELCO, and sometimes more than 75 per cent cheaper. ■ Solar energy systems take 20 years to pay for themselves. Reality: Solar energy systems in Bermuda usually pay for themselves within
five to seven years. ■ Solar technology cannot provide enough power for your home. Reality: With careful
attention to energy efficiency, most homes can produce more solar energy than they need, completely eliminating their electricity bill. ■ The Government does not support solar energy. Reality: The Government directly encourages solar energy by providing rebates of up to $5,000 for solar electricity generation systems and up to $1,500 for solar water heating systems, since 2009. ■ The Department of Planning will not allow solar panels. Reality: Since the summer of 2012, the majority of residential solar energy systems have been classified as permitted development, so only a building permit is required to begin construction, which takes about a week to obtain. To date, hundreds of solar energy systems have been installed in homes across Bermuda with few, if any, being refused plan-
ning permission. ■ A solar energy system needs batteries. Reality: Most homes with solar energy systems remain connected to the electricity grid, drawing electricity from BELCO at night and selling electricity back to BELCO during the day, so batteries are not required. ■ Solar energy is a bad investment. Reality: Solar energy systems can outperform many conventional investments by offering a low-risk, high-return alternative, that you physically own. Whatever happens in the markets, there will always be demand for electricity. Typical internal rates of return range from 14 to 20 per cent, far exceeding current market rates for other popular investments. ■ Solar is a new and unproven technology. Reality: Solar water heat See SOLAR MYTHS, page 3
279-5907 www.bermudaengineering.com
6RODU (OHFWULFLW\ 6RODU +RW :DWHU Energy Efficiency GO GREEN: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE BERMUDA SUN
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10 EASY STEPS
to save energy and money
Look after your fridge & freezer. Set your fridge to only as cold as you need. Fridges with an Energy Star label could save you much on energy costs. Always use the energy-saver setting. Also, defrost your freezer when it collects more than a oneeighth of an inch of ice.
Follow these 10 simple steps and you’ll save energy and money. Energy efficiency is key if we want to maintain a secure energy supply for the future, as well as minimise our global dependence on fossil fuels. Even small changes in energy usage can cause significant change. Best of all, your bills will be reduced. For
more information visit www.belco.bm
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Set your water heater to 120° F.
Use your dishwasher efficiently.
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Most of the energy used by your dishwasher goes to heating the water. Use your dishwasher only when it’s full and use the most energy efficient setting. Remember to scrape excess leftovers into your bin beforehand.
Use hot water wisely. Lowering the temperature just a few degrees can save a huge amount of energy. Set your water heater at 120° Fahrenheit. It’s hot enough for your dishwasher, washing machine and showers.
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When replacing appliances, buy energy efficient ones. Efficiency is key when choosing an appliance. Energy Star appliances use less energy and save money. Whether you’re looking for a kitchen or home appliance, look for the Energy Star label.
Don’t air condition more than necessary.
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Air conditioning is the most expensive part of the average energy bill. Make sure your new air-conditioner
Even when your appliances are turned off, they use energy. That’s
Use your microwave for cooking. Microwave ovens cook food faster and require a lot less energy. They also produce less heat in your kitchen, which also means less energy needed for cooling.
Turn the lights off when you don’t use them.
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Why pay for electricity when you don’t have to? The average Bermudian household wastes money every year on lighting empty rooms. If you leave the room, turn the lights off. Also, before you go to bed, make sure no lights are left on.
Use timers. Use CFLs and LEDs. The biggest electricity saver in your house could be a lightbulb. Switching from old-fashioned incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs can make a big difference in you electricity bill, and the new bulbs last a long time.
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because a constant trickle of electricity is needed to keep them on standby. These “phantom loads” quickly add up. Some can use up to 30% energy while being on standby. When it’s unplugged, 0%.
is energy efficient. Clean your air filter regularly to increase performance. It prolongs the life of your equipment too.
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When you turn things off, turn things off.
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A timer can save you hundreds of dollars a year. It can give you hot water when you need it. Timers can also save energy for other items in your house. And turn your water heater off when you go on holiday.
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Make ‘Earth Hour’ year-round BY AMANDA DALE
adale@bermudasun.bm
Bermuda joined countries around the world on Saturday in celebrating ‘Earth Hour’. Islanders turned off their lights for one hour from 8:30pm, joining a wave of blackness enveloping the globe in respect of Mother Nature. ‘Earth Hour’ began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, and has since spread to thousands of cities and towns in 152 countries/ territories. Up to a billion people are thought to have taken part this year. Through the simple act of switching off your lights and electrical appliances for one hour on the last Saturday evening in March, you demonstrate your solidarity with the planet. The quiet demonstration serves to raise
SOLAR MYTHS Continued from page 1 ing and electricity generation technologies have been around for more than 60 years, operating in some of the harshest environments known to mankind. Solar panels are a mature technology, produced by a multi-billion dollar manufacturing sector that has decades of experience and stringent quality control standards in place. ■ Solar panels are inefficient — you should wait for their performance to improve. Reality: Cars are only about 15-20 per cent efficient at converting the
awareness of mankind’s over-reliance on fossil fuels and the impact of global warming. In Bermuda, the Earth Hour movement has been led by sustainable development group Greenrock. The charity however, campaigns for ‘Changing the mindset’ and encouraging energy savings yearround.
Energy tips Judith Landsberg, Greenrock president, says: “In Bermuda we burn fossil fuel for electricity so it converts directly into carbon dioxide emissions, but also into dollars flying out of our pockets. Basic energy saving ideas can save you at least 10 per cent of your power bill.” Greenrock advises you to: Plug hot water heaters and heated towel rails into chemical energy in gasoline to kinetic energy that actually moves the vehicle, but that doesn’t stop most people buying one, because they still get you from A to B. Modern residential solar panels are also about 15-20 per cent efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, and can generate enough electricity to power most homes, so efficiency should not stop you from buying a solar energy system. While efficiency has improved gradually over the past few decades, further improvements are limited by theoretical limits that cannot be exceeded. ■ You should wait for the
timers; switch off lights; turn off air-conditioning when you are not at home; set the thermostat up a couple of degrees on your cooling system; unplug chargers. Other tips are to: Recycle; use a recyclable water bottle; carpool, or cycle to work; choose a greener mode of transport such as a hybrid car or electric scooter; give up plastic bags; wash clothes on a cold water cycle; use a washing line rather than a dryer; give up paper towels; fully load your dishwasher; raise your fridge temperature; use energy-saving LED lights; adopt renewable energy such as solar panels; and buy local foods at a farmers’ market. ■
FOR MORE energy-saving tips, see www.greenrock.org cost of solar to fall. Reality: The cost of solar electricity generation systems fell dramatically between 2008 and early 2012, but prices have since stabilised. Because electricity produced from fossil fuels is so much more expensive than solar electricity, it could cost you a lot more to wait than if you installed a solar energy system tomorrow. In addition, the Government rebates are likely to reduce in the future, so the installed cost of your system could actually increase. ■
FOR MORE INFORMATION call 279-5907 or see www. bermudaengineering.com
GO GREEN: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE BERMUDA SUN
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