March 31, 2009

Liam C. – 3/31/09

So, for my third sustainability visit, I decided to go to a place near my country house in Upstate New York. This place was called Sun Dog Solar. This was there solar company, they also had a company called Cling magnetics. This company is a company that sells solar energy to the local people in Upstate New York. I went there because I was interested in Solar energy. I learned a whole lot. I learned of an entirely different solar energy that I did not know existed. I learned that you can take the light directly and use it to heat water. But also you can do more, if you take to concept of an propane fridge, you can use the heat collected from the solar thermal panels and create air conditioning without using electricity. Wow, when I first heard that I was very surprised. But instead of telling you what I learned I’ll just give you the notes I took and some pictures.

What is the main focus of this company?
- Many things going on at the same time
- Part of the company is cling magnetics
- manufacture different products referring to magnets.
- Also they produce many products for education
- 3 years ago they started installing solar panels.
- China is beating them, they are stealing all of the competition
- The solar panel business had just taken off
- installing a lot of solar voltaic
- and solar heating for water

How often do you get a purchase?
- Currently they have 60 side contracts worth 8-12 months of work
- they keep expanding and expanding their installation crews
- They may need a third or more people on the groups
- in relation to the economic prices they are hiring instead of laying off
- the stimulus package is really going to help solar.

Where do you get your equipment?
- They get it from all over the world
- The solar modules come from Tennessee, by Sharp
- They also buy modules made in China
- They hope to work with Evergreen solar which are situated in MA.
- Also, BP British Petroleum.

What do you think is the best type of alternative energy?
- They heat the building with vegetable oil
- make hot water with solar
- They also have a hydro source for power
- Most people have sunshine
- Solar seems to be most abundant, but only 18% of light.

Does the company ever think of branching out and trying different types of renewable energy/fuels?
- Yes, they already sell magnetic stuff
- and they use different types of alternative fuel.

I have heard from certain sources that solar panels aren’t a completely finished technology, and that the material used only absorbs the infer red light coming down in the spectrum, only 18%, is this true?
- Yes the best solar panels absorb 18%

If this is true do you still think that solar panels are a worthy investment for the economy and for the environment?
- Even still a large investment for both, Germany proves this
- Germany has what is called “Feed in Terra”
- A utility that pays an accelerated amount for a five year period, then after that’s up they go to the regular price, and eventually the person will be able to make money by feeding electricity back into the grid.
- In New York the subsidies are based on a SBC System benefiting charge, that’s just a small fee on everyone’s electricity bill, and that’s what funds rebates for solar energy in New York.
- You can get a rebate on 1/3 of the solar system you buy in New York, and then another 1/3 is tax credited from the federal government.
- Up till this year there was a cap for only 2000 dollars but now there isn’t, now you can get a 12000 dollar package instead of only 2000.

If one house used on solar panel from your company on average what fraction of the house’s electricity would be coming from that one solar panel?
- That one solar panel would make about 200 watts
- so probably all the light bulbs in an average house.

Do you think that solar panels should be the main solution to the global climate crisis, or do we need something else?
- Solar seems the best, but we need everything but solar is usually always there.