That’s the view from the roof of 2139 39th Ave, my Sustainable Project out in the Sunset District. And lest some of you start making cracks about how the Sunset is Foggy – there have been more than enough sunny days this last year to justify the installation of the 2.3 Kilowatt solar photovoltaic system you see here: we are generating over 1,100 watts right now at 9:27 AM, and by the afternoon we will be cranking out well over 2,000 watts.
One thing most folks do not understand about a solar system is how the light is transformed into electrical energy. Well, the photons (light) hits those panels above (they are black to absorb more light) and they create a direct current. Your house uses alternating current electricity to power your ipod and microwave, so that direct current (DC) has to be inverted into an alternating current (AC) using one of these things…
That’s an inverter in the garage that changes the DC into AC….like the band. Except they are AC/DC because, well, oh never mind.
I received a $4,000 rebate check from PG&E for the panels, and if I ever get off my lazy ass and finish the paperwork I have another $3,000 due from the city and county of SF. That plus the cost of the installation does not get added to your property tax basis around here, which is cool. Plus the savings off energy – I still pay the taxes and such, but the electrical line on the bill is zero. And I produce no carbon.
Win, win, win and win.
H
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