The
Future Is Now: Hudson Valley Clean Energy
by
Ross Rice
...But
what really amazes the casual visitoris the warehouse part of the
building: it’s large enough to be impressed that its complete
heat/power needs are met by the PV/geothermal combination, but small
enough to make you realize how little space the clean energy technology
takes up—mostly panels, boxes, tubing, and a variety of connectors.
Very simple, elegant . . . but is it actually affordable to your
average Hudson Valley resident?
When
asked how an average just-gettingby family can get into this at
an entry level, Wright answers “Well, solar is relatively
easy to retrofit. First thing I’d recommend is to have an
energy audit done [by an independent agency], to show how you can
make simple changes like light bulbs, insulating air spaces. Then,
depending on your budget, you can either do a solar hot water system,
which is relatively inexpensive after tax credits, or a smaller
solar electric system, that you can then finance 100 percent of,
at 3% for ten years.” Geothermal may be possible onsite, but
can be tricky to retrofit, as it is necessary to dig deep wells
into the earth [HVCE’s wells are 300’ deep]. Once the
audit is done, and location feasibilities determined, an HVCE representative
will meet with you, with all the necessary forms and information
to receive the rebates and tax credits from the state [and yes,
the federal government], as well as the low-interest loans available.
The system comes with a 5-year warranty, with a 25-year manufacturers
warranty on the PV panels. The upshot: it’s doable,and with
all the available breaks and HVCE handling all the paperwork, we’d
all be crazy not to
Apparently
the power needs of the Northeast require that more coal-fired plants
are built along the Hudson River. Or so we are being told...
CONTINUE...
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