Solar

[grsjax]

Anyone have a recomendation for a solar water heater installer? I would also be interested in recomendations for a solar PV system as well.

No matter how thin you slice it, its still balony.

[Obie]

Drainpipe Plumbing and Solar has done many installations in my neighborhood.I have not heard of any complaints and they are scheduled to install solar water for me the 3rd of April.
The rebate from Helco is double right now,$1500.00.

Call 966-9002

edit to add phone number

[SandyS]

We also used Drainpipe and have no complaints.

[Daniel]

Call Jeff. (808) 345-9465 does great work and has licsence.

Daniel R Diamond

[mikewj]

A point to remember when choosing an installer is that in order to get a rebate from HELCO, the chosen installer must be on HELCO's approved list.

[tada]

If you can catch AM760 they have an alt energy show at 5pm. How about heat pump as an alternative to solar water heating though there seems to be mechanical problems associated with it. Of course you need a souce of electrical power to run it.

Also I read the newer "thin film" technology supposed to work more efficiently than PV cells for electricity in the subdued Windward side sunlight.

[OpenD]

I'd be interested in hearing more about thin film PV panels too. My understanding is not that they are more efficient, but that they are less expensive, so you can afford to have a bigger collector area to offset the greyer weather.

And because I'm owner-building, with more time than money, I'd like to know where to get components. I've heard First Solar is the leading manufacturer of thin-film panels, but their focus is large generating facilities. Dunno if their stuff is even available retail. Can anyone enlighten me?

[robguz]

As far as solar, if you have the possibility of grid-tie, want solar but don't want the high up front costs, check out www.sunrunhome.com I'm having a system put up through them and Revolusun from Oahu. 0$ to install, but has a monthly payment (same or less than current HELCO bill) and a long term agreement, but was the only way I could afford solar and will save me money over paying an escalating HELCO bill for the next 20 years.

Thanks Jerry for the URL correction!

[jerry]

robguz, that link is www.sunrunhome.com

The one you listed takes you to Vancouver Sun


Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com

[tada]

I been doing "the search" for thin film- no use going further if you don't even have a property yet. I infer that FSLR doing so well they don't need residential but also their proprietary technology is supposedly highly toxic so they are responsibly tightly controlling distribution.

But I did find Solyndra panels for sale- always wondered what happened to them? A premium preduct at a premium price! Though of course you don't need suntracker mounts and supposedly installation much easier-

http://www.solarhome.org/thinfilmsolarpanels.aspx

Though thin film loses efficency faster than polysi.