Posted by: Dan Morean in General News on Mar 22, 2009
Breweriana.com's 5,000 square foot store is now more than energy neutral. All the heating, cooling and electricity needed to run the Breweriana.com shop, and much of the energy needed to run the Morean residence, is created by an 18kw photovoltaic solar panel system and three geothermal heating and cooling systems.
These projects were made economically feasible thanks to a number of government incentives. Federal incentives allow for a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of the system (after other rebates/incentives). The recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created similar 30% federal tax credits for geothermal heating and cooling systems as well as for weatherization and insulation.
Massachusetts provides aggressive rebates for solar projects (in this case nearly 50% of the price of the system) through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Massachusetts also provides a $5000 tax credit and prohibits towns from increasing property assessments based on the solar installation.
First an analysis of the exterior roof and the interior and exterior roof structure had to be done. The structure proved adequate to handle the weight and the high "lift" that can occur as wind travels underneath the panels. However, the exterior roofing material was old and needed to be replaced.
It also was necessary to remove the chimney which serviced the old wood/oil burner and to move the electric lines coming into the building, both shadow-throwing obstacles.
The new roof created a blank slate for Borrego Solar to begin installation of the system. The solar panel mounting system went down first.
Then ninety 200 watt panels were installed.
Three inverters (made by Solectria in Massachussetts) convert the electricity generated by the solar panels from DC into AC. The electricity is metered and pumped directly into the public grid.
The excess electricity generated by the system is either purchased for close to a retail rate by the electric company or can be assigned to another building of the owner (in this case, the Morean residence).
The system is connected to the internet and reports real-time data on electricity produced by the beer can shop. Click here to see real-time displays of Breweriana.com's energy production.
The system generates up to 18kw of electricity at any given moment during the daytime. There is more than enough electricity produced by the system to run the geothermal heating and cooling system and all the other electrical requirements for the beer advertising shop. The excess electricity helps heat, cool and light the Morean residence which can be seen peeking out from behind the shop in the photo.
The other prong to going Green was installing geothermal heating and cooling for the beer can store as well as for the first and second floors of the residence. Two 500' wells were drilled for the beer can and breweriana building and three 450' wells were drilled for the residence. A loop of 1.5" polyethylene tubing filled with an environmentally friendly water/glycol mix was installed in each of the wells.
These loops are then brought into the building 8' underground. It's a closed loop system which uses no water other than what is in the sealed loops. The loops are connected to the geothermal heat pumps in the building. These systems circulate the water/glycol mix and use super high efficiency condensers to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. The water remains at a constant of about 45 to 50 degrees year round.
The EPA conducts studies of various methods of heating/cooling and geothermal is the most efficient method available today. The start-up cost is high but the new tax incentives make it financially attractive. Breweriana.com anticipates a six year pay-back on these investments. After year six, heating, cooling and all other electricity will be near free and created with very little carbon emissions. It is estimated that this solar/geothermal investment will reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by about 50 tons per year!