While most West Shore residents are likely to welcome a bit of sunshine at this time of year, Peter Pardell is probably the person who cheers the loudest when the clouds break.
Anyone driving along Metchosin Road lately may have noticed his solar panel-covered roof. ItB次元官网网址檚 a setup that Pardell, owner of Pardell Electric Inc., completed in October.
And heB次元官网网址檚 already benefitting, shaving approximately a third off of his hydro bill during the worst time of the year for solar energy. In the summer, he hopes to be able to receive money from BC Hydro for the energy that he puts into the grid.
To date heB次元官网网址檚 produced 1.61 megawatt hours, with a single day high of around 50 kilowatt hours. In the summer, he expects that figure to triple.
The day Pardell spoke to the Gazette, he had produced approximately seven kilowatt hours by noon. ThatB次元官网网址檚 equivalent to running a 1000 watt baseboard heater for seven hours.
While the longer daylight hours and the clearer skies of summer will surely be the time of year where his panels produce the bulk of its energy, Pardell says even this particularly rainy winter isnB次元官网网址檛 a waste.
B次元官网网址淚 get energy through clouds. We had the worst weather in October in (years) and I still produced, on my worst day, 3.64 kilowatt hours,B次元官网网址� he says, later adding that he even received a wee bit of energy from the full moon on a clear night.
Although he estimates that his system has a price tag of over $50,000, the costs associated with solar energy continue to decline B次元官网网址� especially over the last five years B次元官网网址� while the efficiency continues to improve.
B次元官网网址淭he systems are so smart now, theyB次元官网网址檙e way more efficient,B次元官网网址� he says.
Pardell also sees his system as an investment, and that goes beyond his hydro bill.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e increasing the value of your home, depending on whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen with energy rates, youB次元官网网址檙e kind of eliminating that worry,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very rewarding. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no greener energy.B次元官网网址�
Former Colwood councillor Judith Cullington spearheaded a program called Solar Colwood during her time in office, which focused on solar water heating.
The reason the initiative focused on water instead of electricity B次元官网网址� known as solar photovoltaic B次元官网网址� was because of the high costs of setting up a system for the latter when the program debuted in 2011.
B次元官网网址淭here was a business case for the homeowner to put in solar hot water, but there wasnB次元官网网址檛 for solar photovoltaic,B次元官网网址� Cullington explains.
Lower costs, coupled with rising hydro bills for B.C. residents, means the business case has shifted to include electricity.
B次元官网网址淣ow, I think thereB次元官网网址檚 a really good reason for anybody and everybody to put solar photovoltaic on their roof. If youB次元官网网址檙e going to be in your house long enough, youB次元官网网址檙e going to see a good return on your investment, and even if youB次元官网网址檙e not, it adds to the sale value of your house,B次元官网网址� she notes.
CullingtonB次元官网网址檚 savings have been hard to track as her kids have moved out and sheB次元官网网址檚 had less people in the house, meaning her energy needs have gone down. Still, she recalls that during one two-month summer period her bill was just $50, and that includes the cost of charging an electric car.
Even the prospect of modest savings has many owners looking at solar. While Pardell says only about five per cent of his clients go with solar, every single one of them asks about it, and the high visibility of PardellB次元官网网址檚 own system has a lot of curious passers-by stopping in for a chat.
B次元官网网址淥ne guy stopped with his family and left his wife and kid in the car. Anyone is welcome. IB次元官网网址檓 stoked to kind of share how well itB次元官网网址檚 producing,B次元官网网址� he says.
And like many, Pardell simply canB次元官网网址檛 wait for that bright summer sun.
