The City of Santa Monica has an ambitious goal to become a net-zero, energy independent city by 2020.
Solar Santa Monica is a program of the Office of Sustainability and the Environment.
Solar Santa Monica helps residents, businesses and property owners reduce energy consumption and generate clean, renewable energy onsite. Our Contractor Network is a tool to help you find a licensed,
reliable contractor.
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Dear Santa Monica Resident,
The New Year is already filled with solar news. Thanks to successful workshops and trainings, the count of installed solar in our City continues to rise. We have identified over 500 MW for 2009! The Solar Santa Monica 2009 Annual Report will be out soon, with full details. In the meanwhile, please check out the recent developments reported on in this issue.
Sincerely,
Susan Munves |
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Building-integrated Photovoltaics
We're now familiar with putting PV panels on roofs. Perhaps you've also seen panels in Santa Monica mounted on the walls of buildings, or on top of shade structures. As time goes on, we expect Santa Monica to emulate solar installations elsewhere that incorporate PV devices directly into building materials like roofs, shingles, and siding. The photo shows a commercial building in Belgium with BIPV walls.
Building-integrated PV (BIPV) has a number of attractions:
- It can be aesthetically very attractive. (We've seen different-colored solar panels used to create giant logos!)
- BIPV eliminates the need for mounted solar panels.
- Its cost can be partially offset by replacing the costs of conventional construction materials.
- BIPV roofs help insulate and protect roofing structures.
- BIPV life expectancies range in excess of 30 years, 33% higher than normal solar panels.
There are currently more than 3,000 BIPV systems installed in Germany, and Japan has a program that plans to build 70,000 new BIPV buildings. In these countries, and in most countries that have a feed-in tariff, BIPV earns a higher payment than roof-mounted systems. Under the California Solar Initiative program, BIPV can receive a one-time rebate or monthly payments, depending on size. Need more information? Contact Solar Santa Monica at (310) 458-4992 or Stuart Cooley via email. |
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Community Corporation of Santa Monica 
The Commitment of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) to develop and manage affordable housing is a great service to the Santa Monica community. Solar Santa Monica is pleased to announce that CCSM's commitment is also sustainable.
The photo shows a contractor walk-through, part of RFP process.
Over the past month, solar thermal systems were installed on seven CCSM properties. Using the sun to heat water will help CCSM save natural gas and money.
After setting a budget, CCSM sought assistance from Solar Santa Monica. First, the team at Solar Santa Monica analyzed the rooftops to ensure enough solar thermal panels could be installed to effectively heat water for the number of tenants at each property. Second, Solar Santa Monica analyzed the gas bills from the last 12 months to determine how many panels would be needed and the approximate savings CCSM would receive over the life of the solar system. Next, the team drafted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to be sent to Solar Santa Monica's list of Preferred Solar Contractors. It was a detailed process; here are some of the items included in the RFP:
- Systems sized to eliminate 60% of hot water gas costs for each building.
- Systems located on each building to leave maximum room for future photovoltaic arrays, and to comply with all local codes, including line-of-site provisions.
- Panel collectors listed by size, brand, and type, with maximum weight of each when filled with liquid.
- Specs on mounting and racking method and equipment, including size and quantity of thermal storage tanks.
- The number and type of pumps, automatic controls, mixing valves, solar bypass, and other included circulating equipment.
- And more: insulation of hot water pipes, earthquake straps, solar piping, permitting, warranties, and schedule.
After hosting a job-walk, and receiving bids from five contractors, CCSM chose Environmental Solar Design, Inc. to install the systems. (Environmental Solar Design has participated in the Solar Santa Monica program from its beginning.)
The systems are anticipated to save CCSM $18,500 a year starting in year one, representing a 50% cut in water heating costs. "Solar thermal is a magnet for other related controls...some save both gas and water, and the building has to be looked at holistically," says Bob Ellis, President of Environmental Solar Design. "The savings result from all the changes that were made." |
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Option R Breakfast Briefing a Success!
Allsteel office furniture welcomed Solar Santa Monica to its showroom on January 20 for a presentation on the "State of Solar, 2010." Some 37 business owners and energy professionals attended to hear more about the latest developments in the industry, including Edison's new solar-friendly rate, "Option R." Gary Barsley, SCE's Manager of Solar Initiatives & Self-Generation Programs, offered perspectives that complemented Solar Santa Monica's Michael Ware's examples of how the new rate might work.
If you are a building owner considering solar, contact Michael today for a free solar analysis. For the PowerPoint presentation from the meeting, please click here. |
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Santa Monica Solar Owner Alert
As a solar system owner, you may have already received a letter from Southern California Edison regarding a change in the Net Metering Rules as a result of the passage last October of Assembly Bill 920. What the Bill did is allow owners of solar systems that create excess energy in a 12 month period to receive compensation for it. Previously, any excess was simply retained by the utility.
Before you start rubbing your hands in glee, however, the amount of compensation you would or will receive has not yet been decided. But if you receive the letter, you may wish to sign up anyway, just in case. Questions? Wait for your letter and its explanation, or give Solar Santa Monica a call at (310) 804-8449). |
| New guide available for Solar PV Owners!
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Solar Santa Monica has developed a User's Guide to Solar PV Systems. Download this guide as a reference for safe use and sensible maintenance of your system. Keep it in your files along with system user manuals, warranties, and installer contact info. |
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Notice a Cleaner Solar System?
During the recent rains, your solar system was producing only a fraction of its potential. However, the rains also cleaned off debris and dust, so now you should be experiencing an increase in production of as much as 30%.
Don't forget to clean your panels over the summer when there is less rain. The User's Guide described above has common sense recommendations for how best to do the cleaning. | |
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For questions and comments, please contact:
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Solar Santa Monica
1212 5th Street, First Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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