Page 65 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

Exteriors / Roofing / Structure / Insulation / IAQ / Windows / Heating / Lighting / Appliances / Faucets & Fixtures / Finishes / Cabinets & Tops / Alternative Energy

Ways to go SOLAR PRO TIP:

Lease or Own? The rise of solar Make Ready. Even if you don’t
leasing programs is putting solar plan to install solar electric panels
arrays on more rooftops. A leased or solar hot water now, if you pre-
system must be grid-tied; if you wire and pre-plumb, you can save
own your system, you will have to thousands on a later installation.
weigh the pros and cons of being
tied to the grid or not.

Meter

Photovoltaic Wind Controller Grid-Tie
panel Turbine Inverter

NRG Goal Zero Different Approaches to Solar at Home
Portable Solar Power
Products Creating electricity with either photovoltaic panels or wind turbines typically
begins with production of direct current (DC) electricity. That current then
Goal Zero products from NRG passes through a transformer to become the typical alternating current (AC)
give customers the flexibility used in almost all homes (aside from some RVs and boats). Most modern
of power when and where systems do not include battery storage, simply because battery technology
they need it. Products include has not matured enough to warrant the expense and environmental impacts.
portable solar panels, lanterns That may change in the next few years, but for now, the best bet is a grid-
and lighting, power packs, connected system that can later be reconfigured for advanced batteries.
generators, speakers and connected devices such as thermostats and
“smart plugs.” www.nrg.com/home/power-on-the-go/goal-zero

RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ARRAY BY NRG HOME SOLAR
WWW.NRGHOMESOLAR.COM