Bring on the Sun
The Solar Panels Have Arrived
Our solar panels arrived against a backdrop of dark clouds. They saw rain before they saw any sun, but that will change. Soon, this 9-kilowatt array will be hooked up to produce energy — just in time for summer. According to our building’s energy model, this new array will generate about seven percent of our annual energy needs.
We’re really pleased we could include energy production in our LEED® story — and that it could be done locally. Our system is supplied and installed by Rick Lander of Washington Solar Incentiveson nearby Bainbridge Island. The polycrystalline panels themselves were produced by Silicon Energy in Marysville, about two hours north of here. Rick and his team have done a great job.
We look forward to monitoring our energy production and discovering how much money we’ll save on power. And, we’ll recoup our investment in six years thanks to a federal rebate, initial depreciation, and an annual state grant. We expect the array to perform nicely for up to 30 years.
Now, bring on the sun.
