Low Impact Living – Technicians for Sustainablility

It is always important to consider low impact choices for your Tucson Real Estate.  One great choice, as stated previously, is solar energy.  There are many companies to choose from in Tucson when considering solar energy.  One is Technicians for Sustainability.

Technicians for Sustainability, LLC is a  Tucson based, locally owned, mission-driven company specializing in solar electric, solar hot water, and rainwater catchment.  They are located north of Downtown Tucson in historic West University neighborhood.

Their goal is to “ensure that southern Arizona’s natural resources are used efficiently and with respect for present and future needs”. They are so committed to the environment that employees are encouraged to cycle to office and, when possible, even to work sites.

And the dedication doesn’t stop there.  Every year the company gives two grants for non-profit organizations wanting to add solar systems to their buildings. KXCI Community Radio is a current grant recipient. Technicians for Sustainability also develops and promotes community education programs.

Check out their website at tfssolar.com for upcoming events, an endless list of web resources, and available programs for solar electric, solar hot water, and rainwater catchment.

When considering low impact choices for your Tucson Real Estate, consider Technicians for Sustainability.  They will give you more to consider than just solar energy.

Low Impact Living – Solar Water Heaters

When considering ways to make your Tucson Real Estate more environmentally conscious, energy use should be high on the list of things to consider.  One of the big energy wasters is the old fashion water heater.  When you get ready to get into the shower, the water must run until hot water reaches the bathroom.  When you are washing dishes, the water must run until hot water reaches the kitchen.   When you are washing clothes, the water must run until hot water reaches the laundry room.  All of this wastes energy.  For just a little more up front investment, you can replace your existing water heater with a solar water heater and solve the energy wasting problem.

Solar water heaters use Arizona’s most abundant form of energy, the sun.  Sunlight is free so why not use it to heat your water?  Local, state, and federal incentives are currently being offered and cover up to 70% of the cost to install solar water heaters.  Those incentives, much like incentives for solar electric, help to make this a smaller investment while giving you the full benefit, both in energy savings and increased property value.

Any of the solar companies in Tucson can help you research the possibility of a solar water heater for your home.  One possible option is Technicians for Sustainability.  You can learn more by visiting their website at http://tfssolar.com/.

Remember to consider low impact options for your Tucson Real Estate.

Low Impact Living – An Explanation of Solar Energy Covenant Restrictions

Here is what Krystal Book with American Solar Electric has to say about Solar Energy Covenant Restrictions:

An Explanation of Solar Energy Covenant Restrictions

Arizona law protects individual homeowners’ private property rights to solar access by dissolving any local covenant, restriction or condition attached to a property deed that restricts the use of solar energy.

This law sustained a legal challenge in 2000. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of homeowners in a lawsuit filed by their homeowners association seeking to force the homeowners to remove roof-top solar panels. The judge found that the association’s “guidelines combined with [its] conduct ‘effectively prohibited’ the defendants from placing solar heating devices on their residence, contrary to the provisions of A.R.S.-33-439 (A).”

Senate Bill 1254, enacted in July 2007, stipulates that a homeowners association may not prohibit the installation or use of solar-energy devices (panels and associated devices). An association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of a solar device so long as those rules do not prevent the installation of the device, impair the functioning of the device, restrict its use, or adversely affect the cost or efficiency of the device. The bill also requires that the court award reasonable attorney fees and costs to any party who substantially prevails in litigation against an association’s board of directors as it relates to the provisions.

For more information about Solar Electric for your Tucson Real Estate contact:

Krystal Book (krystal@americanpv.com) American Solar Electric, Inc, 1475 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 410, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 www.AmericanPV.com 480-994-1440×102

Low Impact Living – Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a great asset to your Tucson Real Estate. Here is what Matt Shannon with American Solar Electric has to say:

The use of Solar Power reduces air pollution, offsets greenhouse gases and raises the quality of life for everyone on the planet. Solar Power is a sound investment for your home, since it immediately begins producing a payback in the form of electricity and adds resale value. It also provides a hedge against rising energy costs. As we become more aware of greenhouse gases and their detrimental effects on our planet, clean energy alternatives like Solar Energy becomes more important than ever.
Electricity is often produced by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. The combustion of these fuels releases a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide, which create acid rain and smog. Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is a significant component of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions could significantly alter our environment and lead to global warming.
Clean energy sources, such as Solar Energy, can help meet rising energy demands while reducing pollution and preventing damage to the environment and public health at the same time. For example, a 2 kW system (typically 10 solar panels and requiring about 100 square feet of roof space) will produce on average approximately 60,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) over the life of the system. This equates to planting 1,196 trees or offsetting the carbon emissions from 5,295 gallons of gasoline consumed.
Solar Energy is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels for many reasons:

• It is clean energy.
• It conserves other forms of energy by using fewer natural resources than conventional energy sources.
• It is a renewable, reliable resource that can be found almost anywhere.
• It is a modern technology of the future with about 40% annual market growth worldwide.
• Arizona receives more sunny days annually than any other state in the U.S.

For more information about Solar Electric for your Tucson Real Estate contact:

Matt Shannon (matt@americanpv.com) American Solar Electric, Inc, 1475 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 410, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 www.AmericanPV.com 480-994-1440×130

Low Impact Living – Why Should You Choose Solar Electric?

Why should you choose solar electric for your Tucson Real Estate? Here is a Q&A from Matt Shannon at American Solar Electric:

Q: Why should I choose solar electricity?
A: Solar electric systems offer greater self-sufficiency, reduce dependence on imported oil and are far better for the environment than power from conventional power plants. With fossil fuels likely to become more expensive in the future, purchasing a solar electric system today is a smart economic move. American Solar Electric’s systems make it easy and affordable to produce electricity for the residential customer.

Q: How much will a system cost for my 2,000 square foot home?
A: Unfortunately there is no per square foot “average” since the cost of a system actually depends on the home’s daily energy usage, how many “full sun hours” received per day, and if there are other sources of electricity. To accurately size a system to meet your needs, examine how much energy you use per day. If your home is connected to the utility grid, simply look at your monthly electric bill. Using this information, American Solar Electric can design a system to meet your needs.

Q: Will solar work in my location?
A: Yes. solar is universal and will work virtually anywhere, however some locations are better than others. Obviously different parts of the world receive more sunlight from others, so they will have more “full sun hours” per day.

Q: What components do I need for a grid-tie system?
A: Grid-tie systems are inherently simpler than either AC power battery back-up or standalone solar systems. In fact, other than safety disconnects, mounting structures and wiring, a grid-tie system is just solar modules and a grid-tie inverter! Today’s sophisticated grid-tie inverters incorporate most of the components needed to convert the direct current from the modules to alternating current, track the maximum power point of the modules to operate the system at peak efficiencies and terminate the grid connection if grid power is interrupted from the utility.

Q: How Am I helping the environment by purchasing a solar electric system?
A: Solar energy is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels and contributes to the environment in many ways. solar systems produce clean energy, help to reduce pollution, conserve other forms of energy, and are a renewable reliable resource that can be found almost anywhere.

Matt Shannon
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
American Solar Electric, Inc.
1475 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 410
Scottsdale, Arizona 85257
Office: 480-994-1440 x103
Cell: 602-725-6421
Fax: 480-994-1438
(matt@americanpv.com)
ROC License #168657 (K-11), #236520 (K-42)

Low Impact Living – Capture the Sun

For the last few weeks, the news has been filled with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Millions of gallons of oil have polluted the water and endangered wildlife. This is just the most recent disaster involving oil/fuel in the world. There has been much talk in the past few years about global warming and climate change. Fossil fuels are responsible for most pollution in the air but maybe more dangerously in the waters. It is believed that more than 85% of the oxygen on earth is produced by marine plants. What happens when pollutants have killed them off? I am not attempting to take a political side on this issue nor do I wish to guess whether or not these statistics are true. What happens if they are?

You may ask what this has to do with Tucson Real Estate. In Tucson we have a very interesting opportunity to do our part in limiting the use of fossil fuels. A few years ago, I had a solar electric system installed on the roof of my home. This system lowered my non-summer electric costs to around $5-$20 per month. In the summer it jumps for a couple of months to around $100. American Solar Electric is the company who installed my system. They sent a salesperson out to my home to look at the site and give me a free quote. Once I decided to go forward I gave them a down payment and they did the rest. TEP, APS and SRP through subsidies pay for about 40% of the cost for installing these systems. There was a $2,000 tax credit from the federal government and a $1,000 tax credit from the state government. My solar electric system cost me about $7,000 after these credits. I have been told that the entire $18,000 cost of the system is considered value by appraisers. This is a great incentive for any Tucson Real Estate owner.

TEP’s website on their “Green Energy – Home Programs” page, offers a list of companies who are able to install your system here in Tucson.  The list can be found at http://www.tucsonelectric.com/Docs/RESTDocs/PVInstallersList.pdf.  The most recognizable, for those who live in Central Tucson, is Technicians for Sustainability, which is the company that installed the solar panels for Brooklyn Pizza.  So even if you are not an “environmentally conscious” person you can save money while helping the environment and even increasing the value of your Tucson Real Estate.