Solar: Costs going down, incentives going up Continued from page 14 12-panel PV system and was able to get another $50 savings off his power bill. In the spring and fall, he was able to earn credits from the power company by generating more power than he actually used. Zimmerman points to a couple of factors that he thinks will generate even more interest in solar power. The cost of the PV modules has dropped about 30 percent in the last year, and a bill making its way through the South Carolina legislature should generate more interest as well. House bill 3346 will increase the incentives for solar energy. It calls for allowing state tax credit for the installation of solar energy equipment in an equal amount to 35 percent of the amount for specific installations and it allows for the incentives to carry over. North Carolina has had a similar law and has seen a huge growth in solar energy. That state is also requir-
ing that a certain percentage of power used in the state must come from renewable sources. This has caused many of the power companies there to offer incentives on top of the rebates they’re already offering. Zimmerman has worked with clients who have just put up a few PV panels to one who operates his house on a net zero basis. Most people in this area can get a 50 to 60 percent savings on their power bills just through solar energy, he says. One of the projects that Zimmerman has worked on was a sustainable, green parking lot at Christ our King Stella Maris school. The school replaced the faculty parking lot with a playground for the younger children at the school. The new faculty parking lot was planned from the start to be environmentally friendly. The surface was made with permeable materials that would allow rain to soak through, and native, indigenous plants were
used in the landscape design to lessen the need for irrigation. The lights are powered by solar energy with PV panels set into ground units. The system is linked to a website which shows how much power is being generated and used. Several teachers have used the website as an educational tool for both math and science classes, says Joey Bradshaw, garden manager for COK school and church. “It’s worked out great. We’re producing excess power so SCE&G is buying it back from us. We’re really glad we did it.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Photovoltaic panels can be installed on almost any roof (above) or in the ground (left) like these at Christ our King.
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