STORM2K

In an effort to cut back on the use of fossil fuels and save valuable foreign exchange, our government has recently embarked on a project to encourage citizens to supplement the energy from the BL&P (Barbados Light and Power - our national power company) with solar power via photovoltaic panels on the roofs of their houses.

To this end, a model house is being constructed to demonstrate the benefits of solar power augmentation. Soon to be unveiled to the public, it will show how excess energy from the sun can be sold to BL&P over the same power line used to receive electricity from that entity. In such instances, the electric meter on one's property will actually spin in reverse! Surely, this is a concept that will take some getting used to, considering how many here on the island constantly bicker about the high cost of electricity.

Although I don't expect widespread use of solar energy in Barbados (except for water heaters which have been used by many here for several years now), it would still be interesting to read about any member's experiences of living in a solar powered dwelling. Was the cost of materials and installation worth the investment? Were there any problems operating various electrical devices?

Any input would be appreciated.

The only thing we have to conserve anything is that we have several ceiling windows. We have them in about 4 rooms. If I would ever build my own home, I would put one in every room. The sun really shines down through them. Also, we have solar panels too on our roof for our water barrel. We did have to buy a water heater tho, cause the water from the barrels on the roof was not getting hot enough. I think anyone building a home these days should try to use as much solar as they can. I would think the panels would work great in the winter and save on heating bills.

In places that have cheap nuclear power that costs less than 10 cents a Kilowatt it may be a while before solar cell tech becomes cost effective.

The cost of installing solar cell collectors keeps dropping. They say it may be as simple as layer painting your roof someday. Running the meter backwards during the day would eliminate the cost of expensive high maintenance on site storage batteries.

Your government must be expecting less expensive cell technology soon.
An island facility with a solar farm linked together that way could really help reduce some of the daytime airconditioning load on the island.

our house is passive solar. we have these huge floor to ceiling windows and window quilts. we also have radiant heat in the floor and that saves a lot of energy.

Imagine how cool it would be to have a solar powered house and a Tesla electric car to go along with it.

In such a situation, one needn't worry about electricity rates or gas prices ever again. Every day (or night) just plug the car into the house to charge it for a few hours and off you go!

Perhaps this will be a reality in the (hopefully, not too distant) future.

it does sound so practical, and might be the way of the future for sure.

-justin-

I wish I did. Maybe in the future.

As a member of the planning commission here in Scottsdale, we are tackling the issue of establishing new guidelines for "green" developments that will include solar energy.

In fact, we just recommended approval of a small multi-unit green development that will do just that.

In a place where 317 days are sunny every year, we sure lag behind in solar power anything. So it will be interesting to see how this process develops.

No solar power here...but certainly solar heated!

Heading toward 90-degrees tomorrow.

We have solar phot cells up on our room to help heat water . It gets hotter than the water heater could get it . We like it.

I live in a "Methane Powered" house.....especially on Mexican food night "LOL!"


We've thought about going solar but we really don't use that electricity....both Michelle and I are VERY seldom home anymore, I spend more time at the police dept than I do at HOME!

On Wednesday the completed house was unveiled to the public but I haven't had a chance to tour it as yet.

Here's the newspaper article (printer friendly version).

US$1.00 = BAR$1.98. So the house featured will cost about US$30,000 - Quite affordable IMO, considering the technology involved.

I think it's a great idea. I have always believed that cities should invest money on changing every street light to solar power energy. I know it's expensive, but ovetime it will pay itself and save money. The only further investment that I see in this case is maintenance