Sunshine in February - Community Energy Solutions Report

Dear Clean Energy Supporter,

After two and a half months of outreach and another month and a half of site work, the Go Solar Bainbridge and Go Solar Bellingham were closed on January 30. Our campaign helped add 69.6 kilowatts (kW), or 25% more solar energy capacity to Bellingham. Bainbridge saw an amazing level of interest that brought 201.63 kW, a more than doubling of the amount of solar energy on the Island.

What makes these campaigns exciting is that nearly all of the solar modules purchased are made in Washington; coming from Itek Energy, a manufacturer in Bellingham.  Also, when all of the systems are installed, these pilot rounds of the Go Solar Washington initiative will avoid over 150 MT of carbon each and every year from being pumped into the atmosphere. The multipliers of benefits are truly more than just watts.

Our work on Bainbridge Island continues as we turn our focus to the Community Solar Project at the City Hall. Community Solar is a means for more people in Washington State to enjoy the benefits of owning a solar energy system, who otherwise could not due to shading, property ownerships, or other barriers. We hosted an informational meeting last month on January 17th. If you missed that meeting but are interested to find out more about this innovative project, and what it means for you and the City, please contact Joe Deets.

Finally, a brief note about a change at the Board of our organization. Doug Maraist is heading up the Board as President while I will have more time to work on the Go Solar initiative. Joe Deets has resigned from Community Energy Solutions as Executive Director and will dedicate his time to Community Solar Solutions, an organization that focuses on community solar projects. Last but not least, please join me in welcoming Ed Flanders to our Board. Ed brings with him an extensive IT and entreprenural experience, and is keenly interested in sustainable energy solutions.

We look forward to continuing working with you, our supporters, to creating a more sustainable world through clean energy.

Your sincerely,
 
Tammy Deets, Community Energy Solutions

Believe it: Solar power works well in Washington

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Freelance Writer

EDMONDS — Solar energy installations in the Pacific Northwest are proving their worth, despite persistent public misconceptions that winter’s overcast skies make solar technology useless.

Chris Herman, owner of Winter Sun Design in Edmonds, concedes winter solar rays aren’t as good as summer ones, but he knows that cloudy days still collect solar energy and that the region still can gain benefits from solar installations.

“People don’t realize that a passive solar home in Western Washington can still get 50 percent of its space heating from solar features, while adding less than 2 percent to the cost of home construction,” Herman said.

Credentials behind his views include his 25-year business venture designing houses with passive solar features, sustainable “green” building design and consulting services. He founded Solar Washington, the Northwest Eco-Building Guild and Sustainable Edmonds, and is interim president of the Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative.

Trained as a certified professional building designer, Herman regularly provides classes in solar energy systems at the University of Washington. His projects have included a solar heated cabin on Lopez Island and a passive solar sunroom for a Lake Roesiger-area home.

Herman has been using low-toxin building materials and energy systems since 1987, providing additional insights to home building options for people with allergies.

“A good passive solar home requires no air conditioning, even in Eastern Washington, because it’s design provides architecturally for proper heating, cooling and day lighting,” he said. “It employs standard construction practices and materials and the design can achieve 20 to 30 percent savings on heating with no added construction cost. We also work with the layout of windows and room areas, as well as roof overhangs and venting, plus the prevailing local weather patterns.”

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