Proof Of Concept Case Study Validating That Solar Photovoltaic Electric Generation System Installation On Not-For-Profit And Affordable Housing Can Be Done At Grid Parity Today.

Florida PV Case Study - Habitat For Humanity - Summer 2012

Individual PV installations

#1 Southeast Volusia County - Completed - 5280 watts
#2 Manatee County #1643 - Completed - 2640 watts
#3 Manatee County #1637 - Completed - 2640 watts
#4 Charlotte North Carolina - 2012 Democratic National Committee
     Completed - 1225 watts                                
#5 Hillsborough County - 2012 Republication National Committee  
#6 Seminole County  
#7 Rollins College
#8 University Of Central Florida

                                                                                                                                                 
 
Charlotte North Carolina Habitat for Humanity affiliate installs 1280 watt Solar PV system on new Habitat home built at the Democratic National Convention           
                     

Southeast Volusia County is the FIRST Habitat for Humanity affiliate in FLORIDA to install a Solar PV Electric Generation System on a new Habitat home.
"Raising The SUN Roof" Day is Tuesday 8-21-2012



Manatee County is the FIRST Habitat For Humanity affiliate in FLORIDA to receive LEED PLATINUM certification in addition to installing TWO Solar PV Electric Generation systems.
Manatee solar PV installation #1

Manatee solar PV installation #2


               of the solar array installation at the Democratic National Convention 9-6-2012                                              

                 

 

    


     

                                                                                    

  

        

  

    

  

              

                            

Project at a Glance:

  • FPL Solar Rebate of $10,540 to two affiliates
  • Manatee County Near Zero LEED Platinum super efficient new construction duplex
  • Southeast Volusia County new construction. Solar thermal hot water heater and 5280 watts of Solar Photovoltaic electric generation could quite easily ELIMINATE the homeowners monthly utility bill completely.
  • SIEMENS donates state of the art solar microinverter technology to validate case study of Habitat For Humanity installations of PV solar electric generation systems.

  • 1. Southeast Volusia County Habitat For Humanity      http://www.southeast-volusia-habitat.org            5280 watt photovoltaic system COMPLETED          view LIVE solar energy production HERE
  • 2. Manatee County Habitat For Humanity #1639    http://www.manateehabitat.org      LEED Platinum Duplex      2640 watt photovoltaic system COMPLETED      view LIVE solar energy production HERE 
  • 3. Manatee County Habitat For Humanity  #1643   http://www.manateehabitat.org    LEED Platinum Duplex    2640 watt photovoltaic system COMPLETED      view LIVE solar energy production HERE
  • 4. Habitat of Seminole County and Greater Apopka  http://habitatseminoleapopka.org  SIPS construction                       1225 watt photovoltaic system
  • 5. University of Central Florida Habitat for Humanity  http://www.habitatucf.com                                                             1225 watt photovoltaic system
  • 6. Hillsborough County Habitat For Humanity/Republican National Convention Veterans build http://www.habitathillsborough.com 1225 watt photovoltaic system Hurricane Isaac temporary delay  Solar Site Survey Complete
  • 7. Rollins College - Winter Park - Maitland - Habitat For Humanity  http://www.habitatwpm.org                                       1225+   watt photovoltaic system                                                 
  • 8. Charlotte Habitat for Humanity  Democratic National Convention - September 6, 2012  http://habitatcharlotte.org  1225 watt photovoltaic system COMPLETED LIVE Solar Energy Production COMING SOON

  •  SOLAR SOLDIERS - Public, Renewable and Energy Efficiency Case Study Demonstration House - Central Florida

Project Objectives

To prove that Solar Photovoltaic prices and soft cost have come down to the level in Florida whereby an affordable housing or not-for-profit homebuilder can provide a new homeowner with a PV solar electric generation system at no cost to the homeowner or the nonprofit builder.

This new POSITIVE cash flow has the potential to dramatically disrupt the present Habitat For Humanity financial model and bring clean renewable power to scale.

Solar Habitats, LLC.      

"Making Homes Affordable"  

              http://SolarHabitats.org       

                      

Florida Power and Light Residential Solar Rebate Program

Photovoltaics (PV)

What It Is and How It Works


Photovoltaic solar panels absorb sunlight and convert the sun's energy into direct current (DC) electrical energy.

The electricity travels from the solar panels to an inverter, which converts the DC power into alternating current, or AC – the current you use every day.

The energy created travels to your breaker panel, where it is ready for use in your home or business. Any time your system generates more than you can use, the excess electricity is sent to the grid for your use at a later time. If you need more electricity than your system generates, you can get the remainder from the grid.

Photovoltaics (PV), commonly known as solar cells, were developed in the 1950s to power Earth-orbiting satellites. Today they are used to power everything from hand-held calculators to cellular telephone towers. In some cases, photovoltaics are used where it is prohibitively expensive or impossible to deliver electricity by traditional means.

Solar cells use direct and scattered sunlight to produce direct current (DC) electricity, which is then converted to alternating current (AC) for use in homes and businesses. PV devices are commonly made from rigid, crystalline silicon, although other materials can also be used. 

Solar cells are often grouped together in panels of about 1 square foot to 1 square yard, and panels can be grouped together in larger modules and arrays. They are typically mounted at a fixed angle facing south, southeast or southwest, or on a tracking device that moves to follow the sun, allowing the cells to capture the most sunlight over the course of a day. 

With the appropriate equipment, PV can operate in connection with the electric utility grid, offering users the opportunity to get credit from FPL for any excess electricity generated in a process called "net metering." The FPL Solar Rebates Program requires PV systems to be interconnected with our grid. For more information on this subject, please visit www.FPL.com/netmetering

Customers should choose products and contractors carefully, given the many variables involved. FPL bears no responsibility for the quality or performance of any products or contractors chosen by the customer.


Florida Solar PV Case Study