by: Enjy El-Kadi posted: Wed May 04, 2011 at 06:39am HAST
Imagine only
paying around $20 a month on your next electricity bill. It’s not as
far-fetched as it seems.
RevoluSun’s
Solar Street
is a neighborhood in Manoa with an increasing number of photovoltaic home
installations. When Parker Place
homeowner Kenneth decided he needed to start saving energy and helping the
environment, a friend recommended he purchase solar panels from RevoluSun.
His was the first home in the neighborhood to install a RevoluSun 4.14 KW
photovoltaic system. Many of Kenneth’s neighbors visited his home during a RevoluSun
solar open house and were inspired to follow his lead. “I encourage everyone to
do it,” he says.
The result?
His energy use was reduced to a third of his previous usage, meaning a major drop
in his energy bill as well — from nearly $200 to as little as $18 a month. And
the number keeps dropping. “This month’s bill was $16,” adds Kenneth. “I think
it’s a worthwhile investment.”
Installing
solar panels provides a number of other benefits, including federal tax credits
and the option to sell energy back to the Hawaiian Electric Company, which allows
homeowners to earn back the money they invested into the PV system.
Last year, RevoluSun
installed five photovoltaic systems in the Manoa neighborhood as a part of their
Solar Street
program. Currently, two of the systems (including Kenneth’s) are on Parker Place, while
three are on Malama Place.
RevoluSun recently signed on an additional Malama Place homeowner, meaning out of
the 16 homes on the street, four homes (and counting!) are making a greener
effort.
