Clean Energy Home of the Month
March Focus: Home Solar
“Nothing like the real solutions people choose, making their explanations for various choices feel like you’re getting solid, usable information, even when you know there are new models and options with everything.” Clean Energy Tour feedback, 2023
“Stan and Carol were great and their implementation is fascinating (if unusual).” Clean Energy Tour feedback, 2023
In general, home solar panels are a great way to adopt renewable energy and save money on electricity. However, this house goes above and beyond!! Despite a heavily shaded lot, the homeowners generate a sizeable amount of solar energy with ground mount panels, plus their solar battery storage means that they barely draw electricity from the grid. This home is both unique and inspiring. There will be other homeowners available during the tour to share their experiences with more traditional solar systems. Please come and consider your options. The current year, 2024, is an amazing time to go solar due to market conditions and incentives. The hosts—and their colleagues—are eager to answer your questions.
Register HERE.
The March Clean Energy Home:
Where – Newtown Rd
What technologies –
- Solar & Batteries (2021-2022)
- Ground Mounted Solar Panels (12 kW)
- Tigo Optimizers,
- 12K Sol-Ark inverter/charger
- Battery Storage (4 x 7.5kW KiloVault LiFePO4)
- EV Car and EV charger (2022)
- Induction Cooktop (2019)
- Full Foam insulated house (2019)
- Electric lawn mower robot (2019, Husqvarna)
- Organic lawn, native flower mini-meadow
When – Saturday, March 16th, with a session at 10:30am and one at 2:30pm.
Please indicate your preference when you register. After registration, you will receive an email with the house address and specific information about parking, etc. Register HERE.
ALSO! Consider attending the EnergizeActon.org PlugIN talk on Tuesday, March 19th, at 7pm, “Home Solar: The Time is NOW.” This virtual talk is an introduction to home solar with EnergySage Advisor Sam Kooharian, who will also outline why 2024 is a great market for solar installations. Click HERE for more information and to register.
The Energize Acton “Clean Energy Home of the Month” tour will run from February to July 2024. Each month is a different home with a focus on a different technology, although all of the homes have multiple technologies. This is an effort to help Acton residents see firsthand how new clean energy technologies are working out for neighbors who have adopted them.
February 24: Hydronics Whole House Heat Pump
March 16: Solar Panels and Solar Battery Storage
April 27: Mini-Splits (i.e. Air Source Heat Pumps) and Solar
May: Geothermal Heating & Cooling (i.e. Ground Source Heat Pumps)
June 15: Everything House and Community Solar
July: Solar and Energy Monitoring
Our monthly tours are part of a broader campaign called “PlugIN,” running from February through July 2024 and coordinated with three other communities—Framingham, Natick, and Wayland—to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new movement for electrification—based on renewable energy sources and high-efficiency home heating, cooling, and appliance use—is part of Acton’s commitment to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible. To find out about the regional PlugIN resources and other events, click HERE.