Tucson Kent's World

So you want to put a solar panel on your home to save on your electric bill, but the cost seems to outweigh the benefit.  Believe it or not, your local power company may be willing to subsidize your solar project!

In the Tucson area, TEP (Tucson Electric Power) has SunShare for both residential and non-residential customers.

For residential, there are two incentives available:

• Option 1 offers incentives of up to $2,000 per AC kW of generating capacity.  This includes an annual service inspection and normal repair labor on the system.  Terms are defined in the Hardware Buydown Agreement.
• Option 3 offers a buydown rebate on a qualified solar electric system up to $3,000, but no maintenance.

(There was an Option 2, but the program was discontinued for residential in 2006)

Non-residential customers can also benefit:  TEP will pay the owner of a qualified solar electric system up to $2,500 per manufacturer's rated DC kW at Standard Test Conditions, up to a maximum of 100,000 watts per installation.

Combine this program with other federal, state or local incentives...and you may be closer to fulfilling that dream of generating your own electricity!

Here's a link to the program:  SunShare

Water is life...especially for those of us who live in arid climates.  Whether you are "Environmentally Conscious" or not, reducing water consumption is not only smart, but in some places it is becoming law.  Green building is no longer a dream or a bastion of the Birkenstock set...it is an economic reality. 

The City of Tucson recently passed a law that all new homes being constructed be at least plumbed for a greywater system, whether the buyer chooses to install one or not.  Green Homes are mainstream - and older homes that don't get updated will sooner or later suffer in the marketplace.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources has many useful tips and programs on its website (www.azwater.gov), one of which is a booklet provided by the University of Arizona County Cooperative Extension Service, entitled "Harvesting Rainwater For Landscape Use."  First written by Patricia H. Waterfall, Extension Agent -retired Pima County Cooperative Extension, Low 4 Program, it is in its second edition now.

It provides an easy to understand outline of both simple and complex systems, with plenty of appendices dealing with everything from gutters and spouts to rainfall data and resources to contact.  Since many of you won't get a chance to drop by the office in downtown Tucson to pick up your free copy, here is a link to download your own:  Harvesting Rainwater (PDF).  It is 60 pages, but is a fast download.

"Gee, I would like to make my home more energy efficient...but the cost is just too much."

"Putting in a solar system is a good idea, but unaffordable."

"By utilizing local incentives, I found it was well within my budget to build a Green Home."

These statements are being heard more often nowadays - with the shock of rising energy costs, increasing awareness of sustainable living and other reasons, Renewable Energy & Efficient Buildings are starting to become a reality instead of a dream.  There are federal, state and local programs to help offset the expense. 

Where can one find out more about the available incentives in a particular location?  One website can be a great place to start:  Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) 

  Established in 1995 and funded by the US Dept. of Energy, the database is updated & maintained by the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

Just click on your state, and you're on your way!  See, wasn't that easy?