A Photovoltaic solar power system must be able to function efficiently for 25-30 years in all weather conditions and under the hot summer sun.

Grounding Hardware

What is commonly called in the Photovoltaic  industry “BOS” (Balance of System), i.e. the “rest of the system” (rails, grounding, surge protection, wire, cables, etc.), plays a very important role in ensuring that you and your home or building are properly protected and have adequate power production for many years to come.

From an economic viewpoint, it is even more important for each individual component of a solar power system to be chosen on the basis of the warranties provided by the product and its manufacturer than for a normal electric system. Why? Because the operating specifications of each device must remain unchanged throughout the entire life cycle of your system and investment.

Sun City Solar Energy is dedicated to providing reliable products from the direct current (DC) side through to the Alternate Current grid connected point. In fact, the solar panel we suggest, after careful research, has a 30 year unprecedented warranty!

This solar mounting system is the only all stainless steel mounting system on the market today.  Here are pictures of the non-penetrating install:

In Tulsa, one of our many repeat customers, Mr. Russell, has asked Sun City Solar to install his fifth installation with our team. Starting last November with a solar power system with battery back up and Solar Hot Water, Mr. Russell has asked Sun City Solar to install another solar power system with battery back up and Solar Hot Water on another home.

Sun City recently designed and installed a solar lab for Oklahoma Gas and Electric so they can test several inverters.

Last week we finished a large Solar Hot Water system for Eureka Springs Transit Authority, a  Solar Power system for the City of Springdale, and a Solar Pool Heater for Eco Apartments.

Of course, we continue to install many residential grid tie systems and enjoy our customer’s smiles when they see their meter spin backwards!

It takes decades to install one nuclear power plant. Solar, a modular technology, can be produced and installed at a pace far faster than most energy technologies.

This year, the U.S. industry may install 2 gigawatts of solar. The last nuclear power plant to come online in the U.S., Watts Bar 1, has a capacity of 1.1 gigawatts — but that took 23 years to complete, not two years.

Natural gas peaker plants, which are idle most of the day are an expensive option for utilities.

Over the last few years, 153 coal plants have been abandoned, in large part due to uncertainty over environmental regulations.

So what does all this mean? It means that the notion that “solar is too expensive” doesn’t hold up anymore. When financing providers can offer a home or business owner solar electricity for less than the cost of their current services; when utilities start investing in solar themselves to reduce operating costs; and when the technology starts moving into the range of new nuclear and new coal, it’s impossible to ignore.

According to SunPower’s Tom Dinwoodie: “The cross-over has occurred.”

An array of 48 solar panels is now installed on the roof of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building at the University of Arkansas. The solar heating system will provide over half of the energy needed to heat the building’s Olympic-sized swimming pool, which is heated year around.

The 1,920-square-foot solar hot water array on the roof is connected to a heat exchanger that provides supplemental heat to the pool. The system is designed to provide all of the heat for the water in the 730,000-gallon pool during the summer and to pre-heat water on cloudy days and in the winter. The solar panels harvest over 2 million BTUs of heat energy per day. The system is expected to reduce utility bills in the HPER Building significantly while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

The HPER solar installation is part of the campuswide RazorsEDGE energy savings program, which enables the university to invest in energy conservation and renewable energy projects. The university has a $23.9 million energy savings performance contract with Energy Systems Group, an energy services provider. The RazorsEDGE program is designed to reduce annual energy consumption in buildings across campus, with a guarantee that energy savings over a 13-year period that will cover the cost of all building improvements.

Energy Systems Group is the general contractor for RazorsEDGE and partnered with Sun City Solar Commercial Energy LLC, which designed and installed the innovative solar panel heating system on the HPER Building.

“Solar heating is ideal for swimming pool applications,” said John Gerrard, GM for Sun City. “It’s a relatively low temperature requirement and can take advantage of solar radiation all year.”

Nick Brown, the University of Arkansas director for campus sustainability, said that this solar thermal system matches a dependable solar resource to a constant energy demand.

“Because energy is needed year around to heat this pool to 80 degrees, we can take advantage of available solar energy in warm months as well as cool ones,” he said. “To our knowledge, this is the largest solar thermal energy system in the state of Arkansas. This project helps move us toward our goal of becoming a carbon neutral campus by the year 2040.”

Paul Gandy, construction manager for Energy Systems Group, said his company and Sun City worked seamlessly with the university to develop an innovative installation that will save energy and money, at the same time raising the profile of solar hot water systems as a viable alternative energy source for some applications.

The HPER Building and its pool are currently heated with a natural gas-fired steam system. Scott Turley, director of utilities for the university, estimates that the solar energy system will reduce the building’s energy bill by about $4,000 per year at today’s energy prices.

“Gas costs have fluctuated wildly over the past couple of years,” said Turley, “but if prices return to the level they were in spring 2008, we’ll save $10,000 per year or more.”

Last year the HPER Building pool had a total of 55,000 users. In addition to university students, faculty and staff, the pool is the site of collegiate and high school swim and dive meets, it serves as a practice facility for several swim clubs and teams, and it is used for swimming instruction, group exercise programs and entertainment, such as the popular “dive-in” movies at the pool.

The university’s College of Education and Health Professions, which includes academic programs for health science, kinesiology, recreation, and dance, manages the HPER Building operations. Intramural and recreational sports and fitness programs for campus users and alumni are also operated from the building.

When Americans take advantage of the tax credits available for investing in solar energy, an increase in the conversion to a renewable energy source makes a difference to our planet.  There is no easy or short answer to energy.   If every household in the US installed a solar hot water heater, a solar electric power system, or a solar pool heater on their home, there would be a significant decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the air.  Add the cumulative effect of using solar over the coming decades to replace the pollution generated by coal fired power plants, and there would be a phenomenal reduction of green house gases.

There are consequences if we ignore what is happening to our planet.  The spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a sad example.  Americans as a whole enjoy one of the best standards of living in the world.  We take for granted the comforts afforded by our high standard of living. Many people do not see a problem with our current energy use and are not concerned about the state of the environment.  Those that are concerned feel they can do little to improve the quality of our air, land and water.  At what point should we, as inhabitants of the planet, make an effort to allow our progeny to enjoy a quality of life that does not include the increase of environmentally induced disease, destruction of our natural habitats, extinction of species, rampant overproduction of invasive species, contaminated food and polluted water? 

If you look at the global picture, it can seem overwhelming, and the prospect for change seems slim.  But you CAN make a real difference.  You can invest in a solar water heater, a solar electric system, a solar pool heater, even a solar electric attic fan.  All of these things make a difference to your community, your state, our country and to the planet as a whole. Thoughtful consumerism and changes to our lifestyles can make a difference.  Investing in clean solar energy will make a difference.

If we all do our part, we will be able to maintain our lifestyle and allow the natural world to thrive.  Visit SunCityEnergy.com  to learn how you can save money and help our future generations by owning a Sun City Solar  Energy System.

1. Americans have the right to put solar on their homes or businesses Restrictive covenants, onerous connection rules, and excessive permitting and inspections fees prevent many American homes and businesses from going solar.

2. Americans have the right to connect their solar energy system to the grid with uniform national standards. This should be as simple as connecting a telephone or appliance. No matter where they live, consumers should expect a single standard for connecting their system to the electric grid.

3. Americans have the right to Net Meter and be compensated at the very least with full retail electricity rates. When customers generate excess solar power utilities should pay them consumer at least the retail value of that power.

4. The solar industry has the right to a fair competitive environment. The highly profitable fossil fuel industries have received tens of billions of dollars for decades. The solar energy expects a fair playing field, especially since the American public overwhelmingly supports the development and use of solar.

5. The solar industry has the right to equal access to public lands. America has the best solar resources in the world, yet solar companies have zero access to public lands compared to the 45 million acres used by oil and natural gas companies.

6. The solar industry has the right to interconnect and build new transmission lines. When America updates its electric grid, it must connect the vast solar resources in the Southwest to population centers across the nation.

7. Americans have the right to buy solar electricity from their utility. Consumers have no choice to buy clean, reliable solar energy from their utilities instead of the dirty fossil fuels of the past.

8. Americans have the right, and should expect, the highest ethical treatment from the solar industry. Consumers should expect the solar energy industry to minimize its environmental impact, provide systems that work better than advertised, and communicate incentives clearly and accurately.

Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)

Solar has come in and out of “fashion” over the past four decades, but 2009 will mark the year that solar became an accepted component of the United States mainstream energy use.  This is due to several issues:

• Tiered rate pricing including high electric taxes and fees
• High electric rate inflation
• Overall high solar gain in the US
• Federal (and some state and local) tax incentives
• Technological advances for increased efficiency
• The widespread use of fossil fuels resulting in global warming

On-going investments in solar energy and the support by local, state and federal government, as well as incentives of some utility providers, will continue to lower the cost and make solar a viable investment for many Americans.

Now is the time to take advantage of solar energy systems.  To find out more, visit our website at SunCitySolar.com, or call one of our solar consultants at 918-494-0886.

The global market becomes smaller with every innovation that improves the way we communicate with the rest of the world. The United States is known for technological innovation, but lags behind in the use of solar energy. In order for a business to remain competitive in the global market, it is important to understand the long range implications of not incorporating solar into the mainstream consciousness.  The US cannot compete with the global labor market, but can compete by incorporating technological innovation, cost control and productivity.

Sun City Solar Energy has installed commercial solar hot water and solar electric systems on health clubs, pools, pump stations, signage, oil company buildings and other commercial applications.  These businesses are enjoying cost savings, a diminished carbon footprint, tax savings, and environmental stewardship.  Why not own your own utility company, help the US compete in the global marketplace and increase your company’s bottom line?  Visit  Sun City Solar Energy  www.SunCityEnergy.com today and learn how you can be part of the energy solution.

The grant system was developed to maintain the growth of the renewable energy sector during the economic downturn. A tax credit is of little value to renewable developers struggling to make a profit and therefore paying little or no income tax.

Solar equipment placed in service in 2009 also qualifies for a “depreciation bonus”. The owner can deduct half its depreciable basis in the equipment immediately. For business, solar subsidies are now worth 56%-58%.

Stay tuned for more details of the revised provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For current information regarding your eligibility for grants and solar tax benefits visit Solar Rebates.