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Let the Sun Shine In
By Shanta McGahey
Big Frog Mountain offers alternative and renewable energy equipment, with more than 3000 items in the company’s catalog. Under Tripp’s direction and design, the alternative energy provider installs electric power systems using remote or utility grid interactive solar electric systems, micro-hydro systems or wind turbines. The company’s primary markets are the Southeast U.S. and the Caribbean. In fact, Tripp says, “we are now the premiere distributor in the Southeast for almost all brands of renewable energy equipment,” an unusual accomplishment in the Southeast, where 70% of all power comes from fossil fuels. That equipment is a necessary factor of Tripp’s main passion—building zero-energy homes and enabling buildings to survive on their own power systems. In Lenoir City, Tennessee, Big Frog Mountain partnered with the Department of Energy’s Building America and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to build four, net zero-energy Habitat for Humanity homes. “Families of four in houses that cost less than $150,000 are paying almost nothing for all their electric utilities,” Tripp says. For the Habitat homes, Big Frog Mountain installed two-kilowatt photovoltaic panels that are connected to the power grid. According to Tripp, “a two-kilowatt utility interactive solar electric system will prevent the production of nearly 5,000 pounds of green house gas emissions per year when compared to fossil fuel generated utility power.” The houses’ energy-efficient windows, energy-efficient appliances and insulated panels in the floors, walls and ceilings also contribute to making utility bills for the Habitat homes practically null. Tripp finds solar electric systems to be the most appropriate choice for urban development. “Farmers can have stand-alone systems, but solar electric intertied systems are better for urban areas because then people don’t have to maintain it themselves,” he says. “Wind turbines require specific sites and a good amount of land, whereas solar electric systems can be installed anywhere the sun shines.” Big Frog Mountain has been able to combine both types of renewable systems at St. Augustin School in Petite Rivière, Haiti. Three years ago, the company installed an 1800-watt solar array with photovoltaic panels, inverter and storage batteries and a 1000-watt wind generator at the private school, which is 100 feet above sea level on the coast. Funded by the American Haitian Foundation, the system cost $35,000. “It passed the [skeptics’] test with flying colors ... it’s proven itself to be very reliable and continually saving them money,” Tripp says. Big Frog Mountain employees are making the trip back to Haiti this spring to install an additional three kilowatts of solar modules to accommodate the school’s two-way satellite connection. “St. Augustin is probably one of the few places in Haiti that has computers and Internet connection and it’s all powered by the sun and wind,” Tripp boasts. He plans to upgrade the school’s battery bank and increase the inverter’s capacity, which will bring the system’s total cost to $60,000. But, Tripp says, “Once you make that first capital investment, you’re going to spend so little on power.” Tripp firmly believes that renewable energy, like solar electric, is the only option for developing countries. “Haiti has no coal, no oil.” And with struggling economies and virtually no power infrastructure, “anybody trying to base energy off a fossil fuel source is in trouble.” In fact, Tripp is quick to point out the economic advantages of solar electric, dismissing critics’ often-cited high cost of solar power. “The payback is in equity and the dividends are decreased utility costs,” he says. “Wells Fargo stated that you will garner an average of $8000 in equity for every $10,000 spent [on solar power]. And, you’ve permanently lowered the operating cost of the building. That Wells Fargo report also said they’re seeing an additional $20 in equity for every $1 reduction in operating costs each year.” Also, some utility companies offer net-metering, paying customers who are connected to the power grid for energy they produce in excess of what they use. Particularly beneficial for developing countries in the Caribbean, photovoltaic panels have a life expectancy of 50 years and are even favored by insurance companies, since these systems will continue to produce power when the traditional system is down, reducing food and water costs created by natural disasters. “Even Thomas Edison said, in the long run, he would bank on solar. We’ve had solar electric panels since the 1800’s,” Tripp says. “Of course, now they’re 30 times more efficient and 1/1000.” |
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