Comment

Comment by suman Thapa on September 20, 2011 at 11:33pm

i want to work on the solar garden project in my country , can you suggest me how can i do theis .

Comment by Les Squires on July 25, 2011 at 9:10am

G'day Solar Gardeners... We've just activated DAILY SCAN SOLAR GARDENS ANYWHERE ON THE NET -- 10 items in a new section for your group scouting for Solar Garden activities. Updated daily.

Comment by John Conner on August 30, 2010 at 12:35pm

Oh and we could have been grid tied for the price of an inverter back in 2002! But the community wouldn't pony up the $3500 or so to buy the inverter. The Solar Panels and mount were available as a donation for educational purposes.
All bit and pieces of why we moved out in 2006.

Comment by John Conner on August 30, 2010 at 12:23pm

No energy garden at Casa Verde in Colorado Springs. But all units with Good solar exposure were built with solar 'plumbing' so it could be added. The 'plumbing' consisted of two pressurized and capped PVC pipes from the attic to the basement and a open 1 or 1 1/2 PVC run with two pull lines for electrical. I've heard rumors that a few are planning to install soon. It was only a slightly smaller battle getting the solar 'plumbing' in that getting both gas and 220 installed in the kitchens. Had to fight both the community and the builders - including Matt.
A friend (actually the guy that provides most of my consulting work) is having about 1500-2000 watts of panels installed today. Got to go look.

Comment by Zev Paiss on August 30, 2010 at 11:18am

Hello Les,
As you know the best way to approach this is to design home which start out being very energy efficient then add whatever renewable energy production required to that design. Several communities have added PV and hot water panels to their homes after they were built, but I am scratching my head to think of ones who incorporated them into the original design.

Comment by Les Squires on August 30, 2010 at 9:41am

Hi Zev, Can you point us in the direction of intentional communities which are building the concept of "energy gardens" into their communal structures in the early days of construction? Perhaps Neshama would also know of good resources. There's a group of us who are interested in HOW TO DO IT if done from the very beginning of construction, rather than attempting to retrofit existing communities.

Comment by Zev Paiss on July 18, 2010 at 2:06pm

Colorado has passed leglislation that allows for the creation for these Solar Gardens. A few other states have gardens as well. I hope to see this as one more way for people to generate some or all of their electrical needs from the sun.

If you would like to add your name to this list we can help you find a garden in your area.

Comment by Les Squires on July 18, 2010 at 12:30pm

Welcome Zev and Solar Gardens. Glad to see both of you here. Is Colorado on the cutting edge again RE: solar?