We have finally been approved from our condo association to install our solar. It took a copy of the new VI Law and two smart board members voting yes to allow us:

§1156. Prohibited Conveyances for Solar and Wind Systems

(a) Any covenant, condition, or restriction contained in any deed, contract, mortgage, security instrument, or other instrument pertaining to a conveyance, sale or transfer of real property or interest therein which prohibits or unreasonably limits the installation or use of a solar or wind energy shall be void and unenforceable.

(b) A covenant, condition, or restriction is considered “unreasonable” for the purpose of this chapter if the covenant, condition or restriction increases the cost and expense of the solar or wind energy system to its owner or user, or it decreases its efficiency, or otherwise effectively discourages the installation or use of a solar or wind energy system.

Full law can be found here: http://www.vienergy.org/menubar/Act7075.pdf

I had already put our deposit down with Solar Jeff from St. John He’s delivering all the solar stuff next week. So here’s what we got cookin’:

1. Solar Pool Pump: We’re buying 3 – 200 Watt PV panels from Pro Forma Solar in St. John and a Lorentz DC Pool Pump, Controller, DC Disconnect with lighting arrestor.

Solar Jeff (Jeff Smith) will be installing everything. The solar panels are wind rated for 140MPH.

A 2HP/240 Volt pool pump costs about a dollar an hour to run. Depending on the size of the pool, our 3 panels will create DC electricity that is fed through a control module to a DC pump. When the sun shines the pump runs. This “direct drive” operation requires no batteries or inverter.

I figure we’ll save somewhere around $200-$250/month in WAPA costs

2. Solar Water Heater: I’m buying the 80 Gallon Tank and 4×10 Solar Panel from Altona Trading and Solar Jeff will be installing. Here’s how it works (click to enlarge):

And here is the 4×10 panel:

Solar water-heating provides one of the best return on investment of any alternative energy option.

Operating a 240 Volt water-heater is a very inefficient use of electricity. With our abundance of sunlight here in the islands, solar thermal collection is the logical choice. As much as 20% of a typical residential electric bill can be saved in this way. The best solar water-heater is a PV-powered, open-loop circulation system. Water stored in a tank in the pump-room is passed through a thermal collector panel on the roof by means of a low-voltage circulation pump.

I figure we’ll save about $95-$125/month from my WAPA bill

Between the two solar options we should save $295-$375/month! Currently our average WAPA Bill is $580/month so I’m hoping to see a 50% reduction.

The total costs after rebates for both options is $7,600 and at an assumed savings of $325/month we should have payback in 23 months

We’ll keep you posted on actual numbers after the systems are installed.

I’m still waiting for an answer from my condo association but I’d like to report on the 3 Government vendors and their progress.

I went out to 3 vendors on the VI Energy Department’s list. They were:

1. Solar Systems LLC

2. Altona Trading & Sales (couldn’t find a website)

3. Solar Jeff – West Indies Solair

Solar Systems and Altona both came out the same day last week and Solar Jeff came out a few days after them.

Solar Systems immediately sent me a proposal on the Water Heater but I’m still waiting for the other proposals in full and Altona sent me an email a few days later. Solar Jeff has been extremely proactive sending me YouTube Videos, links, pictures and the kitchen sink and the entire proposal was submitted to me days ago.

Just for the record I told every company that I write the blog and that I’d be documenting the entire process

The other day I dropped my application off at the VI Energy Department for the Solar Water Heater. Within a day I got a call from a very nice lady, Terryl Diggs informing me that I could not use Solar Jeff to purchase the equipment from on the loan program (he had the best price and seems very knowledgeable) because he’s not on the list.

I ended up using Altona for the proposal as Solar Jeff was not on the Governments List to purchase the equipment from on the loan program. But you can purchase directly from him if you don’t do the loan program.

The program is awesome and works like this:

1. Get an estimate from an approved vendor here: http://www.vienergy.org/menubar/vendorst09.pdf

2. If you want to get 50% off and pay the other 50% upfront then get a check back from the VI Energy Department for the 50% you paid you need only fill out this application: http://www.vienergy.org/menubar/rebate50.pdf.

3. If you want to not pay anything and get a loan through WAPA click here: http://www.vienergy.org/menubar/SWLP10April.pdf. How this works is the VI Government pays the vendor 50% and then cuts them another 50% when the job is inspected. You pay 50% through a 1% loan on your monthly WAPA bill for no more than $50/month. This is a great program because most likely you’ll be saving more than $50/month through the new Solar Water Heater so it’s basically FREE

4. I’m applying for the loan through WAPA so now I’m playing the waiting game until I’m approved.

5. Assuming I’m approved by the Government I will schedule an install (depending on what my HOA says). If My HOA declines letting me use solar on my roof I will approach the VI Energy Department for assistance on dealing with my HOA. I’m cautiously hoping my HOA will see the value in solar energy

6. Assuming everyone says yes  Altona will be paid 50% upfront. They will install the solar and then wait until after the government has inspected it to receive their final 50%.

7. I save the planet and money in my WAPA bill!

Here’s a representation of the 80 Gallon Solar Water Heater Tank and 4′x10′ Solar Panel:

If any of this info is not correct please comment and let me know.

For more great info from the VI Energy Department check out Face to Face (Forward to the 11:45 spot to avoid the commercials and other unrelated info).

It’s no secret that electricity is expensive on this island, three times the cost of the states. Solar panels seem to be a logical next step when reviewing our monthly WAPA bill and figuring out where we can remove some of the pain. And all the while reducing our carbon footprint. We’ve been researching and pricing out possible solar scenarios – however, as we live in a condo association we need to take the first step. I wrote an email to the President of our association this past weekend and requested permission to put solar panels on our roof.

Here’s what he asked me:

1. Reference to the authority that condo associations cannot disallow alternative energy for any reason.

Ouch, that doesn’t sound good for me huh? But there is a VI Law that basically says, in laymans terms, any rules established by an association concerning solar are trumped by the VI Government who is hot (pardon the pun) for solar and wind. I sent him the law.

2. Pictorial representations of the equipment to be installed.

Fair enough. Sent.

3. Drawings of the location and extent of the equipment installed.

Fair enough. Sent.

4. Statement from any units affected by the installation agreeing to allow the installation.

Huh? Not sure how any other unit owners could be affected since solar panels are laying flat on my roof? Do you think he means would anyone be offended by how our solar panels look? That they may be interrupted by the actual labor?

I responded to his questions immediately and received this email back from him:

Mr. White,

The information has been received and is being reviewed. You will be contacted if any further information is required or upon any decision by the Board.

Scott McClanahan

So what do you think St. Thomas? You think the Board will allow me to go green or send me packing?

If I’m allowed to put up the panels (and really, why wouldn’t they promote green energy?) I will be documenting the entire process of working with the Government, the actual installation and any changes we see in our monthly bills. Should be interesting.

Feel free to share your experience with solar – we’d love to hear about it!