Sol Coast Companies

Existing Homes & New Homes Trade Ally”

Editor — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:26:24 +0000

Sol Coast is an “Existing Homes” Trade Ally

Energy Assessments and Single Source Upgrades are the way to get started with making your existing home more energy efficient! Click here to find out more about what Sol Coast can do as an Energy Trust Of Oregon Existing Homes Trade Ally

Energy Trust “New Home” Trade Ally

Sol Coast Companies are builders of custom artisan homes and are a certified “New Home” Trade Ally with the Energy Trust of Oregon. Explore different building paths and get ideas for your new home construction by reviewing our web site and contacting us today.

Solar Energy for your Home or Business

There has never been a better time to go solar for your home or business, and Sol Coast Companies will handle everything for you, from start to finish. See why we are a regional leader in the Solar Power business!

Home Design and Consultation

Our in-house designer is certified in Sustainable Home Design by the Earth Advantage Institute. With professional engineering staff we are poised to complete comprehensive design and permit packages as well as consult with your primary designer or architect. We proudly partner with Bandon Drafting and Design for many of our projects, and source most all of our contractors, labor and supplies as locally as possible.

“Existing Homes” Trade Ally

Editor — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:36:08 +0000

Sol Coast Companies, an “Existing Homes” Trade Ally

Energy Trust’s “Existing Homes” program works with Sol Coast Companies to bring energy-efficiency expertise directly to Oregonians who want to use home energy more wisely and save money season after season. Energy Trust of Oregon helps Sol Coast customers get cash back for installing energy-saving improvements in existing site-built single-family homes, as well as existing manufactured homes. As a Trade Ally, Sol Coast Consulting, Design and Construction, has been recognized by the Energy Trust of Oregon as qualified professional in the energy-efficiency marketplace.

Find out more about Sol Coast Companies being an Energy Trust of Oregon Trade Ally

Energy Assessments for your home

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR takes your entire home into account—from heating and cooling systems to weatherization—to show how your house uses energy and what improvements will help your home work at peak performance, using the least energy.

Using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, Sol Coast Companies & its partners, certified to Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards will test and evaluate all components of your home, including:

Exterior inspection—Inspects for moisture problems, proper attic and crawl space ventilation and window inefficiencies
Interior inspection—Inspects for indoor moisture problems, proper room ventilation, air leaks and insulation levels
Attic inspection—Inspects insulation levels and ventilation
Crawl space and basement inspection—Inspects for moisture problems, insulation levels and air sealing
Diagnostic testing for combustion safety—Tests for efficiency and any natural gas leaks or gaseous toxin levels
Blower Door test—Measures volume of air leaking from your home and helps identify locations of leaks
Duct Blaster test—Measures volume of air leaking from your ducts and helps identify leaks

Contact Sol Coast, an Energy Trust Trade Ally at 541-266-0877 to find out more about Energy Assessments for your home or business!

Check out our partner in “green” insulation for your home or business, Coastline West Insulation, Inc.

Save lots of “green” by going green! You can even get cash back…

Energy Trust provides cash incentives for energy-efficient upgrades to single-family and multifamily site-built homes. In 2008 alone, the Energy Trust of Oregon helped more than 10,000 Oregon households complete improvements and get cash for projects from insulation and duct sealing to high-efficiency water heaters. Many upgrades are eligible for state and federal tax credits. Find out more about available incentives at Energy Trust of Oregon

Solar Power is hot! A bright future ahead…

Editor — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:57:08 +0000

Solar Oregon .org has some of the latest news about going solar and provides education on how to go about it. Sol Coast Companies partners with Solar Oregon, the Energy Trust and Department of Energy to help you go so solar or implement green building technology with ease. Check out the website at http://www.solaroregon.org/

Check out this article from the Daily Journal of Commerce – Oregon:

Interest in solar-thermal energy picks up steam

POSTED: Monday, November 16, 2009 at 09:29 PM PT
BY: Nathalie Weinstein

The Romans used solar-thermal energy to heat their tubs. Now, thousands of years later, modern systems are being added to commercial buildings to handle large hot-water loads, according to the Energy Trust of Oregon. But Doug Bolen, commercial solar program manager for Energy Trust wants to see more.

“I don’t think that commercial building owners are aware of what solar can do for them,” Bolen said. “There are a number of engineering and installation firms who can install these systems, but there is not a huge sales force out there that goes after these buildings.”

Solar-thermal energy has been used since 1000 B.C., when the Romans began running water over hot rocks for their famous baths. Solar-thermal water heaters may vary in size and details, but they all gather heat from the sun in a solar collector and transfer that heat directly to the water supply, while storing the heated water until it’s used.

“You’re not changing (the solar energy) into electricity like photovoltaics, so it’s a more efficient process,” said Frank Vignola, director of the Solar Radiation Monitoring Lab at the University of Oregon. “The excess energy is turned into heat so you don’t lose as much energy.”

Randall Stevens is a co-owner of Ra Energy, which designs and installs solar hot-water systems. He says he has seen increased inquiries for commercial systems, which he says are far more efficient than photovoltaics for heating large quantities of water. Buildings with heavy water usage, such as industrial laundries and food manufacturers, are ideal candidates.

“You could put a football field of PVs somewhere and you still can’t heat water more efficiently than solar-thermal does,” Stevens said.

Ra Energy has installed systems for the Lucky Lab Brew Pub and the Lucky Lab Beer Hall, which use the hot water to brew beer, and is currently working on a solar-thermal system to heat a 50,000-square-foot greenhouse in Cornelius. By combining a solar-thermal hot-water system with heat pumps, the project will reduce natural gas consumption at the greenhouse from 30,000 therms per year to 10,000. A therm is a unit of heat energy equal to 100,000 BTUs.

“I feel like I’ve been an evangelist for solar-thermal,” Stevens said. “The solar hot-water industry is fragmented and driven by smaller companies. And there is so much marketing and publicity around PVs. It’s up to individuals to get the word out.”

Despite being more efficient than photovoltaic systems, solar-thermal has a bad reputation in Oregon, according to John Sorenson of Neighborhood Natural Energy, because of poor installations performed in the 1970s. As the technology gained popularity, many fly-by-night companies performed improper installations of the systems, causing roof leaks, and sometimes causing entire ceilings to cave in.

“It was the people, not the technology,” Sorenson said. “But people associated the two.”

But today, companies must meet strict training qualifications before Energy Trust will certify them to perform solar-thermal installations in commercial buildings. Qualification for tax credits is dependent on installation by a certified firm.

Bolen says tax credits can significantly lower the costs of a solar-thermal energy system. The Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit will cover 50 percent of the cost, a federal energy tax credit will cover 30 percent, and Energy Trust incentives – which are dependent on how much energy a system produces – can cover 10 to 15 percent.

One caveat is that Stevens says there is less third-party financing available for solar thermal systems than for photovoltaics. Perhaps lenders aren’t aware of economic studies that show that after four years, building owners will see an 8-percent return on investment.

“We’re working on getting some better marketing strategies that target businesses with heavy hot-water use,” Bolen said. “The only issue with solar-thermal is you can’t run the meter back. You produce the hot water and you have to use it the same day or over the next couple days. You can’t bank it with a utility company. But having steady day-to-day water usage year-round, like an athletic facility or detention center, is what makes it work efficiently.”

Sorenson says that 44 percent of the energy consumed in Oregon is in the residential and commercial sector, more than industrial or transportation.

“Why are we putting so much of our capital into photovoltaic panels when solar-thermal is three to four times more efficient and cost-effective?” Sorenson said. “It’s because people don’t know anything about it. There’s a perception that needs to be overcome.”

3rd Annual Green Living and Solar Home Tour

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:20:43 +0000

CONSULTING AND DESIGN CCB# 164208 ~ CONSTRUCTION CCB# 175383

Sol Coast Companies, Southwestern Oregon Community College, The Energy Trust Of Oregon, and Solar Oregon sponsored this year’s National ASES Solar Tour for Coos County and Southwestern Oregon, called the 3rd Annual Green Living and Solar Home Tour.

The tour kicked off Saturday at Eden Hall on the Southwestern Community College Eden Hall lecture room. Keynote Speaker, Kevin Berg, who gave a free seminar on Solar 101, the basics of residential solar.

You can find out more about the 2009 tour by calling 541-266-0877 to contact the local organizers, Sol Coast Companies, one of the premiere alternative energy design companies in Southern Oregon.

Our tour busses were loaded with participants, solar experts and lively conversation for a tour of 6 unique locations. We discovered different applications of solar technologies and alternative energy/green building applications to see how easy, beautiful and cost effective it can be. Tour participants also observed different architects’ take on passive solar techniques at two of the homes, witnessed a grid-tied, active photovoltaic system at a “Second Roof” designed structure, producing 10,600 watts, toured an Energy Star Performer home with radiant floor solar heating and Energy Star appliances in a new staggered stud constructed home – the first Energy Performance Scored and highest Energy Star rated home in Coos County and experienced the off grid lifestyle of the Mountain Homestead Community with systems featuring permaculture, photovoltaic, gravity-flow water, wood-fired-solar hot water, wood heat, composting latrine system, and grey water biofilters in place.

Don’t miss next years outstanding opportunity to spend a day learning about new earth-friendly designs to add beauty and increase value of local homes and offices. Check our website for updates and contact information for the 2010 Coos County Solar Home and Green Living Tour scheduled for October 2, 2010.

3.9kW Residential Solar

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:15:10 +0000

Evergreen ES-195 Solar Panels

Design components:

(20) Evergreen ES-195 Solar Panels
Unirac Solarmount, Composition
PVP 3500 Inverter
All NEC- and EnergyTrust-required meters and disconnects

Total Cost: $29000

Incentives and Rebates:

Combined State Incentives: $6000
Federal Tax Credit: $2000

Net Cost to Owner: $21000

Yearly Energy Production Average: 3990 kWh/Yr

Installed as a “Partial-Owner Install” in Lincoln Public Utility District

4.9kW Commercial Solar

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:10:31 +0000

(26) Evergreen ES-190 Solar Panels
PVPowered 5200-240 Inverter
Unirac Solarmount, Metal Roof
All NEC- and EnergyTrust-required disconnects and meters
- EnergyTrust: $ 6,175
- State Business Energy Tax Credit: $20,995
- Federal Tax Credit: $ 12,715

Total Cost: $48,559

Incentives and Rebates

Pre-Depreciation

Net Cost to Owner*: $ 8,674

*Additional Savings From MACRS 5Yr Depreciation not Included

Yearly Energy Production Average: 4,980 kWh/Yr

Stimulus Package

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:16:35 +0000

Stimulus Package results in the removal of the federal income tax “cap” of solar projects.
All projects now receive a 30% federal tax credit for total project costs
Follow this link to the Tax Incentives Assistance Project to find out more

2kW Residential Solar

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:14:23 +0000

(11) Evergreen ES-190 Solar Panels
Unirac Solarmount, Composition
Fronius IG 2000 Inverter
All NEC- and EnergyTrust-required disconnects and meters

Total Cost: $18,749

Incentives and Rebates

EnergyTrust: $4,180
Residential Tax Credit: $6,000
Federal Tex Credit: $2,000

Net Cost to Owner: $6,569

Yearly Energy Production Average: 2,100 kWh/Yr