Tour of Solar Powered Homes Demonstrates Community Values

More than 200 people spent a day learning about energy efficiency and renewable energy options during the Chester County Clean Energy Open House Tour on Saturday, October 19th. Organized by the Sierra Club and endorsed by the Chester County Commissioners and other local and state elected officials, the tour showcased the solar, geothermal, and electric technologies county residents are using to reduce monthly energy bills, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and enjoy tax credits and cash incentives as they improve their property values.

Several municipal facilities were on the tour in Uwchlan, East Marlborough and West Chester. Seeing the solar installation at East Marlborough, participant Alan Wright had this to say, “I felt proud of our local elected officials who have placed our health and safety first by promoting renewable energy in their own buildings.” The East Marlborough township building has an elevated solar PV array located in the parking area, which not only provides electricity to the building but also shade for the vehicles in the parking lot. Uwchlan Township used state incentives to install electric vehicle charging stations at their township office. While providing a service to the community, the charging stations generate revenue which will be used to fund other energy and environmental protection activities in the township. West Chester has a solar roof on a downtown parking lot.

Parent Nora Castro remarked on how important it is to see schools on the tour. Two schools were featured: Hillside Elementary School in Berwyn and the Delaware Valley Friends School in Paoli. “Saving money on energy is clearly only part of the story for schools. How inspiring to see that our children will study in safer, healthier, more comfortable classrooms. We want our schools to invest in, and model, the energy future that will assure them a stable climate as they become adults.” Another parent asked the organizers to do another tour specifically for students.

Delaware Valley Friends School (DVFS) is a grades 3-12 Quaker school serving students with learning differences. In 2012, DVFS partnered together with four other area independent schools and a solar installation company to secure grant funding to complete a 2.5MW solar installation across all five schools. Federal and state tax benefits made the project attractive to the solar installers, and each school entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an energy company to purchase the solar energy back from the provider at a set cost over a term of years. The project prompted DVFS to upgrade its physical plant and electrical systems to be able to receive power from the panels, further enhancing the school's energy efficiency. The solar panels deliver about 20% of the school's energy needs.

Hosts of both newer and older homes were taking steps to reduce their emissions. Many attendees commented on how often hosts explained their reasons for going solar or installing electric or geothermal heat pumps as being tied to wanting to be part of a community-wide effort to protect clean air for everyone. “It is a win–win. The homeowner saves money and less pollution is emitted. What’s not to like?” mused one attendee from Pheonixville.

Nancy Malanowicz of East Bradford installed a 9.1 kW DC photovoltaic system in 2017. “The price was $19,374 after deducting the federal tax credit. The solar panels generate 75% of our annual electricity needs, with an initial savings of $1700/year. We expect to break even in 12 years and then continue saving at least $1300/year for the life of the system,” Nancy explained.

Ed McConnell, also of East Bradford, has a newer home and started with a PECO energy audit in 2016. He replaced all his lighting with LEDs and other efficiency improvements. “I installed geothermal in September 2016 and a 10.7KW solar array in July of 2017.” With the benefit of net metering, his home now runs on 100% renewable energy. McConnell expects the investment will pay for itself in 9 years. Both systems were financed in order to avoid big upfront costs.

Henry Alexander of West Goshen and Larry Hackett in West Chester showed how they dramatically reduced their fossil fuel use by installing heat pumps. “I installed two split system heat pumps in my 1929 home. We’ve been able to eliminate 80% of our oil use for space heating,” Alexander explained. Hackett went a step further and removed the oil furnace. His home is now completely heated and cooled using a geothermal heat pump which is powered by two ground mounted solar arrays.

Efficient house design was also a main feature of the tour. Several homes were designed with “Passive House” design principles. Rick Davis in Downingtown, has a home on two acres and is sited solar south. “Part of the design included banking the home into the hillside with a fully day-lit first floor and a second story at the north side grade. This contributes to our energy efficiency,” observes Davis. “We also have radiant floor surfaces and a ground mounted solar array.” Visitors got to enjoy his extensive gardens and beehives as well.

In southern Chester County, participants visited two large installations at Longwood Gardens and Marlborough Mushrooms. One a non-profit, the other a business, they share a long-standing and deep commitment to conserving open space and protecting soil and water resources. Investing in a large system allowed both Longwood and Marlborough Mushrooms to stabilize their costs and, importantly, it aligns with their commitment to caring for the land. Tom Brosius of Marlborough Mushrooms shared with participants that “transitioning to solar was the right thing to do as land stewards and thinking about future generations.”

Perhaps the Open House that created the most curiosity was in northern Chester County at the home of Elizabeth Failor. She wowed everyone with her battery charged robotic mower which cuts her two acre property with no noise or pollution.

“The cost of solar photovoltaic modules has fallen dramatically - by 99 percent - over the last four decades,” observes engineer Mark Connolly who gave tours along with the staff at Camphill Village Kimberton. Their solar system powers several of their buildings including a Community Health Center, Bakery, Café and charges their electric vehicle. “Renewables will continue to get more efficient and more businesses and homes will take advantage of the cleaner technologies,” continues Connolly.

Organizer Paula Kline remarked at the interest participants had in working with neighbors and sharing lessons learned. “We all have a unique role to play in reducing emissions, whether at work, at home, at school or in local government. Today we saw not only a willingness to share, but enthusiasm for what can be done right now. Chester County is a growing leader in renewable energy.”

The tour covered much of the county with 37 open houses in the greater Tredyffrin, Phoenixville, West Chester, Downingtown, Coatesville and Kennett areas. The local tour was organized under the auspices of the National Solar Tour and Solar United Neighbors. The tour concluded at Downingtown’s Victory Brewing with a solar brewery tour. The County Board of Commissioners joined the end of day celebration and awarded the Clean Energy Open House Tour a citation “thank[ing] the volunteers and partners of the Clean Energy Tour who have worked to promote a more sustainable future for Chester County.”