A New Roof and Solar Energy All in One

Is your roof getting old? Is it time to replace it? Why not also consider installing a solar energy system as part of your roof. Cutting edge technology over the last decade called solar shingles has emerged as a newer type of photovoltaic modules that can be incorporated into buildings (BIPV – see previous blog). These solar shingles have been designed to look and act like regular shingles, but have the added benefit of creating energy from the sun. These shingles use flexible thin film cells which allow them to be installed as part of the roof. These shingles help extend the normal roof life by protecting against water damage and ultraviolet rays. Also, since solar shingles replace traditional shingles, a homeowner will save on materials and will benefit from reduced electricity costs. Depending on the type of roof, solar shingles are available in different sizes and styles.

Dow Solar Shingles

Please contact PurePoint Energy with any questions and to find out more about renewable energy options. http://www.purepointenergy.com/your.htm

Top 10 Reasons to Pick PurePoint Energy:

1. Superior Customer Service: We listen to you because you are our top priority.


2. Turnkey Solutions: We are your one stop green energy solution.


3. Solar, Wind, Hydro or Biomass: We’ll put your resources to work for you.


4. Variety of Products: We will get what you want. We have non-exclusive relationships with a host of manufacturers.


5. Aesthetics: We can do solar shingles, wind turbine sculptures or translucent solar skylights! Your imagination (and physics) is our only limitation.


6. Honesty and integrity is paramount.


7. Off-Grid Specialists. Need clean electricity in a rural place (Islands, Mountains, International)? We’ve been there and done that.


8. Think you’ve got Wind? We have high quality commercial grade wind data recording and analysis equipment to see if wind energy is the right choice for you


9. In depth complimentary proposals: because knowing is half the battle


10. Site visits: Have you ever wondered what it takes to start saving money and
    helping the environment? It only takes one call, so call today 203.642.4105

Please visit http://purepointenergy.com for all you alternative energy needs.

BIPV – Solar Energy with an Aesthetic Appeal

For some interested in solar energy, the look and size of the solar panels that sit atop a house or building can be an eyesore. While some like the futuristic look of the solar panels, others view a solar array as a clunky addition to a building. However, nowadays, solar panels don’t have to jut out of the exterior of a house with no regard for aesthetics. A Building Integrated Photovoltaic system (BIPV) consists of integrating photovoltaic modules into the structure of the building, most often into the roof or the façade. Unlike the traditional hard crystalline PV panels, BIPV modules include a variety of different materials that can be incorporated into the building itself. For instance, solar roof tiles can substitute for traditional shingles while generating electricity and blending right into the roof. Façade PV modules can be installed on buildings giving them a whole new chic, futuristic look. The ability to alter the transparency of solar panels can allow PV modules to replace materials that are commonly made with glass and similar materials such as windows or skylights.

These BIPV systems serve not only to create architectural appeal but also provide savings in materials that would otherwise be used and reduced electricity costs. Along with this, these systems will help protect against the weather and will be a source of clean, renewable energy.

To find out more about BIVP systems and solar energy please visit us at http://www.purepointenergy.com/

Freedom: Off-Grid in Haiti.

Off-Grid Living in Haiti

Proud owners of a PurePoint Energy off-grid solar-electric system!

Haiti is one beautiful country with an abundance of culture, agriculture and sunshine. The country's rugged landscape is surrounded by crystal clear blue water escalating into dramatic mountains in the core. One luxury that is not readily available in this country is electricity.


According to the World Bank:

Only 12.5% of Haiti's population has access to regular electricity. These electric costumers receive an average of 10 hours of electricity per day.

This very much held true while we were in Pétionville, a suburb of Port-au Prince where electricity appeared and disappeared with no regularity. Our client is constructing a home in rural Haiti on top of a mountain with no access to grid electricity or water.

Our goal was to create a cost effective solar electric system that would meet all the energy needs of our client while being low in maintenance. We began with a thorough energy analysis - assessing the demands of both small and large appliances. The new home has been designed to be extremely energy efficient. The final design was a 2100 watt system with backup batteries.

While the house was constructed, PurePoint Energy scrutinized over each component of the system - as getting equipment last minute in Haiti is either timely and costly. Each trip to the local hardware store to pick up some bolts, nuts and other miscellaneous items took 6 hours.

Our planning paid off and the installation went as smooth as could be expected.

For more Pictures of our Haiti Trip and other projects click here

We look forward to doing more projects in Haiti, the Caribbean and beyond.

Please contact PurePoint Energy for your energy needs:


Office: 203.642.4105
www.purepointenergy.com



PurePoint Energy completed a 2.1 kW Photovoltaic System for the Currelly residence.

PurePoint Energy Awarded One of Five Grants for Solar Energy Projects in the State of New York

Back in July, PurePoint Energy worked on its first USDA Rural Development grant application for a 22.8 kW solar project for the Hepworth Farms in Milton, NY. Just this week the USDA awarded close to $1 million for renewable energy projects, and Hepworth Farms was given a grant of $45,000 for their solar photovoltaic system.




Future Site of 22.8 kW Solar Photovoltaic System





The funding comes from the USDA’s Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP), which gives grants and loans to farms and rural businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. The program, which requires matching funds from the farm or business, has allowed an increasing number of farms and small businesses the ability to invest in clean energy. PurePoint Energy is excited for the grant approval and looks forward to moving into the installation phase of the project in the coming month.

To learn more about renewable energy and to find out what grants and loans might be available for your business, please visit us at www.purepointenergy.com.

Getting the Most out of Your Solar Panels – Maximum Power Point Tracking

Traditionally, it was expected that a solar panel, lets say one rated at 130 watts, would only produce a portion of those watts (say only 88 watts) due to inadequate voltage levels between the panel and the battery in off grid systems. Most panels are designed to put out 16 to 18 of actual volts, while a typical battery produces somewhere around 12 volts. A standard charge controller transfers the current from the panels directly to the battery resulting in the panel voltage being dragged down to sync with the battery. Up until relatively recently this was the norm. However, with the creation of the Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), solar panels have been able to produce power much closer to their optimal electric load. A MPPT is a high efficiency DC to DC converter that uses inverter technology to convert the voltage that the panel wants to work at for maximum power and turns that into more current at the voltage level of the working battery. A MPPT works to track what is called the maximum power point, which changes based on weather conditions and the time of year. Without a way of tracking this power point, it won’t be reached. Nowadays, on-grid inverters use MPPTs to maximize power from the solar panel array. For off grid systems, an MPPT charge controller is utilized to generate maximum power. More recently, MPPT charge controllers have become more affordable making it a very wise investment for any off-grid battery supported solar energy system.

To find out more information about solar energy please visit http://www.purepointenergy.com/

Costs of a Solar Energy System Cheaper than Ever Before and Poised to Fall Further.

One of the major challenges that people face when considering a solar energy system for a residence or business can be the initial cost of the installation. It’s an unfortunate reality, but many a business and family have had to forgo their dreams of generating their power from a renewable energy source. Until now.

Since 2008 both individual states and the federal government have been stepping up their efforts to provide incentives that dramatically reduce the cost of a solar energy system. The federal government now offers a 30 % tax credit for the first year of installation. Across the nation, states have been passing legislation that decreases the upfront cost of solar energy systems. In fact, both Connecticut and New York offer some of the best incentives in the country. State incentives often come in the form of rebates passed onto customers through particular state programs. These rebates vary based on the size of the solar system and sometimes based on the area you are located in. To find a complete breakdown of the incentives in your area please follow the link and click on your state. http://www.dsireusa.org/.

And that’s not all the good news for consumers. Recently, the price of solar panels has been steadily declining since 2008, and by some estimates the price will drop as much as 40 % by 2010. The main cause of this price drop is due to the increased supply of the main ingredient in solar panels, polysilicon. This coupled with a decrease in demand for solar panels due to a shrinking economy in parts of Europe has helped drive the price down. With decreasing costs and great monetary incentives, now is the time to look into solar.

For more information on solar energy systems please visit http://www.purepointenergy.com.