Energy savings and sustainability

Transcription

1 Energy savings and sustainability The American Woodshop on PBS features the Conext TX solar inverter. Make the most of your energy SM 1

2 This is what I did. This is what will work for you. Scott Phillips, Host of The American Woodshop

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4 American Woodshop: Green Energy Solutions The American Woodshop is a long-running PBS show hosted by handyman Scott Phillips. Scott started in his father s shop when he was 11 and is now in his fourth decade of woodworking. With a history of involvement in habitat reforestation, Scott is an advocate of conservation. By installing a 3,185 watt rooftop solar system for his woodshop, Scott has taken his commitment to environmental responsibility one step further. The solar system will provide financial benefits, but also lessen the environmental burdens caused by the woodshop s oil and gas electric system. Filming the installation for season 20 Green Energy Solutions of The American Woodshop offers a how-to on solar system installation. The project overcame a number of non-technical hurdles and Scott hopes his audience will be able to learn from his experience, I m just one woodshop, he says, I want to see tens of thousands of systems installed! Involving an experienced installer and a reliable manufacturer early in the design process proved helpful as they assisted with some unfamiliar situations. The city of Piqua, Ohio had no experience allowing grid tie-in for solar power and was hesitant to grant permission for the system. A local utility is required by federal law to accept power generated by solar arrays, but with safety a concern, it is free to establish prerequisites and govern the connection. For example, Piqua required the solar inverter to feature anti-islanding circuitry. In normal conditions, a grid-tie solar system will send electricity from the inverter back into the grid. In a power outage situation when a utility worker is servicing the grid, there must not be power coming in from a still-functioning solar system. To ensure islanding does not occur, an integrated automatic disconnect was incorporated into the solar inverter which automatically shuts down energy production during power outages. In addition, a disconnect switch connected to the outside of the inverter, and another separate from the inverter, allows a manual disconnect during service occasions. 4 Number of watts being produced by the solar system within the first five minutes of operation.

5 In addition to addressing its safety concerns, Scott helped the city understand that the advanced technology of a solar system will draw in industrial companies and benefit the local economy. A city open to the latest in energy technology can entice businesses with ways to save on operational expenses. The city agreed and accepted the proposal the system planning was underway! A reputable local design and installation company certified by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) joined the project. Installers Bob Hittle and Jerry Heminger first performed an energy audit for the woodshop and used the data collected to determine the proper size solar system. They determined the system should be comprised of 13 solar modules (panels) manufactured by Isofoton (another local Ohio company). The 13 modules would make one string of power, collecting 3,185 W of solar electricity. The electricity would then be carried into the Schneider Electric Conext TX grid-tie inverter which converts the collected DC power into usable AC power. The show was now ready to film the design transforming into reality. On a chilly, cloudless November 7 perfect for optimal solar inversion the filming commenced. The filming crew shot the first segment featuring installation of the last two solar modules on the roof while Jerry explained how to connect the modules to the mounting equipment. The team then moved to the other side of the woodshop where the woodshop s shadow dropped the already cold temperature another several degrees. The trained installers commissioned the inverter according to National Electric Code (NEC ) guidelines which prepped the equipment for use. Scott flipped the inverter to the ON position and waited as the digital display counted down to activation. The effect was immediate the numbers of watts produced started climbing. As Ray Barbee, from Schneider Electric, described how the inverter worked, the watts clicked their way up to 2,615. It was noon the optimal time of the day for solar energy conversion. I can t wait to use my free power, Scott said as he finished the segment. Site information Date: November 7, 2012 Location: Piqua, Ohio, U.S. Building: 30 x 90 x 9.5 comprised primarily of one large room functioning as the woodshop. Additional small rooms and an attic also present. The roof is a symmetrical peak and the side with the solar system is facing south. The inverter is on the north side. Up to 30% reduction in utility bill based on 2011 usage of 13,200 kwh. 5

6 Episode 2,005 Team Scott Phillips and his talented crew worked with experienced installers and bankable manufacturers to film episode 2,005 of The American Woodshop s 20 th season. Romanoff Electric Design and installation team; NABCEP certified, IBEW and NECA member Scott Phillips The American Woodshop host Darin Hohman and Scott Kisabeth The American Woodshop production crew 6

7 Ray Barbee Spokesman for Schneider Electric, supplied Conext TX inverter Jerry Heminger Spokesperson for the National Electrical Contractors Association Barb Rocco Clean Energy Advocate for McNaughton-McKay, supplied solar modules Sandra Herrera Schneider Electric, Solar System Application Engineer 7

8 About The American Woodshop A PBS favorite The American Woodshop has completed 19 seasons with PBS and will be debuting its 20 th season in A favorite on PBS, the show reaches 17 million first-run viewers nationwide. Scott Phillips and his wife Suzy focus on home restorations and green energy solutions for season 20. Featured Schneider Electric products include the solar Conext TX inverter, Juno lighting, and EVlink electric vehicle charging stations. Visit wbgu.org/americanwoodshop/ to read more and watch archived episodes. Project motivation Based on his philosophy to make life better, Scott is in a continual state of improving his woodshop. Installing a solar system was in-line with his passion for sustainability. Filming the installation process encourages his audience to follow suit. This is what I did. This is what will work for you, he states. Using a typical residential rooftop installation and keeping complexities to a minimum shows that sustainability and solar solutions are a viable and easy-to-implement option for viewers. 8 I m just one woodshop, I want to see tens of thousands of systems installed! Scott Phillips, Host of The American Woodshop

9 About Schneider Electric Over 100 years of history and innovation From its creation in 1863 as a producer of iron and steel, Schneider Electric has evolved to become a global leader in energy management. Along the way, we have contributed to the transformation of industries with an innovative, international, and responsible mindset. Today, with operations in over 100 countries and more than 130,000 employees, the Schneider Electric mission is to help people make the most of their energy. Schneider Electric Solar Business As the global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric provides complete photovoltaic (PV) solutions for any size installation, from grid-tie residential rooftops and utility-scale farms to off-grid solar and battery backup application. Our innovative products help you get the most efficient solar harvest from your installation, and you benefit from having a single supplier for all of your components. Our products and solutions are present at every link in the energy chain and contribute to your total energy savings. Why partner with Schneider Electric? Over 170 years of worldwide leadership in power electronics and electrical distribution technologies. Your single supplier with complete photovoltaic solutions from residential rooftops to utility-scale farms. We back our standard and extended warranties with an unmatched level of service. 9

10 Schneider Electric is committed to providing outstanding solar solutions, products, and services. 10

11 The Conext TX Grid-Tie Solar Inverter The Conext TX inverter is easy to install, easy to service, and integrated with innovative features. It can be installed as a single inverter for a single PV array or in a multipleinverter configuration for large PV systems or three-phase applications. The sealed inverter enclosure is detachable which allows the wiring box and its AC/DC connections to remain intact for easy reinstallation. The Conext TX is integrated with Fast Sweep MPPT technology to reduce the impacts of shading on harvested energy. It is a great value in a compact, high-frequency design. Easy to install Slim product design (7.5 depth and 16 width) Easy access to DC (PV) and AC (utility) connectors No hardware (ex: screws) required for terminals Includes bracket for wall mounting Capable of multiple-inverter configurations Designed to last Multiple Environmental Over Stress Testing (MEOST) Detachable inverter enclosure for easy servicing Innovative features Incorporates 600 V Square D AC/DC disconnect switch Wide MPPT range with Fast Sweep MPP tracking Passive cooling eliminates need for fan and clearance room between units Heavy-duty safety switches Schneider Electric provides a Solar Disconnect Switch solution delivering quality, durability, and ease of use for PV applications. The product offering spans 30 A 100 A, two- and three-pole fusible and non-fusible heavy-duty safety switches. All Square D brand heavy-duty safety switches with DC ratings are Underwriters Laboratories (UL ) Listed for use on DC applications when properly wired. NEMA 3R rated enclosure preserves inverter in outdoor environments Conext TX Inverter Series converts photovoltaic electricity produced by solar modules into utility-grade power that can be used by the home or sold to a local electrical utility. 11

12 To watch the episode, visit and enter key code z841v. Schneider Electric USA, Inc S. Roselle Rd Palatine, IL Tel: Fax: Enter key code SE TV 2013 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. Schneider Electric, Conext, Juno, EVlink, Square D, and Make the most of your energy are trademarks owned by Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners _US. April 2013