Bloomington, IN October 12, 2011—Purdue University and Solar Systems of Indiana, partnered in the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

Team Purdue’s design recorded a 2nd-place finish overall, with a perfect score in Energy Balance. Their entry, called INhome, was described by one observer as “a refreshingly pragmatic and affordable energy marvel.”

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

“In preparation for the 2011 Solar Decathlon, Team Purdue approached Solar Systems of Indiana, seeking an industry expert to lend design and installation support of solar panels for its solar INhome entry,” said Solar Systems of Indiana Vice-President Danielle Urschel.

“You’ll be interested to know that the PV system was one of the keys to our successful finish,” said Bill Hutzel of Purdue’s Engineering Department. “The weather was overcast during the entire competition and our solar panels gave us a distinct advantage.  Many of the contending teams did not produce enough solar electricity to complete the contest, even though they had large arrays, microinverters, and spent more money than we did. I think it was a combination of the high efficiency modules, proper mounting angles, and quality balance of system components.”

Solar Systems of Indiana assisted the Purdue team with the design, integration and installation of a 8.68KW PV array. The 36 module array included 24 high efficiency modules on the south roof and a 12 module tilt up array on the northside of the structure.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon helps the visiting public learn about the benefits of applying sustainable, energy efficient and cost-saving features to their own homes. This year, twenty teams of university students competed in 10 contests, including architecture, engineering, energy balance and market appeal. Teams included American universities (Ohio State University, Middlebury College, CCNY); university consortiums (such as one formed by The Southern California Institute of Architecture and the California Institute of Technology); and a number of international universities, including China’s Tongji University, New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington, and Ghent University of Belgium.

The competition commenced with an opening ceremony on September 22 in the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., and closed with the final awards ceremony on the afternoon of October 1. Throughout the competition, the public could tour the houses for free. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002, and competitions now take place every other year.

About Solar Systems of Indiana, Inc.

Based in Bloomington, IN. Solar Systems of Indiana, Inc. is a growing design/build solar firm serving Indiana and the surrounding states. The company has custom designed and installed solar energy systems for its commercial, institutional, government, and residential customers across the Midwest. Solar Systems of Indiana is focused on making it easier for customers to go solar.

The event will take place on Friday, October 21 from 9AM – 4 PM at Union City Community High School in Union City, Indiana.

For more information about how to participate as an Exhibitor see: BOOMTOWN III Sponsorship Package

You can review the agenda and  register here via EventBrite. http://boomtowniii.eventbrite.com/

More details forthcoming soon.

There will be a big push this year to collect information on all solar and renewable energy projects throughout the state whether or not these projects are actually on the physical tours. The compilation of this data is expected to result in a new Virtual Solar and Renewable Energy Tour presentation which will be unveiled at InREA’s annual meeting in November 2011 and will eventually be uploaded for viewing on this website.

In the meantime, we urge everyone with a solar photovoltaic system to also participate in The Open PV Project sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.  This is the type of data base that InREA hopes to create and we need your help.

Please let us know if you would like to participate by sending an email to: info@indianarenew.org.

See EVENTS http://www.indianarenew.org/events/.

Greetings Fellow InREA Members:

Hey, how are you doing?

I wanted to reach out and spread the word about an upcoming solar training in August at the Brown County Career Resource Center located in Nashville, IN. This course will prep participants to sit for the NABCEP entry level exam. BCCRC is only one of two NABCEP approved “Entry Level” providers in the entire state of Indiana. You don’t have to drive to Wisconsin or Ohio!!

This is a fantastic opportunity to garner a RE credential and get a head start in the renewable energy field. The NABCEP credential is nationally recognized. If you know someone who might be interested, by all means…. pass this e-mail on.

The Details:

Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) program at the Brown County Career Resource Center August 8-13, 2011

The Brown County Career Resource Center, located in Nashville, IN is offering a week long solar electric workshop. The course is designed for people looking to gain basic knowledge with solar PV technology and provide participants to sit for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Entry Level Exam.  Students attending the workshop will learn solar PV electricity basics, solar energy fundamentals, PV module fundamentals, PV site assessment, PV system components, PV system sizing, PV system design, working safely with PV and PV markets and applications. Participants will be given some hands-on training. Participants who have completed the workshop will be able to sit for the NABCEP PV Entry level exam.
The last day 8/13, will be a 1/2 day review to help students prepare for the exam, then the exam will be administered that afternoon.

The workshop is taught by NABCEP certified PV installer, Alex Jarvis.

Learning Objectives

The NABCEP PV Entry Level exam program is based on a set of learning objectives developed by a committee of PV subject matter experts. The learning objectives include ten (10) skill sets:
Photo Voltaic (PV) Solar Markets and Applications
Safety Basics
Electricity Basics
Solar Energy Fundamentals
PV Module Fundamentals
System Components
PV System Sizing
PV System Mechanical and Electrical Design
PV Siting
Performance Analysis, Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Time Table:
August 8-12 from 8:00 am – 5:00 PM
NABCEP Test August 13 or by arrangement.

Location:
Brown County Career Resource Center
246 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 2087 Nashville, IN 47448

Cost:
$650
Includes textbook, workshop materials and the NABCEP PV Entry Level Exam.

This coursework is offered at easily twice the price from other training providers.
We have tried our best provide excellent training while at the same time keeping the enrollment cost down. Space is limited so don’t wait too long to enroll.

Register by:
July 27th, 2011

Please contact: David Bartlett (812) 988-5880 or dbartlett@brownco.k12.in.us
or Shiela Roccia, sroccia@brownco.k12.in.us

Thank you,
Alex Jarvis

——————————————————-

Good morning! I will be a first year law student at IU-Indy this coming fall. To keep my long-term housing costs down and limit my overall environmental impact,I will be spending the bulk of this summer building a tiny house modeled on the “Popomo” designed by Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company (http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/popomo/). While the iteration I will end up with will look a bit different,it will still be a solar-powered,172 square foot house on a flat bed trailer. I already have preliminary arrangements to “dock” my home, but thought I’d inquire as to whether the INREAhas seen this type of sustainable housing in use in Indy before among students or others? Perhaps there are individuals or organizations affiliated with INREA that would be interested in the development and implementation of a project like this. Any resources or individuals’ contact info you would feel comfortable passing along would be received with great interest. Thank you again for any help you can offer!

Christopher Chrzan cchrzan@umail.iu.edu

WIndiana 2011 will be even Even Bigger and Better!

After 3 years of being Indiana’s only statewide wind industry conferences WIndiana 2011 is expanding to include the Indiana Renewable Energy Conference. Plus this year the Indiana Renewable Energy Association will be involved in the planning and presentation of entire track of “how-to” sessions for residential and small business owners on wind, solar PV and solar thermal systems.

DATES: July 20-21, 2011


PLACE: Indianapolis Convention Center

This year’s conference will include:

• Sessions on Utility-level Wind, Solar, Biomass
• How-to sessions for residential/small business Wind-Solar PV- Solar Thermal
• National and State Speakers
• Wind farm Tour-Solar Installation Tour-Biomass Tour
• Expanded Exhibition Floor and hours
• Continuing Education sessions for K-12 teachers

Registration Opens Soon!

Come back here and check for the opening of registration, or follow us on Twitter: IndianaEnergy

Interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor at WIndiana 2011? Click Here for Details.

This information brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

News Release

Yorktown, IN. – January 24, 2011 – Enertek Solutions, Inc. a Portland, Ore.-based company specializing in Safer, Smarter Advanced Battery and anti-idling technology via the InfiniGEN™, today announced an exclusive collaboration with Xtreme Energy Products, LLC, an Indiana-based battery and energy distribution company and green energy power integrator.

Enertek Solutions began the process of working full-time with the principals of Xtreme Energy Products in searching for a manufacturing building in Indiana, which can facilitate production of the InfiniGEN™ next generation lithium batteries. This announcement is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in North America.

XfiniGEN Power Systems Technologies (www.xfinigen.com) is the collaborative name of the new company. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.

The patented Infini-Gen® anti-idling solutions are the next generation in auxiliary power units for multiple applications and initial tests of InfiniGEN™ products have been encouraging. The Infini-Gen™ uses only batteries for storage of the electrical power, and is power-charging agnostic, meaning it doesn‟t matter where it gets it charge, but accepts charging in record time, with the safest smartest battery storage technology currently available in the marketplace.

The new XfiniGEN entity stands to capitalize on the many advances made by Enertek. Markets where these products will be utilized include: refrigerated trucks, wind, solar, energy storage centers, US military, police and fire emergency equipment. XfiniGEN also plans to expand the lithium technology into Xtreme Energy‟s current line of alternative energy products to develop solutions including all-electric source of green power for cab heating, cooling and load power, mobile cell tower sites, solar trailers, and off grid power/lighting systems utilizing advanced battery technology originally developed for the military.

“We are excited to bring this next generation lithium battery technology to Indiana,” said Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products, “and are anxious to find a home to start the manufacturing process.” Xtreme Energy Products is currently looking for cities within Indiana that provide the infrastructure and workforce that will best suit the manufacturing process of not only these next generation Lithium batteries but also the future expansion of a Lithium cell manufacturing facility, which could facilitate new job growth in the thousands.

About Xtreme Energy Products

Xtreme Energy Products is an energy storage and alternative energy distribution center specializing in products ranging from small household batteries to automotive/commercial batteries and large stationary power systems (www.batteryxpress.com). The family owned business has been in the battery and energy storage-distribution business for 40+ years in the Indiana region, and expects to capitalize on its long-standing and vast experience in commercial, industrial and residential contacts for not only manufacturing, but distribution of their proprietary energy systems and services.

About Enertek Solutions and InfiniGEN®

Originally created 5+ years ago, the Infini-Gen® advanced energy storage solutions have been specifically designed to supply power in a variety of applications across the board in many industries. Known for it‟s compact, light-weight and high-energy density of its advanced Lithium Polymer Batteries, these customized energy storage systems can be configured in any voltage and power requirements. The systems are designed as „plug-n-play‟ for field-use without the necessity of a field engineer to re-set should power parameters change. For more information, please contact Enertek Solutions, Inc. at 503-525-4942 or email info@enerteksolutions.com .

Source: Xtreme Energy Products

Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products has two other renewable energy companies which are members of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

By JOE HORNADAY
jhornaday@greenfieldreporter.com

McCORDSVILLE – In an effort to help the environment while at the same time lower their energy bills, Nick and Lisa Hofmeister have recently turned the roof of their McCordsville home into a small power station.

The residence now utilizes 24 photovoltaic panels to generate an estimated 7,500 kilowatt hours by harnessing the energy delivered by the galaxy’s largest power supplier – the sun.

“It’s something I had considered for a long time,” Nick Hofmeister said. “With all the talk on the consumption of natural resources and the impact on our environment as a whole, our family made a conscience effort to make some changes around the house. If there was an option that would help us reduce our long term expenses while reducing pollution, we should consider it.”

Though the Hofmeisters sought a way for their home to run on cleaner energy, part of their green effort was stimulated by the green that was leaving their wallets. They also wanted to decrease their energy bills.

According to Nick Hofmeister, during the past eight years, the family had taken several steps to reduce their electrical consumption, and were successful in decreasing their usage by 20 percent. Their efforts might have made things easier on the town’s electrical grid, it did little to help their bills.

“Our electric bill still grew from $75 a month to an average of $153,” Nick Hofmeister explained. “Once I realized the impact on my wallet, I started an all-out project to find a way to control current and future utility expenses.”

And that is when he began the necessary steps to make the solar power project a reality.

“I researched options and companies on Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s websites,” he explained.

After crunching the numbers, he realized that the implementation of any reduced-energy project was going to be costly. The Hofmeisters ended up fronting about $25,000 to make the solar panels happen.

“The upfront cost stings a little bit,” Hofmeister said. “It was the main reason I decided to take a class. I wanted to make sure I understood the investment I was considering.”

He traveled to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and took a class on renewable energy so that he could better understand the technology and the impact it would have on both his life and bank account.

Initally, Hofmeister was interested in both wind and solar energy, before deciding that solar power was the way to go for his plan. Wind power was ruled out because it was not going to be asthetically appropriate in his McCordsville neighborhood. A wind tower needs to be about 80 feet in the air and the wind has to be blowing at least 20 miles an hour to work. The wind turbine would also be very noisy.

“I pursued solar panels because the back of my house faces south. I could fit enough panels on the back of my house to cover at least 50 percent of my electrical needs,” Hofmeister said.

And with some adjustments, he could one day get up to 75 percent of his electrical needs covered.

After communicating with McCordsville officials to make sure the project met the permit and code requirements and ensuring that his original homeowner’s covenants did not restrict solar panel use, Hofmeister began looking at panel providers.

He asked several solar panel system installers to provide estimates and recommendations, before settling on Green Works Energy LLC out of Yorktown. Hofmeister started working with Ryan Stout and looked at the three options for solar energy: grid-tied; off-grid; and grid-tied with battery backup.

“I decided on the grid-tied solution,” Hofmeister explained.

Grid-tied panels use a combination of the production their own energy and then using the utility company’s power when the sun is not available. The off-grid solution uses a combination of solar panels, batteries and generators to provide the home with energy. The grid-tied with battery backup proposition allows the user to consume solar energy during the day and batteries at night while the utility company is used as a backup.

Initially, Hofmeister wanted to use the off-grid option, but was told by Stout that a truly cost-effective battery solution was still five to 10 years away.

Working with Hofmeister and Stout, Central Indiana Power’s engineering department devised a plan to create a safe interconnection of the solar panel generation equipment to the grid as well as a metering plan to allow the utility to “net-meter” the energy usage. By net-metering, the utility deducts any excess energy generated by the equipment from the member’s total energy usage for the billing cycle.

Even though the solar panels result in lower energy costs and provide a way to protect the environment, there are other advantages to harnessing the sun’s rays for power. Through 2016, Hofmeister will be able to get a 30 percent federal tax credit, and not just a deduction from income. He will be able to get back that money in taxes that he paid this year.

“I also learned that power companies that are owned by investors must create or buy energy created through renewable processes,” he said.

Companies can buy the energy credits from someone producing it, if they are unable to produce or buy the amount of actual energy from a renewable process.

“That meant that even though I am using the solar energy I create, I can sell them credit for creating the energy,” Hofmeister explained. “Whatever I produce more than I’m using, it goes back into the grid.”
Those “credit dollars” from energy companies are wide ranging currently, which is why the payoff on Hofmeister’s system could be anywhere from five to 11 years.

“We are just starting the process of setting up the sale of my credits. Once that is completed, I will be able to nail down the payback period.”

Once the system payback period is complete, there are a few things that could happen. Hofmeister will either make money on the system, produce enough energy and make enough by selling credits that his electricity is completely paid for, or produce enough energy that Hofmeister at least limits increases in his energy bill.

“Since the dawn of human kind, I don’t know that energy has ever reduced in cost. If it did, it didn’t last long. So I’m guessing that the long term impact of my system will be a much smaller utility bill than those not utilizing some sort of renewable energy production,” Hofmeister explained. “After we get it paid off, we will have control over the electricity bill.”

Even though the installation of solar panels was the right move for the Hofmeisters, it might not be the right thing for everyone. With a steep upfront cost, the investiture in renewable energy might not fit into many budgets.

“It’s not a cheap investment,” Hofmeister said. “If you are more concerned about the environment, or simply (reducing) natural resources consumed to produce energy, then don’t worry about the tax credit or selling the green credits and install it. If I ignored the tax credit and the option to sell the green credits, my system would have taken 25 years to pay off.”

Any Central Indiana Power customer who is interested in information about member owned generation can contact Central Indiana Power’s energy adviser Darrin Couch at 317-477-2218 or at couch@cipower.com .

Ryan Stout and GreenWorks Energy, LLC in Yorktown is a member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

News Release

Upland, Ind. — ECI Wind and Solar, owned by Craig Porter and Eric Cotton of Lafayette, has been awarded a contract to install two wind turbines as part of Taylor University’s $41.5 million science construction project. Additionally, students from Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus will serve internships during the project.

According to company CEO Eric Cotton, ECI Wind and Solar, based in Fairmount, Ind., has installed a number of renewable energy systems throughout the State of Indiana. Taylor officials say the renewable wind energy is a component of their efforts to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification for the new complex, scheduled for opening in the fall of 2012.

At a cost of $700,000, the Taylor University project consists of two Endurance E-3120 50 KW wind turbines, which will be installed on 120 foot monopole towers. ECI will also install a 10 KW solar photovoltaic system on the new science complex.

Cotton said the project represents a significant milestone in the growth of ECI Wind and Solar. “This project will allow us to expand our workforce. It is a great example of how renewable energy projects lead to real economic development while providing energy independence, educational experience, and environmental benefit,” he said.

Isaac Slaven, Program Chair for the Sustainability program at Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus said, “This is the exactly the kind of opportunity for which we have been preparing our students; first as interns, then as graduates ready for the renewable energy workforce.”

About ECI Wind and Solar: ECI Wind and Solar designs and installs turnkey renewable energy solutions and has installed some of the most notable Renewable Energy Systems in the State of Indiana, including the largest battery based system in the Midwest.

Source: ECI Wind and Solar INC

ECI Wind and Solar is a founding member of both the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.