Going green with solar power

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The 'green' energy movement is grabbing hold of a Kalamazoo County family.

We've seen businesses and schools set up green roofs, or wind turbines, but there's a growing trend to go green on a smaller scale.

In Portage, one family is putting eight solar panels on their roof to invest in alternative energy. There are different technologies available, but since this particular roof is smaller, they're using the most efficient panels.

“What we'll be installing are mono-crystalin, the highest efficiency, very close to satellite grade, very close to what the Western SunSeeker uses,” said Art Toy of Four Elements Energy.

Dan Sullivan and his wife are excited to see the panels going up, they've planned for two years to have this system.

“It's directly going to be tied to their panel, or sub-panel where you have all your breakers and fuses,” said Toy.

The converter turns the solar power into electricity, what doesn't get used gets banked onto your bill and you get a credit.

“During the day when we're at work, we can be putting energy out onto the grid through net metering,” said Sullivan, “and in the evening when we come back and use it, we can take it off.”

Sullivan also plans to get an electric car some day and wants the solar energy to charge those batteries when it's parked overnight.

The advanced technology doesn't come cheap. The system the Sullivans installed runs about $14,000, but Four Elements Energy believes it could generate 25 to 30 percent of their annual power use. They say in general it would take between eight to 30 years to get the payback, depending on the metering system.

That means that currently, most people are looking to solar as an environmental investment.

“A way to supplement their energy away from fossil fuels,” said Toy.

Sullivan believes he'll save 15 to 20 percent off his monthly bill, but says the panels are about his carbon footprint.

“I think we would need a lot more solar panels to get up where we could be independent or off the grid, but it does make a statement, and it does make an impact,' said Sullivan.