“Laughing All the Way to the Meter”…and one Wyckoff family’s plunge into solar energy
The November, 2007 meeting of the Friends of Wyckoff featured award-winning Bergen Record report Kevin G. deMarraais speaking on his experience with installing solar panels on his home, including the options, process, and results of his investment. To read Kevin’s article, “Laughing All the Way to the Meter,” please click on the link below.
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Here’s what Wyckoff resident Chris Reynen reported about his family’s “solar experience”:
“We began plans for our solar installation in 2006, and it was completed and operational in April 2007. It took so long for two reasons: 1) we had to go through New Jersey State approval and 2) solar panels in general are in short supply, especially the triangular ones we needed to do the job right for our home.
 Kevin G. deMarraais |
 Solar panels on Reynen house |
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“The panels mimic the shape/perimeter of the roof on the southern and western sides of our home. They will reduce our electric bill some 50% and the installation/materials cost will be fully paid off in 6.1 years (provided utility rates rise 5% per year, and in actuality in many years they have risen far in excess of that amount; that could reduce our payback horizon). After the payback then we keep the proceeds from the sale of our "Solar Renewable Energy Credits" or SRECs. The system will then actually be profitable. SREC's can be described as dividends on the excess energy we produce and feed back to the grid.
“We're glad we could do something positive and tangible for our Earth and kids’ futures. We’re one of the very first Wyckoff families to install solar and the installation company wants to film a commercial staged at our house. I hope others in our county will catch on as the economic and environmental incentives are very worthwhile."
The next round of rebates for solar installations are expected to be available in January, 2009, so forward planning is necessary. Industry experts New Jersey to create a combination of rebates, SREC’s, and electricity bill savings to ensure investments in solar energy systems are repaid in about 8-9 years.
If you are interested in solar and would like to talk to Chris please send an email to: info@friendsofwyckoff.org.