Miller House

517 Cap Rock Drive
Richardson, TX 75080

Tour Hours: 10am - 4pm

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Our initial improvements were motivated primarily by reducing energy costs.

As we learned more, we became encouraged by additional benefits...

 

Renewable energy features

Solar PV

kW:  5.0
Installation date:  January 2014
Installer/contractor: SolarCity   www.solarcity.com

Equipment

20 - 250 Watt Zep solar panels in two arrays (12 panels and 8 panels), and an Aurora string inverter

Retail Electric Provider

Green Mountain Energy https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/

 

Green features

  • System energy monitor by Solar City
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota Prius Hybrid
  • Hail resistant composition roofing
  • Low water use landscape: Native, heat tolerant plants in multiple flower gardens, rain barrel
  • CFL or LED lighting: CFL lighting throughout the house
  • Added 15 inches of insulation to the attic
  • Replaced all windows with double pane windows
  • Roof ridge cap and continuous soffit screening provide maximum attic ventilation
  • All appliances, TVs, computers, etc. are Energy Star rated
  • Cordless, self-propelled electric lawn mower replaced gasoline lawn mower
  • All inside water outlets use low flow devices
  • Programmable HVAC thermostat
  • 16 SEER rated HVAC System
  • Drip irrigation system in vegetable garden

 

Host Comments

Solar power reduces expense
Of 'lectricity; savings immense.
     Talk to folks on the Tour
     And you'll see that for sure
Going solar makes dollars and sense.

Our initial improvements were motivated primarily by reducing energy costs. As we learned more, we became aware of additional benefits:

  • The solar panels shade the roof of our house, thereby reducing the temperature in the attic and reducing our air conditioning load.
  • We generate the most electricity when everybody needs it the most (sunny afternoons), thereby reducing demand on the electricity grid and helping to reduce the chance of blackouts or brownouts.
  • Less energy is lost in transmission because the power is used right where it is generated.
  • It reduces the need for new power plants and transmission lines, and helps utilities meet renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission goals without paying for utility-scale solar and wind farms.
  • It improves the environment by using pollution-free electricity and by reducing energy demands.
  • It requires no fuel, thereby providing a hedge against future fossil fuel price increases.
  • It helps utilities meet renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission goals without paying for utility-scale solar and wind farms.
  • It helps strengthen the power grid.  The Texas Public Utility Commission mandates that power companies support the growth of solar power, which helps lower energy demand, thereby strengthening the power grid.

I try to conserve gasoline,
And want to become much more green.
     My Prius is nifty;
     Its gas use is thrifty.
I say that it's quite gas-o-lean.

Additional comments:

  • In January, 2014, we signed a lease with SolarCity and made a one-time $5,000 payment to have our PV system installed and to get all of our generated electricity free for 20 years (zero cents per kWh). Our electricity bill has been zero -- that's right, nothing -- ever since. Our electricity provider (Green Mountain Energy) offers "net metering." In months when we generate more electricity than we use, net metering gives us a credit of our unused energy at the retail rate. In months when we use more electricity than we generate, our energy credits are applied to our electric bill. We have had a credit balance ever since our PV system was turned on.
  • As part of our lease, SolarCity maintains the PV system. Squirrels built a nest under our solar panels and chewed through components. SolarCity removed the nest and replaced damaged parts. Squirrels built a nest again. SolarCity removed the nest again and put screening around the rooftop panels to keep squirrels out -- all at no cost to us because they maintain the PV system for 20 years.
  • Our neighbor signed a lease with SolarCity with no money out of pocket, and gets his PV system's electricity for 8 cents per kWh for 20 years.
  • Both of our hybrid cars have been excellent.
    - 2005 Toyota Prius hybrid: 50 miles per gallon in town, one repair in 110,000 miles
    - 2010 Toyota Camry hybrid: 40 miles per gallon in town, one minor repair in 97,000 miles