Spicer House

Renewable energy features

Solar PV

kW: 6.6 kW
Installation Date: March 2015
Installer: PetersenDean Roofing and Solar (financed purchase)

Equipment

24 SolarWorld 275 W panels
Fronius IGPLUS 6.0 6000 W inverter (interior garage wall mount)

Retail Electric Provider

Source Power

Green features:

• Rain water catchment:  self-installed 50 gallon barrel (Feb 2015) fed from roof edge gutters, gravity to water hose
• Low water use landscape:  Xeriscape
• CFL or LED lighting:  slowing changing to LED by attrition
• HVAC replaced in 2014 with new 17 SEER system
• EV:  2014 BMW i3 Rex

Host Comments

As a child, I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors and was taught to appreciate nature while minimizing my impact on the environment so that others would be able to enjoy the same forest, lakes and rivers. As I grew older, I studied biology and ecology and began to learn about the complexity and resiliency of natural systems. Now, in my professional life, I get to put these concepts to practice on a daily basis as the Sustainability Manager for DFW Airport. As a sustainability advocate and practitioner, I feel that it’s important to study and learn about new technologies and new ways of approaching old problems. However, for me, it’s even more important to experience those technologies and new concepts in person. I’m the first to admit that my lifestyle is not as low-impact as it could be, but I enjoy the challenge of finding better more efficient ways to conduct the day-to-day activities of life. Sustainability can be a way to reduce costs and even generate new revenues, but for me, at home, I’m willing to take a risk and try something new as long as I can find a way to make it cost neutral (or at least keep the cost premium to a minimum :-) ). My family and I are personally and financially invested in finding more sustainable ways to live the life we enjoy. We’re not looking for short term gains; rather, we’re thinking long term and investing in our future.