Governor O'Malley to tap the sun to save $$
As part of the state overall effort to cut its carbon footprint, and save money, it plans to install solar thermal panels on the roof of Government House, the governor's mansion, to heat the water. Statehouse reporter Laura Smitherman and I reported in a story today.
Gov. O'Malley has already installed more efficient lighting and temperature control. The First Family has also ramped up recycling, planted a vegetable garden and installed an irrigation system that uses rain water caught in several barrels on the property.
The house is historic, so the solar panels will not be visable from the street. They are expected to save the family about half on their water heating bill.
A local contractor not involved in the project, Mark Bartlett, owner of AtisSun Inc., says a system for a typical homeowner costs $8,000-$10,000 and pays for itself in four to seven years (largely because there are federal and state incentives available -- though the state now has a wait list.)
The clean energy also means a savings of about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year. The O'Malleys will probably spend a little more, but save a little more, too.
So, is this a good investment by taxpayers? Should we all get solar thermal or solar electric panels?
Baltimore Sun file photo of Government House/Barbara Haddock Taylor
Comments
yes, all new buildings and upgrades should include solar panels and energy efficient practices. The government should provide incentives that are easy to take advantage of.
Posted by: NotableM | August 6, 2009 1:33 PM
I'd like to see the math. My gas bill in the summer when I only use gas for hot water is about $10 a month after I subtract the mandentory $13 BGE customer fee. Now I'm just a one person house but even with four people that might be $40 a month. It would take more than a decade to even start saving money even after getting 50% of the installation back in tax breaks.
Posted by: bobilicious | August 6, 2009 1:34 PM
I vote for solar thermal. It just makes so much sense: the choice is to continue to purchase ever-increasingly expensive fossil fuel and pollute the atmosphere or gain independence from energy providers, produce your own clean energy and fix our energy costs for the future.
Posted by: Mark Bartlett | August 6, 2009 2:14 PM