Federal Hill in Baltimore has become home to the first residential sun-tracking solar device. The equipment was installed by NEXUS EnergyHomes, based in Stevensville, MD.
The Dual-Panel Tracker (DPT), manufactured by Advanced Technology & Research Corp., which is based in Columbia, MD, consists of two 235 Watt solar panels attached to a sun-tracking mount affixed to the roof. An advanced GPS-controlled drive unit rotates the panels to follow the sun, making it capture 30 to 45 percent more energy than conventional fixed panels on a flat roof.
“With electricity prices reaching unprecedented rates, American home owners are demanding better energy choices,” said NEXUS CEO and President, Paul Zanecki. “This sun-tracker system is the first of its kind to offer higher performance results that make it that much easier to reach electric net-zero goals,” he added.
The happy owner of the house where the system was installed, Carl Chirichella, said financial incentives compelled him to go for the system. “Utilizing the dual-panel tracker is an innovative solution to generating on-site renewable energy within the small footprint that city living affords,” he said.
Chirichella will see his energy bills go down by 20 percent. If he adds more panels, which he can do, he would save even more. With five systems he could achieve a net-zero balance for his home. Other financial incentives include solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs), clean energy grants, and residential renewable energy tax credits. Combined, these incentives could see the homeowner recovering his initial investment in five years or so.
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
