THE KIPS BAY BOARD Q&A

Need a model for how to do your own memorandum that answers your residents' questions about installing solar power? Here are excerpts from the Q&A that the Kips Bay board handed out to unit-owners:

1. What is the total cost of the project?

The total cost of the project is approximately $500,000. This project qualifies for the NYSERDA rebate incentive program. The rebate is approximately 50% of the project cost. The final cost of the project is approximately $250,000. The company performing the project, SES, will receive payment directly from NYSERDA. This does not include any additional battery project which is discussed later in this pamphlet.

2. Is there a cost the building should be aware of that we should include for maintenance of the system? If there is, what would be your annual estimate?

Because the system is solid state, once installed, there is very little maintenance. We would provide a full system warranty of five years along with the manufacturer's warranties. So there would be zero maintenance cost during that time and we'd offer training to the building maintenance staff. It's pretty minimal stuff.

3. Do the numbers assume a percentage of sunny days? Do you use typical numbers or use a precedent to generate your estimates?

How the solar radiation might vary for your location may be evaluated by examining the tables in the Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors. The sun is very predictable over the long haul. We've been extremely pleased with our actual production numbers compared to our original projections. See also See http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/codes_algs/PVWATTS/

4. Do the install numbers include the link to the building's electrical system?

The costs estimated are for a turnkey project [i.e., ready to go when installed].

5. Although the advantage to the environment is astounding, we also need the numbers to make sense. The ten-year payback is not as impressive as was hoped. Can you give any more encouraging information about the numbers/costs/paybacks?

Ten years is pretty solid for solar, but remember that the 10 years assumes no cost increase in utility-supplied power. If rates continue to rise as I'm sure they will, that payback will drop a few years… The biggest benefit of solar is its longevity. The modules have warranties of 25 years and have engineering lives of 40+. So even if it takes 7 years to pay itself back, the rest is free plus some minimal maintenance costs. Even factoring in an inverter replacement between years 15 to 20, the cost of the PV electricity will come in much lower than traditional Con Ed sources over the same 25 to 40 years.

6. Do these panels move, or is there something within the panels that move to allow for the changing angle of the sun? Are there any sound considerations we should be aware of?

The system's modules are fixed and they generate in silence. The inverters will make a slight hum when operating during the day, but nothing loud.

7. Is glare a problem from the panels?

The modules are anti-reflective. The module wants to absorb as much sunlight as possible as opposed to the surface reflecting it away.

8. Is it possible to use the solar energy collected for running building systems in the event there is a blackout?

Yes. The solar system would need to be connected to a battery in order to use the solar energy during a blackout. This is something we have the solar company investigating for us. It would be an additional cost, but may prove to be a great solution for keeping some systems running in the building in the event of a blackout.

9. What will the roof bulkheads look like with the solar panels?

(Reference here to a picture included in the package). We propose, as a pilot project, to install the solar array on one bulkhead in each tower. The east side of the North Tower and the West Side of the South Tower are the proposed locations.