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Sun Power: Michael Shames Switches To Solar
Note from UCAN: visit our new PV Web page with a great selection of "how to" tools, vendor quotes, and shopping tips

On May 6th, KFMB-TV ran a very nice story chronicling our installation of photovoltaic (solar cells) on our Mission Valley home. The video is cute -- I recommend you view it. Here's a text version of the story that ran that day:

More and more Americans are considering solar energy to power their homes as a way of saving money and saving the environment. One of San Diego's best-known consumer advocates is making the switch to solar. From flicking the light switch to turning on the microwave to surfing television channels, Michael Shames is now powering his entire home from sunlight.

"Hey, this is the time I get to tell SDG&E that I'm not interested in it anymore. I'm not paying anything, not paying a dime. It's pretty good," Shames said.

The executive director of the non-profit consumer advocate group UCAN, or Utility Consumers Action Network, says he and his wife were paying $800 a year for electricity - an expense that is now eliminated.

"We're not paying for the cost of the sun, at least not yet. No one's figured that one out," Shames said.

It's a shift in power that News 8 began documenting in February, when the Shames' selected a contractor, Real Goods Carlson, to install their new solar energy system. The next step was taking a bird's eye view of the project, which could cost up to $25,000. It was discounted dramatically by government rebates and tax credits.

"We were essentially able to cut the price of this installation in half, so this $25,000 investment actually turned out costing us close to $12,000," Shames said.

Last month installation got underway and was completed in under two days. The solar panels, attached to the rooftop by a series of brackets, have a lifespan of up to 50 years, according to Shames. They capture the sun's energy and feed it to a solar inverter located in the garage. Depending on how much solar energy is generated and how much electric energy is consumed, the Shames' are actually able to donate unused energy back to the power grid. Even on a cloudy day, the solar cells are able to capture enough light to make the meter run backwards.Despite the thousands of dollars this system set the Shames' back, they say the investment is worth it. From increasing the resale value of their home to insuring against future rate hikes, Shames estimates he'll recoup the investment in about 10 years' time.

"This is probably the most financially attractive remodel you can do on your house, appreciating the value of your house, as well as increasing the quality of your life. And by the way, you're not polluting," Shames said.

There's also another factor driving their switch to solar: his family also plans to buy batter-powered electric cars next year, energized for free by the sun's rays.   "When you factor in the fact that our car may end up being charged by these solar cells, suddenly we're looking at a very lucrative investment for us", he said.  "Plus, its also a long term investment in the future of the planet".