Homeowner Harnesses Solar Power
Tobacco Valley News, June 14, 2007By Krista Tincher
Jeff Wongstrom displays a standard solar panel used in his
business and home.
The next time you feel those early summer rays searing your skin, think of the energy within them. Solar power and self-sufficiency. Even in Montana - it works.
So says Jeff Wongstrom of Thirsty Lake Solar, a local renewable energy installer. Take a tour of his house, and he'll show you exactly how.
"There's a misconception in this valley that solar doesn't work," Wongstrom explained. "But the Tobacco Valley has more usable sunshine than Germany, and Germany has been a world leader in installing solar panels in the past few years."
Wongstrom practices what he preaches, with solar panels and a solar water heater, batteries, energy efficient everything. Other people in the Tobacco Valley have simpler systems, he admitted - but he's gone all out.
There are two scenarios for renewable solar energy - off grid, and grid-tied (using solar panels while still being connected to a grid). Wongstrom's home is off grid. For three or four months in winter, he runs a propane generator for about five hours per week. For the majority of the remainder of the year, his home is powered by the sun.
With a grid-tied system, through a "net metering" policy such as Lincoln Electric's, power generated by solar panels allows home owners to receive parity for the amount of electricity produced. "Lincoln Electric has been open and progressive to having grid-tied systems," Wongstrom said. He pointed out that the Lincoln Electric building itself boasts its very own solar panel and grid-tied system.
The first step in using renewable energy, emphasized Wongstrom, is energy conservation. Nationally, the average household uses 30 kilowatt hours of electricity per day. In Montana, the average is 40 kwh/day. This higher number may be due to the use of electricity for heating.
In comparison, Wongstrom and his wife, Sarah Anderson, consume 3 to 4 kwh/day in the winter months. They do not use electricity for heating their household or water. They also have a propane cook stove and an energy-efficient refrigerator.
The United States is behind the curve in using renewable energy, Wongstrom said, and Europe is leading the way. But certain states provide incentives. The U.S. and Montana state governments provide tax credits for the usage of renewable energy - $2000 federally, and $500 statewide.
Most people in the Tobacco Valley who use solar, mentioned Wongstrom, are usually either far removed from the power grid, simply want to be self sufficient, or use it for ethical reasons. At the moment, electricity is cheap in the Tobacco Valley, Wongstrom pointed out. But in the future - 2011, to be exact - rates will change, and most likely go up.
Locally, Wongstrom says there are solar users scattered throughout the valley. Wongstrom himself has recently facilitated clients on the West Kootenai and in the Flathead, including the North Fork and Kila areas.
Wongstrom possesses a Materials Science and Engineering degree. He has a NABCEP solar installation certification, and also trained at Solar Energy International in Carbondale, CO. He instructs an online course, Solar and Wind Systems, for the University of Montana College of Technology.
The beauty of solar electric technology, says Wongstrum, is that it's noiseless, produces no pollution, and doesn't require any maintenance.
"I think it's one of the most impressive technologies, really - in its simplicity," he added.