Comments for Enmax Gen E http://www.enmaxgen-e.com Experiencing innovative energy solutions Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:57:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Share your stories for a chance to win! by jessica.martin http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/2010/10/19/share-your-stories-for-a-chance-to-win/comment-page-1/#comment-30 jessica.martin Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:57:41 +0000 https://www.enmaxgen-e.com/?p=734#comment-30 Thanks for sharing Dan. To answer your first question regarding differences in production, there are many variables that may be at work. Direction of the panels (i.e. true south versus SW etc), amount of shading as you mentioned, how much sun the panels see (i.e. in a valley, the sun may not hit the panels until slightly later), and even how dirty the panels may be. The overall production is also based on when the monitoring systems went live (which you can estimate by looking at the annual generation). If you look at the power production of the three solar, they are fairly similar at around 55-60W right now, which we expect to increase until the sunniest part of the day. As for the comparison to home consumption, with the current cost of electricity being so low, solar panels will take a number of years to payback. When the price of electricity goes up, the payback will of course will be much less. The first step is also to look at energy conservation in the home so that the impact of the system will be greater. If you are only consuming 400kWh for example a system may cover half of that. I am having my panels installed this Monday (very excited) and do realize that I will be paying for them each month, but am certain that electricity costs will go up in the future and the cost out of my pocket will be much less. ENMAX is also looking at lease options which will also decrease the upfront cost to a home owner. My decision for the panels was based less on economics (although it was definitely taken into consideration) and more on making an conscience decision to demonstrate my commitment to a more sustainable future for my little boy. Lastly, the live data is now available when you go to enmax.com/gen-e! You do not need to log on for this information. Feel free to share with students and families! If you are sending out Gen E information to the public, I would appreciate seeing before hand so we can ensure the messaging is consistent. If you want to start a few discussions on your comments as well, that would be fabulous. Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for sharing Dan. To answer your first question regarding differences in production, there are many variables that may be at work. Direction of the panels (i.e. true south versus SW etc), amount of shading as you mentioned, how much sun the panels see (i.e. in a valley, the sun may not hit the panels until slightly later), and even how dirty the panels may be. The overall production is also based on when the monitoring systems went live (which you can estimate by looking at the annual generation). If you look at the power production of the three solar, they are fairly similar at around 55-60W right now, which we expect to increase until the sunniest part of the day.

As for the comparison to home consumption, with the current cost of electricity being so low, solar panels will take a number of years to payback. When the price of electricity goes up, the payback will of course will be much less. The first step is also to look at energy conservation in the home so that the impact of the system will be greater. If you are only consuming 400kWh for example a system may cover half of that.

I am having my panels installed this Monday (very excited) and do realize that I will be paying for them each month, but am certain that electricity costs will go up in the future and the cost out of my pocket will be much less. ENMAX is also looking at lease options which will also decrease the upfront cost to a home owner. My decision for the panels was based less on economics (although it was definitely taken into consideration) and more on making an conscience decision to demonstrate my commitment to a more sustainable future for my little boy.

Lastly, the live data is now available when you go to enmax.com/gen-e! You do not need to log on for this information. Feel free to share with students and families! If you are sending out Gen E information to the public, I would appreciate seeing before hand so we can ensure the messaging is consistent.

If you want to start a few discussions on your comments as well, that would be fabulous. Have a wonderful weekend!

]]> Comment on Share your stories for a chance to win! by dan.dornan http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/2010/10/19/share-your-stories-for-a-chance-to-win/comment-page-1/#comment-29 dan.dornan Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:21:20 +0000 https://www.enmaxgen-e.com/?p=734#comment-29 I have been looking at the data and am curious why Alex Ferguson is producing more than Bowcroft. I thought it may be because Bowcroft is in the Valley and has large trees around it, but the panels are not shaded, is the sun that much less intense in the river valley? I've also been comparing the Alex Ferguson data with my home energy consumption because I'm quite excited about the prospect of having panels on my own home. For my home for the period from Dec. 2009 through September 2010 I figure I would have saved about 25% of my electricty bill, which at 7.9cents per kWhr works out to about $100. At that rate, it seems like it would take a long time to pay off the panels. Also wondering when the live data will be available to the public because we would like to send our parents a link to the site I have been looking at the data and am curious why Alex Ferguson is producing more than Bowcroft. I thought it may be because Bowcroft is in the Valley and has large trees around it, but the panels are not shaded, is the sun that much less intense in the river valley?

I’ve also been comparing the Alex Ferguson data with my home energy consumption because I’m quite excited about the prospect of having panels on my own home. For my home for the period from Dec. 2009 through September 2010 I figure I would have saved about 25% of my electricty bill, which at 7.9cents per kWhr works out to about $100. At that rate, it seems like it would take a long time to pay off the panels.

Also wondering when the live data will be available to the public because we would like to send our parents a link to the site

]]> Comment on Olympic Heights Generation Data Available At Last! by workshop http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/2010/09/20/olympic-heights-generation-data-available-at-last/comment-page-1/#comment-28 workshop Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:23:32 +0000 https://www.enmaxgen-e.com/?p=665#comment-28 Olympic Heights staff and students are thrilled to have the live data on the Gen E website. Our students have been accessing the data through laptop and SMART technology to analyze the incoming, live data. Through the use of digital technology we are able to access the data anytime during the school day to compare and analyze the visuals, energy data and power data on the Gen E website. We're looking forward to all our teaching staff and students being involved in this site throughout the year. Olympic Heights staff and students are thrilled to have the live data on the Gen E website. Our students have been accessing the data through laptop and SMART technology to analyze the incoming, live data. Through the use of digital technology we are able to access the data anytime during the school day to compare and analyze the visuals, energy data and power data on the Gen E website. We’re looking forward to all our teaching staff and students being involved in this site throughout the year.

]]> Comment on Olympic Heights Turbine by karen.b http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/2008/12/19/olympic-heights-turbine/comment-page-1/#comment-21 karen.b Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:41:03 +0000 http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/?p=450#comment-21 Wow! Sharon! How great! I am a teacher at Wildwood School and I am super interested in your experience! I think I will try to email you! Karen Beck Wildwood School Wow! Sharon! How great! I am a teacher at Wildwood School and I am super interested in your experience! I think I will try to email you!

Karen Beck
Wildwood School

]]> Comment on Olympic Heights Turbine by sharon.mckenzie http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/2008/12/19/olympic-heights-turbine/comment-page-1/#comment-11 sharon.mckenzie Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:59:14 +0000 http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/?p=450#comment-11 Today, February 23, 2009, the children of Olympic Heights School were thrilled to arrive at school to see the Skystream 3.7 wind turbine activated in a wind speed of 19.3 km / hr. Many children just stood and looked up in amazement to see the turbine in action. There was so much excitement generated - almost as much as the turbine was generating! We noticed the slowing down when the wind speed changed and then speed up and change direction with wind gusts. We look forward to viewing and comparing the data on the GEN E website and to many windy days. S. McKenzie Today, February 23, 2009, the children of Olympic Heights School were thrilled to arrive at school to see the Skystream 3.7 wind turbine activated in a wind speed of 19.3 km / hr. Many children just stood and looked up in amazement to see the turbine in action. There was so much excitement generated – almost as much as the turbine was generating! We noticed the slowing down when the wind speed changed and then speed up and change direction with wind gusts. We look forward to viewing and comparing the data on the GEN E website and to many windy days.
S. McKenzie

]]> Comment on Media Launch- December 10th! by jessica.martin http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/2008/11/19/media-launch-december-3rd/comment-page-1/#comment-8 jessica.martin Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:44:01 +0000 http://www.enmaxgen-e.com/?p=391#comment-8 Thanks to all the teachers, students, and special guests who made the launch a success. There were stories this morning in both the Herand and the Sun. I look forward to working with you all on this exciting project! Pictures will be posted as soon as they are available. Thanks to all the teachers, students, and special guests who made the launch a success. There were stories this morning in both the Herand and the Sun. I look forward to working with you all on this exciting project! Pictures will be posted as soon as they are available.

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