Bohnen Family
Sonora, CA
4.05 kW

“Acro Energy made the entire process of going solar completely turnkey. Acro Energy’s team went the extra mile for us. Now, we are generating 15 percent more energy than we originally estimated.”

Situation:

Dave Bohnen, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, and his wife Linda have been living in a gated residential community in Sonora, CA. for almost 13 years.  Situated on a one-half acre lot, their 2,600 sq. ft. home was built about six months before they purchased it.

Dave and Linda have an E6 service contract with Pacific Gas & Electric that started in December 2008.  With PG&E, the Bohnens were paying three different rates for electricity during the hottest months of the year – 8 cents per kWh for low peak, 15 cents per kWh for the partial peak period, and 30 cents per kWh for the high peak period.  Their electricity bills ranged from $50 to $70 per month in colder months and between $90 and $120 per month during warmer months. Their highest electricity bill was approximately $500 during a particularly cold time of year when Dave and Linda required more electric heating to stay warm.

The Bohnens need power for their home heating, appliances, electronics, and a pool circulating pump. Although their home is equipped with central air conditioning and heating units, they were not using them to control costs. Dave and Linda use a built-in commercial evaporative cooler when the weather is hot. For heating in colder weather, they use three gas fireplaces and a Hyrdo-Sil baseboard heater that cycles energy based on demand.

Challenge:

The Bohnens experience extreme temperature changes since their home in Sonora is located 2,500 feet above sea level.  Dave and Linda wanted to have more control over their utility costs and power demands while being able to live in comfortable conditions.  Dave said he anticipated a continuous rise in electricity costs in future years and wanted to save money. He and Linda also were concerned about the environment and wanted to find ways to consume less power while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Solution:

Dave and Linda purchased a 4.05 kW roof-mounted photovoltaic solar system from Acro Energy in December 2008 and took advantage of rebates and federal tax incentives. The entire process of signing an agreement to purchase a system with Acro Energy to installation and start-up was about six weeks.

Dave prides himself in “doing his homework” and being a self-professed technology geek.  He began researching solar energy systems several years ago.  Dave checked with Home Depot and other sources for recommendations.

“Acro Energy had a great staff that was close to our home in Sonora,” Dave commented. “The solar panels that Acro Energy is using for their systems are made much better than the type of solar panels that were offered on the market previously.”

Asked why he and Linda chose Acro Energy, Dave said that he was especially impressed with Acro Energy’s straightforward, knowledgeable and “no pressure” approach.

“That gave me a great deal of confidence in Acro Energy,” Dave said.  “The people at Acro Energy are amazingly good. They are professional, knowledgeable, cooperative and friendly.  When my solar system installation was complete, they even gave me two computer programs that I didn’t expect to receive and a spiral notebook with all of the permits, contracts, operations and warranty information.”

Dave explained that Acro Energy’s team ensured that the roof trusses could support both the weight of the solar panels and heavy snowfall.  Acro Energy personnel assisted with certifying the roof trusses and securing all required permits.

Results:

Dave and Linda are now paying only $11 to 12 per month  to PG&E for meter usage and transmission.  He calculated that his solar system is generating about 15 percent more than he originally estimated.  The average energy consumption in the Bohnen home ranges from 20 to 25 kWh per day.

“We have the perfect conditions for generating solar power because of the angle of our roof, and we have less particulate in the air due to our higher altitude,” Dave said.  “We also anticipate that the system will last about 30 years, and we will only be paying $11 per month and saving $1,500 to $2,000 per year depending on the cost of electricity during that period.”