Mr. Christian Grieco
As a result of a power outage in 2003, Mr. Christian Grieco of Albany invested in a series of energy-efficient upgrades in his home. He installed 3.6 kilowatt (kW) solar-photovoltaic (PV) panels and inverters to generate electricity for his home, and also installed solar panels that produce domestic hot water. In 2007, he enhanced his PV systems through the addition of 1.1 kW PV array.
Mr. Grieco also initiated strategies to reduce his electrical load, including the replacement of incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps and the replacement of his old appliances (a dishwasher, washing machine, and refrigerator) with energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® models. He installed on-demand domestic hot water heaters, triple pane windows, insulation upgrades, insulated blinds on windows, and retractable awnings on a sliding glass door. The natural gas furnace was replaced with a high efficiency soapstone woodstove, and a passive solar addition was built onto the living space. He minimized phantom electrical loads, such as those used by computers, small appliance chargers, and televisions, by using power strips to turn off equipment when not in use.
As a result of these modifications, Mr. Grieco’s utility and gas bills have been reduced by approximately 70 percent and 52 percent, respectively. His electric bill went into credit in March 2008, and as of January 2009, there was still a 56 kWh credit. Mr. Grieco reports that he has saved about $3,000 a year, which translates into a four year payback on his investments.
