Solar Photovoltaic Electrical System in a Passive Home

Energy and Green Building Expert John Suppes of Clarum Homes explains the Photovoltaic Electrical System at the Menlo Passive Home Project.

We installed a 4-kilowatt Sharp Solar Panel Package System with Enphase Micro Inverters because of the shading issue – these perform much better when there is shading on the panels. This system should provide more electricity than is used in the house, so Clarum Homes installed an electric car charging station in the garage. There is also a 3-panel 30,000 kilo BTU solar thermal system on the roof, which will provide 90% of the hot water needs and up to 40% of the home’s space heating requirements.