Builder Fights Rising Energy Costs with Solar Home

July 13, 2008 | Okeechobee, Florida | Vetting explained

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bldrman

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Last updated: July 13, 2008

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July 14, 2008 John Eriksen is doing everything that he can to offset rising energy costs and has will show you his past FPL bills to prove it! With FPL's recent approval by the Florida Public Service Commission to raise utility rates by 19% over the next year, John is confident that he will be selling any excess electrical power back to FPL at the same rate that they charge him because of a previous March 4, 2008 ruling by the PSC. "Under the approved system, credits will accumulate at (FPL's) retail rates and continue to offset customer billing for a year, after which any remaining credit will be paid to the customer at the utility's avoided cost." John's home in Okeechobee, Florida was completed in Jan. 2008 with a 2500 watt thinfilm photovoltaic metal roof SOLAR SYSTEM which has been offsetting his electric bill and he has been selling excess electrical power back to FPL from the day that he moved in! (whenever the sun shines, of course!) He built his home with an emphasis on energy efficiency by incorporating upgraded AC equipment, extra insulation, low energy appliances and lighting fixtures, and a whole-house tankless propane water heater which only heats water as it is used. The thinfilm photovoltaic solar is not an external panel which is attached to a roof, but rather an integral component of the metal roof. It is less than ¼" thick, flexible, durable, and laminates onto the metal roofing achieving a Dade County Product Approval rating of 140 MPH as a building component, when applied to an approved metal roofing material! John's FPL bill for his 1615 sq. ft. 4 bdrm home has been averaging from under $25/mo. to $45/mo. depending on how many high usage AC days occur in the month. John Eriksen is a Florida Building Contractor and cannot understand why the State and Federal governments will not work harder to make this technology attractive and affordable through rebates and incentives. Solar energy is clean energy.....and, after the initial investment is recouped..........it's FREE! Thomas Edison told his friends Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone: "I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." 1931 John Eriksen can be reached @ 772-260-5049 and his website: http://www.jdlbuilders.com

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