Pitch
Today we can finance new Solar Heat Pumps at $0 upfront cost, paid for by energy savings in massive scale. Pay yourself - not the utility.
Description
Summary
The biggest obstacle for change, is coming up with something better, then make the choice obvious.
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – R. Buckminster Fuller
With buildings, the problem is Builders and Purchasers are in conflict over renewable energy. Builders will not put their cash into expensive solar or geo energy, but purchasers want clean energy and low operational cost.
SunPump's approach gives the Builder a solar heating system at $0 capital cost that saves thousands on day one and improves the selling price of the property (Profits); that allows the owner to have solar energy space heating, cooling, and hot water (People); and reduces CO2, (Planet). A Triple Bottom Line solution. Utilities cannot compete with that.
We can change the World by giving new and retrofit Buildings the choice to replace their furnace or boiler with solar energy at a lower cost. They will do it because solely because it makes economic sense first, while it achieves the environmental benefit as a consequence of Pay Yourself.
Category of the action
Mitigation/Adaptation, Changing public attitudes about climate change
What actions do you propose?
This proposal will need some Social media engagement along the line of Solar Freaking Roadways, except SunPump exists and works.
No incentives or policy change is required to succeed, however it would be fair to be on a level playing field with other choices that receive rebates. It would be a bonus for a consumer to get an incentive check back in addition to the energy savings.
Policy on emerging solar hybrids should loosen up, right now it looks in the review mirror only at systems that have existed for decades, not at anything new.
Who will take these actions?
The main idea here is that this is profitable and can be taken to massivve scale based on standard business. It does not require Government to work, nor would it stop when Government changes policy. The concept is in full agreement with the principles expressed by Richard Branson in the Carbon War Room, plus the business model of Jigar Shah from Sun Edison with his No Money Down success with solar photovoltaic.
Where will these actions be taken?
It has been launched in Canada, and is beginning to enter America now. It is also being adopted in India, and considered in the Caribbean, China, and Dubai.
How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?
A free SunPump can offset the entire building heating/cooling load day and night, but at a consumption of about 25% to run the compressor. The CO2 savings would be between 50-75% for the average building. It could reach Gigaton scale with both retrofit and new buildings.
We are working on a PV-Thermal final rollout now, which would produce the DC power to operate the compressor directly, for a near Net Zero replacement of a furnace or boiler system.
What are other key benefits?
The installation would create good Green Economy jobs that pay well and are long term. Here is an area that Government could encourage through policy where job creation has a net benefit higher than the cost.
The SunPump saves space inside and on the roof, occupying about 1/8 the area of PV panels.
What are the proposal’s costs?
The hardware cost can be financed at scale. The team required to educate, train, support, and install can also be factored into the finance cost. What is missing is the marketing and policy to go to scale. It requires an impact investor or fund to back the growth requirements.
Time line
The timeline is now. SunPump was released in April and is going viral across Canada from the Arctic to the Atlantic, and now from California to the Caribbean is the next leg taking shape. This can be massive in 5 years, but may take 2 years to reach public awareness as widespread as the NEST learning thermostat.
Related proposals
None known.
References
We have performance testing from Intertek Labs, for the certification to UL and CSA standards in the form of a 10-page report. (by email request.)
SunPump has started to engage NREL in performance testing that will simulate the solar and efficiency performance together.
https://performance.nrel.gov/content/solaris-geothermal-inc
Solaris has been named to the Top 20 Clean Tech in 2014.
http://tinyurl.com/lzwdp5q
Solaris Article from International Resource Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/n8f6arb
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