Alvarez House
1327 Walter Drive
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With my work in encouraging climate action in Dallas, it was important for me to explore both installing solar energy and switching to an electric vehicle, as a part of “walking-the-talk”.
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Renewable energy features
Solar PV
kW: 5.1
Installation date: June 17, 2019
Installer/contractor: Axium Solar
Equipment
17 Trina Allmax Plus 300w
2 SolarEdge 6000 inverters
Solar PV ordered / Pending installation
kW: 3.3 kW
Installation Date: Pending
Installer: Skygate Solar
Equipment ordered but not installed
9 Trina Allmax Plus 300w
1 Solar Edge 6000 inverter
Backup interface
Battery: LG Chem 10 kWh battery
Installation Date: TBD
Installer: Skygate Solar
Retail Electric Provider
TXU Wind Power/ Greenpower Buyback Plan
Green features
- 2021 Hyundai KONA EV SEL
- Chargepoint EV Charging Equipment
- Solar Patio Lighting & Path Lights
- Radiant barrier (attic)
- Inductive cooktop
Host Comments
I am currently leading implementation of the City of Dallas Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan, and serving on the Texas-Oklahoma-Kansas author team for the 5th National Climate Assessment. Through the development of the climate plan, I learned more about the importance of implementing renewable energy as an important means of reducing reliance and use of carbon-based energy sources. Through attending NTREG meetings to learn more about renewable energy, I learned more about how easy it is to go solar. During the time we were developing the climate plan, we suffered through two or three weather events that knocked out power for a week or so, and so I received even more incentive to go solar. I obtained bids from 3 vendors, and went with Axium Solar, who installed the initial system for me, and it took less than a day. Fast forward to winter 2021……and even with solar, I had ice in my sink. So, I have installed a radiant barrier to improve energy efficiency, and made arrangements to increase overall solar capacity, and a battery so that even when the power goes out, my solar is able to keep me warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. And then there’s the whole walking-the-talk thing – If I am going to be promoting renewable energy across the City, I need to be able to understand what it is that I am promoting, and what the process entails.