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The Solar Report

A brief overview of the refrigeration cycle

Wade Ortel

Fri, Jun 24

Category:

The Solar Report

In my last article, I offered an introduction to the operating principles of refrigeration. Let’s continue where we left off. I believe a closer examination of the thermodynamic cycle and the construction of the applicable components will offer greater utility for consumers who want a deeper...
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Wade Ortel

Fri, Jun 10

Category:

The Solar Report

Before embarking on a closer examination of refrigeration, it is prudent to begin with a somewhat mundane and innately familiar scenario: boiling water on a stove. To begin this process, one typically fills a pot with roughly room-temperature water drawn from a tap. This pot is then placed on a...
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Wade Ortel

Fri, May 27

Category:

The Solar Report

Electric current, the flow of electron that powers our lives, can be classified into two broad categories. Direct current (DC) is a unidirectional flow of charged particles. The current and voltage can be time variant or invariant, but the polarity remains fixed. Plotted versus time, DC often...
2022 Block Island electric vehicle subsidies available

Wade Ortel

Fri, Apr 29

Category:

The Solar Report

Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. By switching from vehicles powered by gasoline to those powered by electricity, each of us can make a significant change in our personal environmental impact. The adoption of EVs today, along with the...
From noisy and smelly to quiet and clean:

Wade Ortel

Fri, Apr 15

Category:

The Solar Report

On Block Island, the reassuring call of the spring peeper marks the arrival of spring. However, another, less pleasing sound is soon to follow: the inexorable drone of lawn mowers and other petroleum-powered equipment. While we have been dulled to this veritable aural assault, it is, unfortunately...
Your mileage may vary:

Wade Ortel

Thu, Apr 7

Category:

The Solar Report

While an internal combustion engine vehicle can be refueled rapidly and universally at any gas station, the state of EV charging is stratified, and recharging times vary. EV charging typically falls into three major categories, referred to as levels 1, 2, and 3. It is important to emphasize that...
Energy independence and renewables

Wade Ortel

Thu, Mar 24

Category:

The Solar Report

Most cogent arguments for the adoption of renewable energy technology hinge on the far-reaching environmental benefits of such actions. However, demand side electrification coupled with an energy generation mix that heavily favors renewables would also be a boon for achieving energy independence...
Batteries: Only as strong as the weakest link

Wade Ortel

Thu, Mar 10

Category:

The Solar Report

The electrical potential or voltage of a battery is dictated by its chemistry. There is a specific range of operating voltages over which each type of chemical cell operates. For example, the nominal voltage of a lead-acid battery cell is approximately 2 volts. Common lead-acid batteries, such as...
By virtue of inefficiency

Wade Ortel

Fri, Feb 18

Category:

The Solar Report

Internal combustion engines, such as those found powering gasoline or diesel-fueled vehicles, generate a lot of waste heat. Of the energy yielded by combustion, a larger portion is lost to the surroundings as heat than is available to propel the vehicle. While limited efficiency is certainly a...
Skip the oil change

Wade Ortel

Thu, Feb 10

Category:

The Solar Report

For more than a century, the internal combustion engine has reigned supreme in the automotive industry. Consumers and mechanics alike have become accustomed to the maintenance regimen for this type of powertrain. While decades of engineering progress and refinement have resulted in a significant...
A brief history of horsepower

Wade Ortel

Thu, Jan 27

Category:

The Solar Report

While today it may appear both a strange and outdated measure, the horsepower (hp) originates from a practical historical problem. In much the same manner as other thermodynamic units, terms and sign conventions, the horsepower traces its roots back to the early industrial period and the advent of...
Watt’s a Watt-Hour?

Wade Ortel

Thu, Jan 13

Category:

The Solar Report

“I lifted 25 degrees Fahrenheit at the gym today.” The above apocryphal statement is utter nonsense. This conclusion is not reached by contesting whether the speaker did, in fact, lift 25 of something at the gym today, but because it is obvious that they did not lift any quantity of degrees...
The first law

Wade Ortel

Wed, Dec 29

Category:

The Solar Report

While in daily life it is frequently useful to consider energy consumption, this concept is not scientifically well-defined. The process that is generally termed energy consumption is, in fact, energy transfer and transformation. The first law of thermodynamics mathematically states that the total...
Electric vehicles and miles per gallon

Wade Ortel

Wed, Dec 15

Category:

The Solar Report

Pure battery electric vehicles (EVs) do not consume gasoline or any other fossil fuel, at least not directly. However, they currently exist in a market where buyers might be cross-shopping between a gasoline model and an EV. In order to allow for comparisons between conventional vehicles and EVs,...
Electric vehicles, renewables and the grid

Wade Ortel

Tue, Nov 23

Category:

The Solar Report

Operating the electrical grid is a constant balancing act between supply and demand. In order to keep voltage and frequency within specifications, careful oversight is required. Since demand is highly variable throughout the day and year, a grid operator faces the challenge of matching supply to...
Heat your pan, not your stovetop

Wade Ortel

Thu, Nov 11

Category:

The Solar Report

Conventional electric stoves use resistive heating elements, much like a space heater, in order to heat the cooking surface. This heat is then transferred, through conduction, to the cookware and, in turn, to the food. An induction stove instead utilizes electromagnetic induction to directly heat...
Heat pump hot water heaters are highly efficient

Wade Ortell

Thu, Oct 28

Category:

The Solar Report

Heating water takes a great deal of energy, due to its high heat capacity. In fact, domestic water heating accounts for 19 percent of total energy consumption in the average American home, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Therefore, increasing water heater efficiency results...
Changes at the Solar Initiative

Tony Pappas

Thu, Oct 14

Category:

The Solar Report

As any organization matures and goes forward, it undergoes various changes. No less so with the Solar Initiative. En route to a separate 501-c-3 status, a Solar Initiative board has been formed. Its members are Tom Durden, John Spier, Samantha Hester, Seth Draper, and Tony Pappas, who will serve as...
Are you considering a solar system for your island home?

Tony Pappas

Thu, Sep 2

Category:

The Solar Report

Dear island neighbor, If you are considering installing a solar system on your island home, we invite you to submit an application to the Block Island Power Company and send a copy to the Solar Initiative (tSi), cc myself at pappas.anthony@gmail.com in order to get the tSi subsidy. The application...
EVs for Ever?

Tony Pappas

Thu, Aug 19

Category:

The Solar Report

At the Car Show held on July 28 on the front lawn of the Harbor Church and featuring cutting edge EVs (electric vehicles) – a Tesla and a Mach-E – the most frequently asked question was: How far do they go before the electricity runs out? In a recent edition of the AAA online magazine, that and...
Gates before the flood gates!

Ian Murphy

Thu, Aug 5

Category:

The Solar Report

In his recent book “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need,” Bill Gates discusses the daunting challenge of mitigating climate change with clarity and optimism. He describes the current situation – how we are adding billions of tons of greenhouse gases...
Driving the future and the past

Tony Pappas

Thu, Jul 22

Category:

The Solar Report

On Wednesday, July 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. on the front lawn of the Harbor Church, there will be the first ever Block Island Electric Vehicles and Antique Auto Show. All are welcome to come and browse fun vehicles from the past as well as learn more about electric vehicles, the wave of the future. No...
New net metering legislation passes both chambers of RI Legislature

Tony Pappas

Thu, Jul 8

Category:

The Solar Report

A huge thank you to our Senator Susan Sosnowski and to our Representative Blake Filippi for shepherding this bill over many months through to passage by the Rhode Island General Assembly. The services of the Mayforth Group were also most helpful. What does this new law change? Previously by law,...
Getting into hot water

Tony Pappas

Fri, Jun 25

Category:

The Solar Report

The Solar Initiative is expanding its subsidy program to include heat-pump powered hot water heaters. The total subsidy of two-thirds of the cost, up to a maximum of $6,000, remains in force for year-round occupied homes, but now hot water heaters can be included in the installation costs. Hot...
Announcing our new intern

Tony Pappas

Thu, Jun 10

Category:

The Solar Report

The Solar Initiative is pleased to announce that our intern for the summer of 2021 is Ian Murphy. Ian has a long history of connection with Block Island, coming out quite frequently in his teen years when his grandparents, the Devlins, owned a home on the island. Since entering college, Ian has...
Three reasons to put solar panels on your roof

Fri, May 28

Category:

The Solar Report

First, it could save you money. Recently I was speaking with a homeowner who had photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on his roof last year. He expected to receive a $40 credit this month from the Block Island Power Company by providing that much more electricity than his house used. Factoring in his...
Solar cell basics

Tony Pappas

Fri, May 21

Category:

The Solar Report

Isn’t it shocking how a little chunk of silicon can produce electricity? When I asked the U.S. Government, Department of Energy, how this worked, this is what they told me: “When light shines on a photovoltaic (PV) cell – also called a solar cell – that light may be reflected, absorbed, or pass...
Bigbellies are here

Tony Pappas

Fri, May 7

Category:

The Solar Report

Bigbellies are here...but you don’t need to hide...they won’t eat you, just your trash. Bigbellies are the brand name of state of the art trash receptacles that have now been placed strategically around Old Harbor. Bigbellies feature two bins, one for recyclables and one for regular trash. They...
Can you do one thing to restore the earth?

Tony Pappas

Fri, Apr 16

Category:

The Solar Report

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, this year. (Actually, it is always April 22, in commemoration of the first Earth Day celebration on that date in 1970.) This year’s theme is “Restore the Earth.” So, we at the Solar Initiative are challenging you to do one thing toward the goal of restoring the...
Good news for heliophiles and taxophobes

Tony Pappas

Fri, Apr 9

Category:

The Solar Report

Back in 2005, the US Congress passed a bill giving federal tax credits for the installation of renewable energy sources. The bill has been extended multiple times since then and the terms have changed multiple times, also. The good news: The tax credit was scheduled to decline to 22 percent in 2021...
The Solar Initiative offers revised subsidy programs for April 1 to June 30, 2021

Tony Pappas

Thu, Mar 25

Category:

The Solar Report

It is the mission of the Solar Initiative on Block Island to reduce fossil fuel emissions by offering incentives to energy consumers to move to renewable sources of energy. Our primary means of making progress toward this goal is education (e.g. columns such as this series) and subsidies to make...
“The sun also rises”

Tony Pappas

Thu, Mar 11

Category:

The Solar Report

With apologies to Hemingway, the sun is rising on solar generated power (and other renewables). Consider the following data: • In 2019, 72 percent of power plant additions utilized renewables. • The European Union now generates more power from renewables (38 percent) than from fossil fuels (37...
Every 38 years

Tony Pappas

Thu, Feb 25

Category:

The Solar Report

The year is 1983. The committee has organized its annual House and Garden Tour. This year’s theme is “Solar Energy,” featuring four residences, a business, and the Southeast Lighthouse was thrown in as a bonus! (Tickets were $5 but $4.50 if purchased in advance – and net proceeds of $1,300 were...
Everything you always wanted to know about heat pumps but were afraid to ask

Tony Pappas

Thu, Feb 11

Category:

The Solar Report

The Solar Initiative’s (tSI) heat pump subsidy program has proved to be very popular. Over 40 island families have signed up or are ready to learn more. tSI is offering up to $6,000 to offset the cost of a home heat pump installation. That sounds great, but what is a heat pump and how does it work...
Why your next car should be an EV

Tony Pappas

Thu, Jan 28

Category:

The Solar Report, Features

There are many reasons to replace your current gas guzzler with an electric vehicle. Let me count the ways: 1. You can save money on operation. Green Energy Consumer Advocates did an analysis using the Block Island Power Company’s rates and determined that using an EV on Block Island in the winter...
The EV Revolution is Here!

Tony Pappas

Thu, Jan 14

Category:

The Solar Report

Well, at least an uprising. In the fall of 2020, the Solar Initiative offered subsidies towards the purchase of electric vehicles. From 14 applications, eight subsidies were awarded. And now the first six have arrived on the island. Look at these smiling faces (behind their masks). Pictured above...
Good news and bad news

Tony Pappas

Thu, Dec 31

Category:

The Solar Report

Well, I have good news and bad news for anyone hoping to go more solar in the immediate future. The bad news is that the Solar Initiative will be unable to accomplish installations at the present time. This is due to a couple of unfortunate factors. Firstly, the winter season makes roof work...
The Solar Initiative subsidy programs are extended through March 31, 2021.

Thu, Dec 17

Category:

The Solar Report

Yes, Block Island homeowners can get a discount of $800 per KW on our rooftop mounted solar systems (up to 15KWs). This coupled with the Federal Tax credit for 2021 makes for a good deal through the first quarter of 2021. And up to $6,000 discounted off heat pump installations. Contact Tony...
B.I. Resident purchases Chevy Bolt through the Solar Initiative grant

Thu, Dec 17

Category:

The Solar Report

“We are so grateful to the Solar Initiative grant for making the purchase of a fully electric vehicle possible for us. We are thrilled with our new Chevy Bolt. We charge it at our house each night so it’s always full and is very fun to drive and ideal for the island. It has lots of instant torque,...
This should rate your interest!

Tony Pappas

Thu, Dec 3

Category:

The Solar Report

The first major initiative of The Solar Initiative was to put solar panels on the roofs of the Block Island Power Company facility. The intent was to reduce the need for local diesel generation and/or decrease electricity purchase from mainland non-renewable suppliers. This has been accomplished to...
Eight smiling islanders

Tony Pappas

Thu, Nov 19

Category:

The Solar Report

More solar-sourced energy; less fossil fuel emissions. That is the goal of Block Island’s Solar Initiative. Towards that end, the Solar Initiative (tSi) has recently awarded eight subsidies toward the purchase of an electrically-powered vehicle to island families. The subsidies run over three years...
Let’s have some fun in the sun

Tony Pappas

Thu, Nov 5

Category:

The Solar Report

We at the Solar Initiative hope that this series of columns has convinced you to at least consider installing a solar system at your home. It is a big step with financial and ecological ramifications, heavy stuff. So while you are deliberating, take a moment to look at the light side. Fun facts...
Meet David Reidy

Tony Pappas

Fri, Oct 23

Category:

The Solar Report

Why should I meet David Reidy? Who is he anyway? David is the installation contractor for the solar systems sponsored by the Solar Initiative. David can save you money while you help save the planet! He is the President of Cool Energy — but let’s begin at the beginning: David is a native Rhode...