(This is a guest post by Mark Turzcynski, developer of the POWERSHED.)
Solar energy is abundant, renewable and becoming increasingly accessible across the country. Yet there are some serious concerns about rooftop solar installations when it comes to fire safety. In addition to the actual heat generated by the panels, the ability for fire fighters and other emergency responders to disconnect the electrical current to the panels and/or to gain access to attic fires remains a very real problem for homeowners.
What’s more, in cases like a home fire that happened earlier this spring in San Diego, CA, homeowners can’t find an electrician soon enough who is willing or able to sever the current (Source: North County Times). Granted, electricity is a pretty powerful force, and should be treated with respect. However, trying to locate a professional who can help save your house from burning to the ground can be very frustrating, to say the least.
Building codes across the country in states like California, New Mexico, Florida, Nevada and Florida haven’t kept pace with the advances in clean-tech and alternative energy. The wheels of bureaucracy churn slowly, and in the meantime, lots of people may be hurt or suffer property loss until it catches up.
One solution is portable solar options. Ordinary arrays or plug and play may work for some, but POWERSHED is a self-contained solar product geared toward homeowners. The photovoltaic solar panels are connected to a sturdy shed designed to withstand 90 mph winds. The shed is usable for storage and can also be situated anywhere on the property to maximize solar harvest.
The array is completely separate from the house, and the installation is specifically designed to be stress free: pour the concrete pad upon which the shed sits; anchor the shed; unfold the panels and lock them in place; plug the unit into the household current. A regular contractor can be used to coordinate assembly and connections, but a licensed solar installer is not necessary.
If desired, the POWERSHED can go with you when you move, or in some cases, may stay with the property as a value-add to the sale of your home.
POWERSHED was invented by the author, Mark Turczynski, an engineer in the Midwest who saw a need to transition folks to renewables and off fossil fuels as much as possible. For more information about how POWERSHED works or its technical specifications, please visit www.powershed.com.
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