SOLAR ELECTRIC - PHOTOVOLTAICS in the Sequoia
The roof of the Sequoia (and many other Tim O’Brien Homes) is utilized to save
homeowners money by converting the sun’s rays into energy that is then sold to
the local utility company and is put back onto the grid for consumption by
neighbors and local businesses. Imagine being paid by the utility company
instead of receiving the dreaded monthly energy bill while doing something
good for the earth too.

It’s possible with Solar Electric Photovoltaics. “Photo” is derived from the
Greek word for light and ‘voltaic’ means voltage or electricity. A photovoltaic
(PV) or solar cell is the basic building block of a PV (or solar electric) system.
An individual PV cell is usually quite small, typically producing about 1 or 2 watts
of power. To boost the power output of PV cells, they are connected together to
form larger units called modules. Modules, in turn, can be connected to form even
larger units called Arrays, which can be interconnected to produce more power.
In this way, we can build custom PV systems able to meet almost any electric
power need, whether small or large.

While the solar panels may appear to be fragile panels of glass, they are actually
very durable and just as strong as the roof and shingles below them. The panels
on Tim O’Brien Homes are designed to withstand the toughest Wisconsin storms.
They are also low-maintenance (the panels have no moving parts and only require
an occasionally cleaning) and have an extremely long life span of up to 30 years.

For more information on the solar panels used in the Sequoia, please click here
http://www.renewableenergywi.com/