Musings on going solar

In the Editor’s “On Going Solar” blog section, I’ll write about experiences I have with going solar. While many of the entries will involve a description of the process of going solar, some will also be general musings on going solar. The entries about my, really, our – my wife and family are also part of the whole experience — going solar experience will be more informal and more current than the articles about my solar-charged driving experience and my general experience going solar I’ve posted to the “SCD primer” and “Going solar” sections. I hope some of you find at least some of my musings on “going solar” interesting, potentially useful, and, ideally, thought-provoking.

Why a solar garden isn’t as satisfying as rooftop solar

Christof Demont-Heinrich
I had solar for nearly six years on a house in Aurora, Colo. that I lived in with my family. Life happened -- divorce, etc. -- and I no longer have the house, or the solar. A year ago, I moved into a so-called "cohousing" community, Highline Crossing Cohousing in Littleton, Colo. I moved here because cohousing is more community based than average HOAs/neighborhoods. I wanted more community, less suburban isolation and alienation.

This red Tesla S zooming around Colorado while driving on sunshine

Christof Demont-Heinrich
So, I am working toward hopefully getting solar up in the cohousing community that I moved into just six months ago, Highline Crossing Cohousing. If I succeed (cross your fingers!) it would be the second place I would have brought solar to, with the first being my old house at 4000 S. Atchison Way, Aurora, Colo. where I had a 5.5 kW solar system installed, and which ultimately produced more electricity than I/we ever used, even with an electric car (a 2014 Nissan LEAF). GoogleMap the address in the previous sentence, and you will see the solar system on the roof of that house, which divorce forced me to sell in November 2015.