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Community Corner

Edina Home Running on Solar Power

Greg and Cindy Nelson will showcase solar panels during the Edina Eco Yard and Garden Tour on July 31.

“Set it and forget it,” Greg Nelson says of using solar panels. After the installation, Nelson said there’s not much to do but let the power of the sun bring down your home’s energy consumption. 

At the Nelson home, a 13-module photovoltaic solar system on the roof of a shed in the backyard supplies some 35 percent of the 4,700 square foot building's electricity usage. The home will be one of five stops on the on Sunday, July 31. 

Nelson installed the solar panels in early 2010 as a way to complement a larger environmental effort going on at the home.

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“I’ve always wanted to do green things,” he said.  

The house was remodeled to be more environmentally friendly, with more efficient insulation and energy efficient appliances. Nelson said he would have installed solar panels on the home’s roof as well, but with no south-facing planes and an abundance of shade, solar was not an option. The backyard shed was built with solar in mind, facing south and with minimal shade to obstruct the sunlight. 

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Nelson, who sits on the Renewable Energy Working Group for the Edina Energy and Environment Commission, chose to be part of the Edina Eco Yard and Garden tour to show that not only is solar power possible here, it’s already happening and is easier and more effective than one might think. Minnesota gets plenty of sunlight and our chilly winters have at least one benefit: solar panels are actually more productive in cooler temperatures.

The solar system at the Nelson home was designed and installed by Nelson’s company, Enhanced Home Systems. Originally working in home theater and home automation, the company eventually incorporated energy management like smart thermostats, daylight harvesting and solar energy. 

As far as maintenance goes, Nelson said solar panels are pretty hands-off. But if you’re the curious type, you can check your energy usage online in realtime.

Each solar module on Nelson’s shed is independent, a bonus if one of them gets shaded or unplugged because it won’t affect the others. Those modules each contain a device called a micro-inverter, which records what it’s producing and sends the information to the Internet. Basically, users can go online and check their energy usage as well as their daily, monthly, annual or lifetime energy production. They're also notified if there is a problem with one of the panels. 

“I say you set it and forget it but the reality is it’s being monitored behind the scenes,” Nelson said. 

Nelson will be on hand during the tour to answer questions about incorporating solar energy at home. Visit the Nelson home and four other locations during the Edina Eco Yard and Garden Tour from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at  through 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour, beginning at 12:30 p.m. for $15 at 7013 Comanche Court.

Be on the lookout for more sneak peaks of each Edina Eco Yard and Garden Tour stop before you have the opportunity to see them in person.

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