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Power Company

FIGURE 3-3 Net metering allows you to sell power back to the electric company.

NOTE A company called Sunslates sells roofing tiles with photovoltaic cells built in. They’re about
double the price of typical solar cells. You can find out more via Link 3-3.
• An inverter This device regulates the power and changes it to alternating current
(AC). Inverters for a 6.5-kilowatt system run $3,000 to $4,000.
• A meter You need a meter that can run backward and can show how much you’re
sending back to the utility company.

True, not every utility will pay for incoming electricity. That will depend, however, on
your state’s energy policies and rules and whether your local utility is willing to work with
net metering clients.

NOTE Some people and organizations use wind power as a form of renewable energy. Wind power
requires a more expensive investment (it can cost $70,000 in equipment just to power a home), and
wind is more prevalent at higher elevations, which can mean upwards of 120-foot mounting poles.

There’s good news if you are considering renewable energy. The government is
encouraging using renewable energy and might offer your organization tax breaks. You can
also get rebates for any Energy Star devices you buy—such as monitors.

Low-Power Computers
Computer manufacturers are starting to offer low-power models that consume less power
than other computers. Of course, the workstations you need may or may not fall in line with
the specs for these machines, but as more and more companies want to save money on
power costs, look for more machines to be introduced.
In this section, we take a look at some of the offerings for Windows machines as well as
some Linux options.