[Greenbuilding] Energy Numbers

Tue Jul 17 18:16:01 CDT 2012

Dear Laren,
Every one is on natural gas in NYC. It's illegal to use propane for home
appliances and the electricity is expensive. Despite that, you did have
some great selling insight. Over 40 panels the ROI gets real good. Thanks
for the calculation, I knew it was more dramatic than I suggested. There
are calories per gram and Kg but all I know is that a human consumes plain
calories so I was off by some decimal points.
The cold water preheat in the attic is great. I am discussing a cold water
pre heater with a customer. I think this is a great idea and easy to
implement. The cold supply pipe could tee off into a series of parallel
tubing or heat exchangers enroute to the heating unit. In a case where
there is no draw during the day the tank in the attic makes a lot of sense.
Thank you so much.

Jessica

On Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 5:47 PM, <larencorie at axilar.net> wrote:

> From: Jessica <pipeworks100 at gmail.com>
>
> > In my field, solar, the sales pitch is supposed to include
> > the ROI analysis.  I think that defeats the purpose.
>
> Hi Jessica;
>
> If it defeats your purpose of selling a system, then either you
> are doing it wrong, or you need a more cost-effective product.
> I have known people who could sell Solar DHW systems to people
> who had never thought of buying one, with a closing rate of 50%
> and higher (in a cold, overcast climate). They accomplished it
> by asserting the value of the investment, compared to what the
> financial industry offers. The environmental, self-sufficiency,
> and other emotional factors were subjective, and secondary to
> the hard numbers.    People are going to feel what they feel,
> abound the environment, regardless of what you tell them about
> those things.   What they need from you is hard cold objective
> money numbers to justify doing what they would like to be able
> to afford to do. So, show them not only how they can afford it,
> but that they would be throwing away money to not do it.  And,
> leave the moralizing to them. Just commend them for it, and as
> hard as it is to resist, do not out do them at it.    The sale
> is not about selling your environmental opinions.  It is about
> selling the way that they can afford to act on their opinions.
> Very briefly sell your company, and let your knowledge (and
> of course, your sincere smile) sell you to them. Focus on what
> the system can do for them financially. It's all about selling
> the system, by showing them how they can afford it.
>
>   Remember the sale does not really start until the customer
> says no.   That is their way of telling you what information
> they need from you in order to make the right decision.  So,
> listen carefully. Relieve their fears. Know how the numbers
> will work with financing. Be fast and casual with your math.
> Practice it, until you can do it forward and backwards, from
> any point, half asleep, while carrying on a conversation ;O)
> Know their current utility costs, before the appointment.
> When you know, for sure, that you are doing them a huge
> favor by helping them commit to buying, it gets easy.
>
> > @252 calories,g per BTU, the human body may metabolize
> > 100,000 BTU(2520 KG calories)/ day for as little as $2
> > worth of food but if we ran on natural gas, we could
> > sustain our bodies for only $1.20/day!
>
> An average human, consuming a little over 2000kcal
> (food calories) per day, is like a 100W light bulb.
> (24hr x 100Wh/1.163 = 2064kcal(food calories)/day)
> equivalent to about 2400x3.412 = 8190 let's call
> it 8200BTU/day.   With natural gas at 60C/therm,
> burned at 82% efficiency, 8200BTU/day will cost
> about 6C/day, while an average American eats
> food that costs over 100 times that much.
>
> > But how would that effect our return on
> > investment and what about the down payment!!!
> > Calculation corrections are extremely welcome.
>
> Sell against electric resistance water heating,
> which including taxes, is often 15C/kWh or more.
> That makes 8200BTU cost 36C instead of 6C, for a
> much better ROI, and much easier sell. 40gal/day
> raised 70F, with 80% Solar contribution annually
> might save $50/year against gas, pretty tough for
> payback, but if against electric resistance, it
> might save $300+, and you can show a decent ROI,
> compared to what the banks are offering. Focus
> on customers who can get a real good ROI. Your
> time is precious. Focus on the electric water
> heater and propane market, big families with
> money to spend.   Let someone else waste a
> big portion of their time, trying to sell
> against cheap natural gas.
>
>  If the numbers look good for a customer,
> and they still say no, stop them and tell
> them that they are making a mistake to
> ignore a far more secure investment, than
> the obvious uncertainties of bankers, real
> estate, and the stock market.     With the
> recent debacle and betrayals, selling Solar
> in a state with good tax credits should be
> easier than it has ever been.  Just know
> your math, and how to show the simple
> financial advantage.  Leave the envir-
> -onmental preaching to your customers.
> Just agree, and focus on the numbers,
> so that they can become doers, not
> just talkers.
>
>  -Laren Corie-
>  Natural Solar Building Design
>  and Consultation, Since 1975
>  www.ThermalAttic.com
>
>  Read my Solar house design articles in:
>  -Energy Self-Sufficiency Newsletter-
>  www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html
>
>  Home base-LittleHouses YahooGroup
>  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LittleHouses/
>
>  Founder-WoodGas - Power from wood
>  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WoodGas
>
>  Founder-RefrigeratorAlternatives YahooGroup
>  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RefrigeratorAlternatives
>
>
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-- 

Jessica Baldwin
917-207-2403
Solar Plumbing Design <http://www.solarplumbingdesign.com>
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