Whittemore Residences
Case Study: Customer support for efficient energy load management
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
| Location: | Kailua-Kona, HI |
| Size: | Four off-grid systems with combined 30 kW solar, 78 kW storage |
| Completed: | 2017-2021 |
| Equipment: | LG NeON and Q Cells Q.PEAK DUO modules Outback Radian and Sol-Ark inverters Blue Planet Energy Blue Ion 2.0, SimpliPhi PHI3.8 batteries |
Challenge
No two off-grid systems are alike. When Tom Whittemore sub-divided his property and built homes off the grid for himself, his daughter, his son, and his in-laws, RES customized self-sufficient energy systems to match the unique needs of each household. But from the start, Whittemore watched his own battery system draining down before sunrise with no clear indication of what was consuming all that energy.
Solution
With over 20 years’ experience designing off-grid systems and monitoring performance, RES technicians went straight to the historical log of load data showing the energy consumption patterns in Whittemore’s household. We found that a water pump was running far more than expected, not only draining energy from the battery but nearly emptying the water from a 10,000 gallon rainwater catchment tank.
Result
Most people think of home as a place to eat and sleep, clean up, and enjoy time with friends and family. Engineers think of the home as a system of systems with structural, electrical, and plumbing components that affect one another. RES’s investigation of Whittemoore’s energy consumption revealed a water leak. Once repaired, the home efficiently stored water and energy for a more sustainable lifestyle.
“Living off the grid does not mean I want to fix anything at my home that needs fixing. With RES, I knew that expert service is always a phone call away.”
-Tom Whittemore | RES customer
