Dee Dannewitz Wallace KG4VMI came to Virginia from a southeastern Nebraska farming community. She spent her early years being mentored in business, and obtained sponsorship for much traveling in education, for 4-H, and mission trips with the church & others. She received great education at LIFE Bible College and Virginia Tech, and has background in finance, accounting, sales and management. She has always enjoyed spending time outdoors and working with various community groups. After college, Dee moved to Floyd with her son, Christian, to get back to “farm living” and for a closer association with David and Gaynell and LCF Group activities.In 2007, Dee married her long-time friend, Greg Wallace, who is a native of Floyd County, Virginia. They have their home at “Oak Hill Farm” in Floyd, where they spend free time watching the wildlife and grass grow, and sharpen their artistic and culinary skills. Greg photographs many of the historical buildings and breathtaking sceneries throughout the County.
By Roger Mannon
Staff Writer for The Floyd Press
As electricity costs continue to soar; using solar energy becomes more practical. David Zachow says now is a good time to make the move.
Zachow operates Direct Connect Solar & Electricity on Diamond Knob Road. He installs grid-tie and off-grid photovoltaic solar systems.
Solar panels produce DC electricity for use in your house. “With a grid-tied system, as you produce electricity, you electric meter runs backward,” Zachow explained. “Any excess amount is fed to the grid so you are supplying AEP with electricity. If you make more electricity than you use, it is credited to your account and carried over to the next month.”
As electricity costs continue to soar; using solar energy becomes more practical. David Zachow says now is a good time to make the move.
Zachow operates Direct Connect Solar & Electricity on Diamond Knob Road. He installs grid-tie and off-grid photovoltaic solar systems.
Solar panels produce DC electricity for use in your house. “With a grid-tied system, as you produce electricity, you electric meter runs backward,” Zachow explained. “Any excess amount is fed to the grid so you are supplying AEP with electricity. If you make more electricity than you use, it is credited to your account and carried over to the next month.”
Zachow has been in the construction business for about 30 years. Five years ago he began “green” building, and four years ago he decided solar power would be a good business to pursue.
He says a solar system can pay for itself in about eight years. “We look at this a something that has a lifespan of decades instead of years. Usually you can expect about 30 years from a system.” If it sounds too good to be true, it is for some people, he added.
“You need an open clearing with the southern exposure,” he commented, “but shading is death to photovoltaic. If there are trees or a neighbor’s barn blocking the sun, it won’t work”
Zachow says that PV only works for about two out of ten homeowners. “I’m one of them,” he said. “I’m the PV man, but I don’t have it at my house because I like having trees. I do have it at my office, though.
Some people install solar systems as they build their houses, but systems can be retrofitted to existing residences. If you want a roof-mounted system, the roof needs to be relatively new. “After you install a solar system over your roof, you don’t want to be replacing your roof in a few years. Something is sure to be broken.”
An average cost of a solar installation is about $10,000. That can vary depending on the size of the house and the size of the system.
With the economic and construction slowdowns, solar manufacturers have reduced prices. There are also state and federal incentives to help, Zachow said. “There is a 30 percent federal tax credit. It used to be limited to $2,000, but not it is unlimited.
“The tax credit is dollar to dollar,” he continued. “Each dollar of the credit is a reduction of your total tax liability. The state program was fully subscribed within a week. If you are able to take advantage of the credits and incentives, that can cut you cost by a half and two thirds.”
Zachow is licensed also in North Carolina and Maryland but prefers doing business locally. “I don’t want to burn gas to travel 300 miles,” he said. “I’d like to see every community have a local solar installation.”
For someone who may not be ably to afford a solar installation, Zachow offers energy saving tips. “You can upgrade appliances. You may have a 20-year refrigerator that runs well but is not energy efficient. It doesn’t make sense to install a solar system to support an inefficient system of appliances.”
Zachow said the United States “has a very good energy system. It is so good people don’t even think about turning on the lights.
“But if you use enough solar systems, maybe the power company doesn’t have to build a new power plant. The coal-burning plants cause a lot of pollution.”