Feb. 1, 2009 — Manny da Motta and Michael DiNapoli, partners at Solar Solutions, share the dream of converting all existing water heaters on St. Croix to solar water heaters.
"I would like to look out over the hills and see solar panels on all the roofs of homes," DiNapoli says.
Solar Solutions offers the unique opportunity to convert almost any existing electric hot-water tank into a solar water tank. The conversion of existing tanks for use in a solar water heating system not only saves money by reusing an existing tank, but it also assures that existing tanks do not end up in the landfill.
"Our goal is to convert every household on the island to solar water heaters," da Motta says. "We found a better mousetrap applicable to the tropics at a reasonable price."
In a recent interview, the men both said they have a passion about global-warming issues.
"After you switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs and turn-off appliances, solar water heaters are the next step," DiNapoli says.
The two men met at a weekly dinner get-together of the V.I. Flying Circus, a group of 20 to 35 people originally made up of air-traffic controllers and pilots. It has expanded and includes people from many other professions who get together once a week for dinner at various restaurants on St. Croix.
"We found out over dinner we each have a similar interest in alternative energy," DiNapoli says.
DiNapoli, who has a background in accounting, moved to St. Croix from Ohio five years ago. He had first traveled to the Caribbean with his wife Tetra in 1988 and fell in love with the islands. They decided to move to the territory because it has the best of both worlds — a nice location but still part o the United States. They came with no jobs and no prospects. They found a position as house sitters and, in the meantime, bought a fixer-upper house in Anna's Hope that no one would buy. DiNapoli, who at one time wanted to get into construction, spent the first nine months on St. Croix renovating their home. He eventually got a job at an EDC company.
As fate would have it, da Motta came to St. Croix four years ago to recover from three life-changing events. He visited St. Croix in January 2005 and decided to move to the big island in May of the same year. Da Motta is a chiropractor and will be sit for the V.I. chiropractic exam this year. He owns and operates the Welcome Laundry, an alternative-energy laundromat in Princess. He is a dog lover with four dogs and he volunteers at the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center.
When it comes to the solar systems, da Motta handles sales, marketing and promotions.
"People can't believe they can get hot water from the sun," da Motta says. "We are spreading the word and educating people any way we can."
The men have built a mobile solar water heater display they will exhibit at the Agricultural Fair Feb. 14 to 16.
DiNapoli does the bookkeeping and installation of the systems. The systems come as pre-packaged kits for the do-it-yourselfer with thorough instructions, or installation can be done for as low as $2,900 total — everything included.
"It was sticker shock with estimates at $5,000 for a new system instead of the conversion we do for around $3,000," da Motta says.
The systems are powered by photovoltaic panels and direct current (DC) pumps, so no electric power is ever required.
At current WAPA electric rates, the payoff for one of Solar Solutions systems is less than three years, and after that hot water is totally free. The system has a 10-year warranty and a system life expectancy of 20 years. Converting to a solar water heating system can save nearly one fourth of the energy consumed in most homes.
Solar Solutions is a certified dealer in the V.I. Energy Office's rebate program. All of its systems are eligible for Energy Office rebates. All systems are SRCC rated and as such qualify for the 30 percent federal tax credit. After rebates and credits, the cost of the system is $1,495.
For more information, call 340-514-4704 or visit visolarsolutions.googlepages.com.
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