Location
Franklin, TN
Solar Size
12kW
Equipment Installed
LG solar panels & Tesla Powerwalls
Storage Capability
40.5kWh - backs up home's 200amp service
“I’m passionate about keeping our environment as clean as possible, so my kids and future generations can live in the same or better conditions than we do today.” – Dana Kose
Since 2019, Dana and Brent Kose of Franklin, Tennessee, have relied less on the grid and more on the sun.
The Koses’ 12kW solar array and three Tesla Powerwalls provide whole home backup during grid outages and the majority of their electric power on normal days. With Tesla’s mobile app, they can see exactly how much energy they use, when they use it and where it comes from – solar, batteries or the grid.
Like many households, their usage is relatively low when the sun is at its peak, and it increases around dinnertime. Batteries store excess solar energy and cover nearly all of their nighttime use.
“It’s a good thing we have the batteries,” says Dana Kose. “Otherwise, we would send a lot of our solar energy to the grid for free,” she says.
The Koses’ monthly electric bills dropped by 65% on average during the first 3 months of operation. That’s despite the fact that December, January and February 2020 had over 20% less sunlight than average.
Even with an especially dark winter, Dana and Brent’s solar and battery system covered over half of their home’s electricity use including two electric cars! Not only will their system’s performance improve as the days get longer and sunnier, but also as they learn more about their consumption.
“Now we’re more conscious of when we charge our cars,” says Dana. “Recently on a sunny day Brent said, ‘We’re exporting, go charge the car!’ He checks the app nearly every day,” she says.
LightWave Solar could only place the solar panels on the back of the home, which faces east and slightly south, to accommodate HOA restrictions on the front of house. Dana says she would have loved to have had them installed on the south-facing side for optimal solar production.
“I wish the system was more visible so more of our neighbors could see it and ask about it,” she says. “We highly recommend the system and LightWave,” she adds.
Dana works in commercial energy efficiency, and her reasons for installing solar and batteries go beyond innovative technology, bill savings and backup power during grid outages. Her primary goal is to generate cleaner energy to reduce her home’s impact on the environment.
“I’m passionate about keeping our environment as clean as possible, so my kids and future generations can live in the same or better conditions than we do today,” Dana explains.
