If you’ve been considering solar power for your home or business, you may want to think about the Solar Trifecta. What’s the Solar Trifecta? Rather than simply considering a home’s existing power needs and oversizing the solar array to that sometimes-inefficient footprint, the “Solar Trifecta” looks first at minimizing the energy footprint. Space heating consumes the most energy in a home. Typically, Space heating consumes the most energy, of which has traditionally been natural gas or fuel oil in a home.

Using an inverter heat pump to heat AND cool the air creates a powerful combination when paired with solar. Add a heat pump water heater to the mix – typically, water heating is the 2nd largest consumer of energy, again via natural gas, in most homes – and you’ve now completed the trifecta: Heat Pumps, Heat Pump Water Heaters, and Solar! In particular, inverter heat pumps would be recommended as they require less energy to start and operate.

The negligible inrush amps of an inverter-based heat pump means that the battery backup system needs only to provide current and power up to the rated current and power of the heat pump and not worry about the high inrush (LRA) current. This allows solar and battery storage systems to run higher tonnage HVAC systems and maximize comfort, cooling, and heating for the homeowner with less battery storage capacity.

“Solar has a great return on investment,” says CEO Brad Barron of Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing.

A Solar by Barron technician installs a solar inverter on a home. Barron is currently offering a “Solar Trifecta” deal to outfit customers with a solar array, electric heat pump and heat pump water heater. Photo courtesy Barron Heating

For Barron, solar energy isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a sensible, affordable energy philosophy the company prides itself on. In fact, Solar by Barron was recently voted GOLD as the best clean energy company in the Northwest by voters of Bellingham Alive magazine.

Barron’s Ferndale facility has a 130kW solar array on its roof, and CEO Brad Barron has a 12 kW system on his Lynden home. Both were perfectly located for solar arrays: full exposure with little to no shade. This has put both the company and the family home on a path to net zero efficiency.

Solar energy is also an affordable way to exercise environmental stewardship in the community, says Brad.

“We really live this, in terms of trying to make a difference,” he says. “I can’t put into words what that means to me.”

Being a full-service HVAC, electrical, and plumbing contractor, he adds, affords the company the unique perspective of finding solutions for not just how energy is generated but how it’s used and where it can be made most efficient.

Barron believes strongly in solar energy; a large solar array sits atop their fabrication shop behind their Ferndale facility, as well as the newly installed array above their showroom in the front. Photo courtesy Barron Heating

These solutions connect to Barron’s mission of “improving lives” through its Three Pillars—providing comfort, health, and energy efficiency to every customer it serves. And the mission goes beyond simply installing efficient equipment. Barron provides a WholeHome™ approach, focusing on how every system will function and work together for each customer’s unique space and needs.

The idea of widespread solar energy usage is like the approach taken by Americans during challenging times in the early to mid-20th century. In those periods, millions of Americans utilized small plots of land, balconies, or other available spaces to grow their own food in what were referred to as "Victory Gardens." The objective was to alleviate strain on the public food supply, foster self-sufficiency, and boost morale during difficult times.

By the mid-1940s, an estimated 18 million Victory Gardens had been established across the United States. It is believed that nearly half of all produce grown in the country during these periods originated from these gardens.

Solar energy isn’t just environmentally-friendly; it also offers potentially dramatic cost savings on utility bills.
Photo courtesy Barron Heating

With so many buildings throughout America in optimal locations for solar arrays, Barron says the concept of “Solar Victory Gardens” could be our 21st-century contribution—making a huge difference to both our pocketbooks and the environmental health of the world we share.

And if you need more reasons to consider the Solar Trifecta – how about tax credits and rebates? Solar qualifies for a 30% tax credit of the total investment, and thanks to the 25C tax credit program, you can get up to another $2,000 tax credit on qualifying heat pumps like the Daikin Fit Enhanced. With a combo like that and savings to boot, the sky’s the limit!

The opinions expressed in this article are those of Barron Heating AC Electrical and Plumbing and do not necessarily reflect Daikin Comfort Technologies. We make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the content provided.