GEAR Solar: Turning Sunlight into Savings
More than 85 percent of the world's energy comes from non-renewable sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. There's just one catch — it's NON-renewable. There's a Greenville company changing our country's dependence on fossil fuels and looking toward to a future as bright as the sun.
"I moved to Greenville in 1998 because of my husband's job relocation," says Ying Hao, GEAR Solar's owner, who founded the company in 2008." With booming companies like BMW and Michelin, I figured this would be a great location to start GEAR Solar."
GEAR Solar has gained international attention as one of three companies in the world providing the latest technology for solar parabolic receivers. The company is involved in The Solar Project, a government pilot project located in the U.S.'s Mojave Desert and Spain. The Solar Project encompasses three solar thermal power stations, and GEAR Solar has installed 16 solar receiver tubes in SEGS I, the first utility-scale solar parabolic trough plant in the world. The company uses Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology for large-scale applications such as SEGS 1 and for other utility companies. CSP technology involves focusing the sun's energy onto a single point — a receiver tube — to heat a fluid, which in turn generates electricity.
In addition to industrial customers, GEAR Solar's users include residential customers and commercial companies that use large amounts of hot water in their businesses.
The most interesting product is the company's evacuated solar tubes, which it designs in Greenville, adds parts from worldwide vendors, and performs final assembly in China, Hao's native country. The tubes absorb solar thermal energy and convert it into heat for use in water heating. Unlike the traditional flat panels, solar tubes can reach considerably higher temperatures and have the ability to absorb light from multiple angles.
"The most exciting part for us is people are starting to become aware of solar potential," says Terry Crawford of GEAR Solar. "Our customers are immune to utility price increases, which provides a great level of freedom."
"When I go into a home, the first thing I do is conduct an energy evaluation, inspecting insulation and other potential areas of energy inefficiency," says Crawford. "Maybe a customer needs photovoltaic arrays or maybe the house orientation is not receptive to panels. I want customers to understand there is a range of potential solutions. Solar tubing may be one, but so may radiant barriers in the attic, a solar attic fan, a Comfort Dry system to eliminate humidity, radiant floor heat, or a solar water heater. I review all the options and find what will make each specific home the most energy efficient it can be."
"The most important thing for people to learn about solar technology is that it saves money. Our residential collectors [homeowner customers] are SRCC [Solar Rating and Certification Corporation] certified, which means they can participate in government rebates and tax credits," says Hao.
"Our primary goal is to lower our customers' power bills as much as possible," continues Hao. She says she is not aware of any competitors in the nation who offer the full range of energy efficiency products available at GEAR Solar.
"For every dollar saved on utilities, a property's value increases by $20," says Crawford. "We are behind in the U.S. on solar applications, and it is costing us in our checkbooks."
"Growing up, I saw solar technology in use throughout China," says Hao, who was a teacher in her native land. "The U.S. is behind, and there is a learning curve. But at GEAR Solar, we have bridged that gap to provide the most technologically advanced solar products to the U.S. marketplace."
GEAR Solar customer Hans Dohm installed four 24-tube solar panels on the roof of his home in Pickens last year. He runs three systems from the sunlight the tubes collect each day, including a hot water heater, radiant floor heating, and supplemental heat for the rooms. "I shaved $100 off the bill each month throughout the summer and winter," Dohm says. "We are working on some add-ons that will achieve even more efficiency with the heating and cooling systems."
"Solar is very clean, low pollution, and no emissions," Hao says. "The timing is good in this country, and people are getting more educated. Solar energy is not only sustainable, but it's renewable and will never run out! The advancements in technology are continuing to improve, making solar systems even more cost-effective. Solar electricity power plants and personal solar panels produce zero emissions and make no adverse mark on the environment."
The Southern climate is ideal for the installation of sustainable solar systems, potentially taking a residence "off the grid." Hao is working to educate businesses and homeowners that being eco-friendly also can be wallet-friendly.