The Ojai Foundation :: Sanctuary

SUSTAINABILITY :: SOLAR

We first began using solar power in 1977. We started with a simple 12-volt system for our basic lighting needs. A few years later we established a small office that ran completely on solar.

In 1995 we put in a 2 kW system for our staff residence that ran everything a normal household uses - toaster, refrigerator, microwave, etc. Most recently we put in a 3 kW system for the central area, which includes a modern office complete with 6 computers, printer, fax, telephone/voice mail system, and more. Our main kitchen has a separate 12-volt system that powers a fridge, lights, etc.

In addition to this, we have 8 small satellite systems that provide light for groups of individual hermitages. We are completely off the grid, except for the electric pump that delivers water up the hill to our storage tank. The main system is comprised of 48 Siemans SP 75's with 2 Trace SW4048 inverters and 24 Trojan L16 batteries.

Our current configuration satisfies our energy needs about 95% of the time (345 days a year). When we have more than three days of cloud cover, we rely on generator back-up to charge our batteries. Our intention is to bring a trickle charge up from commercial utilities so that our batteries can be topped with their power in the winter, and we can sell our surplus power back in the summer.

We have been very happy with our systems, finding they need very little maintenance, are more dependable than the grid, and that our electronics prefer the quality of sine wave that solar offers.

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