This happened just a couple Weeks Ago, I just had to share it.

A few years ago, in the summer of 2011 to be exact, we sold an off Grid Solar backup system to Hawaii Public Radio.

We detailed their system right here: http://www.spheralsolar.com/blog/hawaii-public-radio-goes-solar-with-a-solar-sphere-off-grid-kit/

The station was on a limited budget (aren't we all). But radio is still the primary means of communication in this island state, where frequent storms and potential natural disasters mean that spreading the word quickly is essential to save lives.

Think about it, is there any where that quick and reliable communication is MORE essential than on the side of an active volcano in the middle of the ocean?

Hawaii Public Radio wanted a system that would ensure they could still broadcast when Hawaii's unreliable grid system went down, or when any of a number of disasters hit. The cost of that system was $7386 which included:

- 4EA 230W solar panels
- completely assembled inverter and charger system from Outback
- wiring and disconnects
- shipping to Oahu

They sources their batteries locally to save money of shipping costs, which would have been exorbitant across the ocean.

Well, just a few weeks ago the project manager, Don, contacted us again. He wanted basically the same exact system for his new home. Don decided to 'get off the grid' and seeing how well the radio station's system worked out really gave him the final motivation to make it happen.

Don had long dreamed of finding a plot of land far away from the surprisingly busy city of Honolulu (2nd worst traffic in the country!) and truly enjoy the beauty of Hawaii.

Don finally found that plot of land on a remote section of the island of Oahu and started building his home.

Connecting to the Hawaii grid is fraught with regulations, permits, expensive power bills and (as noted before) frequent blackouts. So the choice to go solar was an easy one.

So we quoted the SAME SYSTEM.

The cost: $3,548.

That's HALF of what the radio station paid just 3 years ago.

Its the same controller and inverter, same wiring, and actually BETTER solar panels this time around (he got Canadian solar 230's instead of Yingli).

We'll keep you updated as Don's construction project progresses. We're hoping he breaks his camera so that we'll have to go out the shoot the photos ourselves!

Yes indeed, Solar Costs are down 50% from just 3 years ago. You're officially out of excuses, GO SOLAR NOW.