Supers:
Gainesville, FL
Wendell Porter - UF Energy Extension
TRT: :50
LEAD: IF YOU'RE TIRED OF PAYING HIGH ELECTRIC BILLS TO HEAT YOUR HOME THIS WINTER, TAKE HEART. SUMMER'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND SO ARE SOME NEW WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON POWER...IF YOU'RE WILLING TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT.
VO: SOLAR POWER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME BUT RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ENERGY EXTENSION SERVICE ARE SHEDDING A NEW LIGHT ON WAYS THIS RESOURCE CAN BE USED. THESE SOLAR PANELS GENERATE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN A CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ALONG WITH LIGHTS, COMPUTERS AND SOME APPLIANCES LIKE REFRIGERATORS. IT'S BEST IF THE HOME OR OFFICE HAS EXTRA INSULATION TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF POWER NEEDED. THIS SYSTEM CARRIES A PRICE TAG OF 30-THOUSAND DOLLARS. BUT UF EXPERTS SAY PRICES ARE FALLING NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE WHICH WILL MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.
SOT:PORTER "This is one of the reasons we do that here is to show you can cool and heat a house in the humid
southeast. You wouldn't want to heat water or electric hot water or
electric stove on this type of system. It draws too much current. ." (:14)
VO: UF EXPERTS SAY THE SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM WORKS BEST IN THE SOUTH FOR HEATING A HOME. THEY'VE HAD GREAT RESULTS RUNNING THEIR HEAT PUMP.