Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 12:36 pm
Solare Energy has a new pre-paid Purchasing Power Agreement (PPA) offer that allows homeowners to go solar for less than ever and with full 20 year monitoring and performance coverage. It is a 20 year power purchase agreement, where the homeowner is paying upfront for the electricity to be produced by the solar system. The system will be installed by Solare Energy and will be owned by the financing company. Some highlights include:
-Lower cost than buying system in cash by having financing company take the higher commercial government incentives.
-Top performing, made in the US photovoltaic panels from SolarWorld.
-Monitoring, maintenance and performance guaranteed for 20 years.
-Flexible options at end of term: have financing company take the system away at no cost or buy the system at fair market value (expected to be $1 at end of term) and keep saving for another 15-20 years.
Call us today at 800-411-SOLAR to have one of our building analysts put together a pre-paid PPA proposal for you. Don’t wait as incentives will be reduced at the end of 2011 and pricing for systems installed in 2012 will be higher.
Friday, August 12th, 2011 10:54 am
As published in Pomerado News (http://www.pomeradonews.com/2011/08/10/energy-efficiency-and-solar-combine-for-maximum-savings-and-consumer-benefits/) and Ramona Sentinel (http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2011/08/10/energy-efficiency-and-solar-combine-for-maximum-savings-and-consumer-benefits/)
Energy efficiency and solar combine for maximum savings and consumer benefits
By Jose Luis Contreras
Heightened energy costs and scorching temperatures are sending end-of-summer electricity bills through the roof; and as the season draws to a close, consumers across the nation are searching for ways to cut costs in the years to come. Some may opt to simply suffer the heat without air conditioning; others will choose to install a solar system to reduce electricity costs. But when it comes to balancing comfort and consumer savings, industry experts recommend combining cost-effective energy efficiency measures with smaller solar systems – a solution that not only saves money, but also costs consumers far less in the long run.
Electricity bills have skyrocketed in recent months – and unfortunately, San Diego is no exception to the trend. The average electricity consumption rate for a single family detached home in San Diego County is about 675 kWh per month. In June of 1999, that meant an electric bill of $71 – but now, thanks to rising costs, that same consumption will result in an electric bill of $150. The increase corresponds to an average annual increase of 6.4% — meaning that, in twelve years’ time, consumers can expect to pay $315 in electricity costs for every 675 kWh used.
For many San Diego homeowners, solar power systems have provided at least some relief from astronomical electricity costs. While the systems require an upfront investment, most solar panels come with a substantial warranty and will produce electricity for up to 40 years at practically no operating cost. The savings on electric bills from a solar power system will cover the investment in 6-8 years for most homeowners, leaving them with free electricity for another 20-30 years. (For example, a homeowner with a $150 average electricity bill today can either buy a solar power system for $17,500 — after state and federal incentives — or pay $150,000 over the next 30 years to SDG&E for the same amount of electricity). Recent statistics from the California Solar Initiative reflect the draw of such savings: over the last five years, more than 8,000 homeowners in San Diego have installed solar power systems – and according to the Los Angeles Times, attractive financing options that allow homeowners to install solar with little or no money down are helping boost that number with each passing year.
Save more with an expert energy audit – right here in San Diego
While solar power systems yield moderate savings, the combination of solar power and energy efficiency results in even greater gains for budget-wise consumers. According to the Wall Street Journal, energy advocates have been trying for several years now to shift both government and consumer focus from solar production to efficient consumption. These advocates maintain that, with a greater emphasis on basic adjustments like insulation, duct sealing and LED bulbs, consumers can drastically cut the amount of energy wasted on heating, cooling and lighting. All it takes is a custom energy audit to figure out the right efficiency improvements; and as a result, San Diego homeowners can invest 10-40% less than what is needed to install an average solar system into energy efficiency measures and smaller-scale solar installation – a switch that ultimately offers the consumer maximum energy and financial savings for the long haul.
Efficiency alterations may sound daunting: after all, every home uses energy differently and there are no generic solutions that are cost effective for everyone. But with the help of an expert energy auditor, homeowners can identify the optimal solution that combines the right energy efficiency measures and solar power system size. At Solare Energy, our certified energy auditors conduct free home assessments to determine the ideal combination of solar power and energy efficiency for each home. Established in 1989, we are one of the largest installers of solar and energy efficiency systems in San Diego. To find out more about our services, visit us online: www.solareenergy.com.
Thursday, August 11th, 2011 3:13 pm
We recently received our first electric vehicle. It is a 2011 Nissan Leaf, and we are charging the vehicle with solar power, making it a true zero emissions vehicle.
We will be running tests and modeling the financial impact of using an electric vehicle in a home with solar and a home without solar. While auto dealers and unshophisticated solar contractors point to average electricity rates and solar costs, the true financial impact is much more complicated. SDG&E has a series of optional rates available to homeowners that have electric vehicles and/or solar systems. In some cases, you will be better served by a time of use rate that allows you to sell the electricity from your solar system to SDG&E during the peak hours at $0.29/kWh, they buy back the electricity from SDG&E at $0.10/kWh to power your electric vehicle in the middle of the night. In other situations, it will be better for you to stay with your tiered electric rate and have a separate meter only for charging the electric vehicle in the middle of the night for which you will be paying less than $0.10/kWh.
Don't waste potential savings. Each home uses electricity differently and standard solutions produce sub-optimal benefits. Have us produce a free custom analysis that maximizes the benefits of an electric vehicle and solar system for your home. Call us today at 800-411-SOLAR.
Thursday, August 11th, 2011 1:20 pm
San Diego, CA, August 11, 2011. Installing solar panels in San Diego and making energy efficiency upgrades to homes with Solare Energy just got even easier and lower in cost. San Diego solar installer Solare Energy is introducing two new solar power financing options, a Purchasing Power Agreement and a subsidized low interest long term loan.
The Purchasing Power Agreement, or PPA, allows homeowners to buy electricity at $0.18 to $0.23 per kWh from the solar PPA provider, instead of paying SDG&E $0.30 to $0.32/kWh. That is a savings of 23% to 44%. As rates go up over time, the savings also increase. The PPA provider will install the solar panels on the homeowners roof and sign a 20 yr agreement with the homeowner to supply solar power at the low predetermined rate. All of this allows homeowners to start saving money immediately on their electricity bills, lock in their electricity cost for the next 20 years, and see their savings grow over time, all of this with $0 down.
For those customers who would rather own the solar power system, Solare Energy is introducing a new loan that is subsidized with stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This loan has a fixed 3% rate and a 15 year term, and is available to homeowners in San Diego County.
“Solare Energy continues to work hard to bring the benefits and savings of solar systems to a broader market,” said Jose Luis Contreras, President of Solare Energy. “Over the last five years, most solar customers paid cash; the ones that financed were using high cost financing that took away most of their savings. Now, customers can install solar systems and energy efficiency upgrades with no money down and still get to enjoy the savings.”
John Davis, VP of Energy Assessments and Sales said “With our new financing options, homeowners that have a low average monthly bill in the $80-$150 range can now go solar with no money down and save money from day one. Customers with a higher bill will now save even more. About 8,000 homeowners have installed solar power systems in San Diego over the last five years. With financing options like these and electric rates continuing to skyrocket, we expect that number to grow exponentially over the next few years.”
About Solare Energy
Established in 1989, Solare Energy is one of the largest installers of solar panels and energy efficiency systems in San Diego County. Solare Energy has unmatched contracting experience in the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV), solar water heating, solar pool heating, lighting, air sealing, duct sealing, heating, air conditioning, and pool pump systems. The company has a B (General) and C-10 (Electrical) contractor license #941109. For more information about Solare Energy and their financing options, please visit www.SolareEnergy.com/financing-options or call 800-411-SOLAR.
Friday, June 3rd, 2011 12:46 am
Solare Energy has been selected as the installer for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sold at Magnolia Design Centers inside Best Buy stores in San Diego County. Executives with Best Buy and Magnolia evaluated a number of solar installers in San Diego and selected Solare Energy as the best option as a result of the contractor's experience, professionalism, and high level of satisfaction with existing customers.
Friday, June 3rd, 2011 12:34 am
Solare Energy is partnering with San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union to offer customers of solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy efficiency systems new attractive unsecured loans with low interest rates, low closing costs, and terms of up to 15 years. As a result of this new financing option, Solare Energy customers without equity in their home can now finance solar and energy efficiency systems with no money down, and enjoy monthly utility bill savings that are higher than the loan payments.
For a free consultation, contact us at 800-411-SOLAR (800-411-7652) or at www.SolareEnergy.com.
Friday, May 13th, 2011 12:43 pm
The industry experienced year-over-year growth in 2010 of 67 percent, based on revenue numbers for installed solar systems from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “We haven’t found any other industry that grew faster,” said SEIA spokesperson Monique Hanis. "We are seeing unprecedented geographic diversity as well. I like to call this my Sweet Sixteen map. Last year, 16 states installed more than 10 MW; that's up from 4 states in 2007. Already, the Mid-Atlantic region is beating California as the largest market in the U.S. for PV installations,” she said.
The U.S. solar industry also is poised for more growth in the coming years. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. will have need for more than 3 gigawatts of new photovoltaics by 2015. That's enough solar to power more than half a million homes. And that’s just one region of the country. “Right now, there’s a total of 23 gigawatts of solar projects across the U.S.,” Hanis said. Over the next four years, the majority of the growth will occur in the southwest as huge utility-scale projects come online, according to Hanis.
Monday, May 9th, 2011 8:17 pm
San Diego, CA, May 9, 2011. Solare Energy is now sixth among solar installers in San Diego. Recently released data by the California Solar Initiative places Solare Energy as the sixth largest in volume for residential solar panel installation in San Diego County for the first quarter of 2011. Solare Energy leaped to the sixth largest from being the eighteenth largest in 2010 among the 250 solar installers in San Diego County.
“Solare Energy continues to gain market share among solar installers in San Diego by offering customers more attractive solutions,” said Jose Luis Contreras, President of Solare Energy. The company combines solar panel installation with other energy saving measures that allow customers to eliminate their electric utility bills at a lower upfront investment.
Solare Energy also differentiates itself from solar installers in San Diego by employing a highly professional and knowledgeable sales force. “Our sales staff is comprised of highly trained and certified energy auditors that design optimal solutions for each home and present them in a highly professional manner,” said John Davis, VP of Sales and Energy Assessments. “Customers recognize that we have the most knowledgeable and trustworthy sales staff, and that is the main reason they are choosing us at an increased rate to install their solar system.”
Customers of Solare Energy often get their solar energy systems with no money down. The company offers a complete suite of financing options, including home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, unsecured loans, leases, and purchase power agreements. In most cases, the monthly utility bill savings will cover the financing payments and still leave additional savings for homeowners.
About Solare Energy
Established in 1989, Solare Energy is one of the largest installers of solar panels and energy efficiency systems in San Diego County. Solare Energy has unmatched contracting experience in the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV), solar water heating, solar pool heating, lighting, air sealing, duct sealing, heating, air conditioning, and pool pump systems. The company has a B (General) and C-10 (Electrical) contractor license #941109. For more information about Solare Energy, please visit www.SolareEnergy.com or call 800-411-SOLAR.
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 10:08 am
Conservation means sitting in the dark. Efficiency means installing lights that use one-fourth the energy, and letting an automatic sensor turn them off when you leave. If each household in the U.S. replaced four 100-watt bulbs with compact fluorescents, we would save the energy output of THIRTY 300-MW power plants.
For a free home energy assessment to determine how you can save money on your energy bill, please contact Solare Energy at (800) 411-SOLAR, or visit us at www.SolareEnergy.com
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 2:46 pm
Home Energy Score Program Aims to Boost Retrofits
by: Martin LaMonica
The Obama administration today launched of an energy efficiency program that will provide consumers with a home efficiency rating.
Vice President Joe Biden, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and other officials announced that the initiative, called the Home Energy Score program, is now in pilot phase in ten communities. The DOE also announced a set of guidelines for home efficiency workers which provide specifications for high-quality work.
The program is designed to encourage homeowners to make energy-saving upgrades and to jump-start the industry for home energy retrofits, Biden said in a statement. It will also include financing for homeowners and software that will let energy contractors give consumers the home efficiency equivalent of miles per gallon for cars.
(Credit: U.S. Department of Energy) After an energy audit, the software system will generate a label, called a Home Energy Score, that rates on a scale of one to ten how much energy a home uses and what the potential energy savings can be after upgrades, such as adding insulation, air sealing, and more efficient heating and cooling.
Having a numerical score will show consumers how much money they spend on energy annually and make them more likely to invest energy upgrades, Chu said in a statement. Based on the findings of the pilot program, the DOE expects to roll it out nationally next year.
Consumers can apply for up to $25,000 in PowerSaver loans through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which expects that 24,000 homes will qualify during a two-year pilot program, according to USA Today.
This home energy retrofit program follows a $5 billion weatherization investment that was part of the stimulus package last year. Another effort is Home Star, nicknamed Cash for Caulkers, which would provide rebates to consumers for investing in energy efficiency retrofits.
Home Star was a component to different energy bills considered by members of Congress over the past two years but has not yet passed. It also had a rating system and method for overseeing the quality of the work done by contractors.
One of the challenges to the energy retrofit business is having qualified workers who can recommend valuable home efficiency work and then verify the results. An audit done by the DOE's Inspector General Office of Audit Services of the stimulus weatherization program in Illinois found "substandard performance" in the assessments, the actual weatherization work, and contractor billing.
The Home Energy Score initiative, which came out of a report called Recovery Through Retrofits (click for PDF), will "help take same of the guesswork out of making energy-efficient upgrades to our homes," the Consumers Union, the non-profit which publishes Consumer Reports, said in a statement.
Consumers should realize, though, that energy-efficiency upgrade decisions are very specific to individual homes, said Matt Golden, the president of Recurve, which makes software and provides energy retrofit services. He added that the standards and codes that DOE are providing will be very useful to home efficiency professionals.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20022184-54.html#ixzz14p9Avs00
For a free home energy assessment to determine how you can save money on your energy bill, please contact Solare Energy at (800) 411-SOLAR, or visit us at www.SolareEnergy.com
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