You Know You Want Solar, So What’s Next?… 4 Tips for Solar Shoppers
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By Laureen Peck, Vice President of Marketing, Solar Energy World
Let’s say you have decided you want to reduce your dependency on your utilities company, have pledged to spend less on your home’s energy costs and are committed to decreasing your carbon footprint. You don’t need to be convinced that getting more of your energy from renewable sources is a responsible way for you to help end your country’s dependence on foreign oil. You also hold the fervent belief that leaving a healthier, greener world for future generations is the right thing to do. You have reviewed various clean energy options and are leaning towards solar.
The problem is that when you do a Google search, although you can see there are several solar energy companies listed for your area, they all look the same and appear to offer similar savings, financial and environmental benefits. So, how can you narrow down your choice to the solar installation company most likely to answer your very specific needs? Here are a few tips that could help save you some time;
1. Be wary of automated processes. Some solar energy panel installation companies provide a calculator or “typical” costs on their website so a homeowner can estimate their energy savings, rebates and tax credits and then sometimes “order” a solar system online. The problem with this automated approach is that in order to get a truly accurate estimate, a home solar energy expert really needs to have a conversation with the homeowner(s) and ideally come to the actual installation site so they can make sure all the elements of your home’s energy usage, roof and/or yard layout, family budget, financial goals, and your home’s current energy efficiency rating are all factored into the recommended solution. There is no question that a knowledgeable human being is more accountable and helpful than a computer can possibly be. Also, it can take time for a company to update their website, so sometimes the information shown is no longer accurate as incentives and rebates change.
Although going online to gather information is a good idea, going online to get a solar installation estimate and/or order an installation package is like going online to get a comprehensive medical checkup. A good doctor does not make a diagnosis or prescribe medications to her patients based on educated guesses. A solar installation company cannot give a homeowner a customized energy solution based on guesswork either. To make certain you are getting the best solution for your needs, it is smart to schedule a free in-home analysis with a solar energy expert, preferably from a company that also provides home energy audits and is experienced making homes more energy efficient overall.
2. Trees matter – but there are other options. It’s a myth that solar energy won’t work in colder, greyer climates. Remember when your mother told you to wear sunscreen lotion, even on the cloudy days? Mom knew that UV rays still get through the clouds. The fact is that solar works in all types of climates. If that were not true, Germany, a country certainly not known for sunny weather, would not be one of the world’s top photovoltaics (PV) installers in the world. Shade is a different matter, however. If your roof is shaded, you might need to cut down a few trees, or trim them. If you don’t want to do that, but have a good amount of property and your zoning allows it, you can still use the sun to power your home by having solar panels installed on mounts. To see an example of what pole mounted solar panels can look like, click here.
3. Good customer service is proactive, not reactive. Once you have narrowed down your selection to a specific solar energy company, make sure that company will take care of you before, during and after installation.
Prior to making a commitment, find out how much of the leg work you will have to do for yourself once you agree to buy. Will you have to be the one dealing with the utilities company or filling out all the forms for energy rebates and solar energy credits? Or will your installation company do that for you? The more the solar installation company does for you, the better. The company you choose should be the experts on all of the processes and have the most recent information about money saving options that you may not be aware of. They should also be experienced managing the bureaucracy involved with utilities so you won’t have that headache to worry about.
Also prior to installation, find out if the installers are subcontractors or actual company employees. There is nothing worse than having untrained, or barely trained installers on the job. Make sure the installers work directly for the solar installation company and are accountable to that company for their performance. Keep in mind that solar installation companies, in particular larger ones that are part of national chains, hire subcontractors most of the time so if you decide to go that way there is no assurance you will be getting the most qualified workers installing your system.
Make sure the company you hire will take care of you once you buy or lease from them. The whole point of using solar panels to power your home is that there is hardly ever a need for repairs or major services. However, there are rare times when the system goes down. In this case, it will be a lot less stressful for you if you are working with a company that not only allows you to monitor your system yourself online, but also continually monitors your system for you. What this means is that you should expect that your solar installation company will be on top of any problem that might occur and will be on their way to have it fixed before you even know there was a problem. If you bought your panels from a large solar installation retailer, it’s unlikely you will get that type of proactive service.
4. Cheapest may not really be cheaper. If you want to get the most out of your solar panels and/or feel it is your patriotic duty to get panels from an American manufacturer, do your research to make certain you are making an informed investment. Not all solar panels are equal. Your panels should be designed to absorb the most solar energy possible and have a guarantee to help increase the value of your home.
Hopefully the tips above will help you with your decision to go solar. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us by email: info@solareworld.com, or by calling us at 1-866-856-4580. You can also follow us on the official Solar Energy World Facebook page.
Maryland-based Solar Energy Company Brings More Green to Belisimos’ Table
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Frank Difatta owner of Carroll County based Belisimos Italian Restaurant turned to Solar Energy World, Maryland’s fastest growing solar energy systems provider to help him reduce operating expenses and his carbon footprint at the same time. It was an innovative and forward-thinking solution and Solar Energy World, was up for the job. Solar Energy World began designing a solar installation plan for Belisimos in late 2011.
Construction began on January 2, 2012 and in only five days, Solar Energy World finished installation of nearly 3,740 square feet of solar panels on the restaurant’s roof. In addition to experiencing a speedy and painless installation process, Diafatta now stands to save $35,000 per year and to generate a strong return on investment year after year.
According to Geoff Mirkin, Vice President and Managing Partner for Solar Energy World, his company’s record growth can be attributed to customers like Difatta who care about their impact on the environment and can appreciate the exceptional customer service that Solar Energy World can bring to the table. Mirkin says his company offers a higher level of expertise and better value than many of its larger competitors who are not always locally based and often subcontract installers. “Solar Energy World’s installation teams have more than 74 years of combined roofing and electrical experience and are employed directly by our company. This ensures they are held accountable for every job they do. Our customers can rest assured they will be well taken care of.”
“We aren’t the Walmart of Solar and we don’t want to be.” states Laureen Peck, Vice President of Marketing. “We believe in providing discerning homeowners and business owners like Frank, with quality work coupled with an easy process. In addition to dealing with utilities’ paperwork and procedures for our customers, all of our installations are done by actual Solar Energy World employees who take pride in their work.”
Diafatta sums it up this way, “The Solar Energy World guys made it really easy for me to go green and make more green at the same time.”
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Do You Get It?… Home Solar Isn’t Really That Complicated
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By Laureen Peck, Vice President of Marketing, Solar Energy World
Many consumers, even those who consider themselves greenies, won’t bother to investigate purchasing solar energy systems for their home. Even the smartest consumers among us have a difficult time understanding how solar could possibly be a viable, affordable energy choice. Many of us just don’t “get it”. This disconnect happens for the simple reason that communication about the personal benefit solar can bring to a homeowner as well as the economic benefit it can bring to our nation is lacking.
First, the American news media (and not just AM radio or Fox News) has done a terrible job of articulating how solar energy is actually a responsible energy choice for American homeowners. We Americans are bombarded daily with news stories that support our addiction to fossil fuels. For example, there are twice as many news stories about the Keystone Pipeline and the economic benefits it might bring to America, than there are about the economic benefits that solar energy is providing. In addition there is a lot of noise made by politicians and pundits who seem almost gleeful when an American company like Solyndra fails because this supports their political viewpoint that there is no market in America for solar.
Of course, this is total nonsense. When the horseless carriage was first invented, some start-up auto manufacturers went out of business, but obviously others survived and prospered. Those who are selling the idea that solar is not ready for prime time and so should be ignored either do not know what they are talking about, or stand to benefit from killing competitors to the fossil fuel industry.
The fact is that the solar energy industry is actually booming and as a result, it is creating lots of green jobs every year. Solar industry leaders in America are working hard to make the USA a leading manufacturer and exporter of solar technologies with the goal to one day we can outperform China. However, stories about the positive economic benefits of solar are few and far between.
The marketing and advertising done by solar panel installation and solar manufacturing companies is not working as well as it could either. Aside from California based REC’s “Expose Solar” campaign, most solar installation companies have mediocre advertising that looks and sounds the same and contains a lot of technical jargon that might appeal to fellow engineers, but not so much to consumers.
I was hired by Solar Energy World recently to head up marketing and I can see that I have many communications challenges to overcome. What I have learned so far is that most consumers already understand that solar is better for the environment. Some even understand the potential for a strong return on investment that installing a home solar system on their home can bring. However, the falsehoods and misconceptions about solar energy for homeowners still dominates the discussion, dampening the enthusiasm of those who might be perfect candidates for home solar, stopping them from investigating further.
So, I will be working hard over the next years to help dispel some of the misinformation that is spewed out by the media and others who stand to benefit from keeping the status quo alive. (Stay tuned. A new ad campaign is coming soon.) In the meantime, here is a list of some of the most common falsehoods consumers hear (and many believe) every day:
FALSEHOOD: Solar Isn’t Affordable.
TRUTH: Solar PV technologies have declined in price every year since they were introduced onto the market, driven by improved research and development, and most of all by steady increases in sales volume. Every solar panel purchased makes the next one cheaper, in stark contrast to non-renewable sources, which become scarcer and more expensive with every ton burned. In addition, most states and the federal government offer generous solar rebates, tax credits and other incentives available that make it much more affordable for homeowners.
FALSEHOOD: It takes too long to get a return on my investment.
TRUTH: Homeowners will see a return on investment in a few years, not in decades.
FALSEHOOD: Solar is only a cottage industry and appeals to small niche markets.
TRUTH: The solar industry segment has been growing by more than 35% per year over the past 2 years. In 2001, PV module shipments closed in on the 400-megawatt mark, representing a $2.5 to $3 billion market. The U.S.-based industry itself is now approaching $1 billion per year and providing 25,000 jobs. It’s expected to grow to the $10-$15 billion level in the next 20 years, providing 300,000 jobs by 2025. This sustained growth exceeds that of the semiconductor industry. A market shift has sparked the recent growth in the PV industry. It has shifted from almost completely remote, off-grid, and consumer products to nearly 60% grid-connected, distributed power. And these applications don’t represent small niche markets. They represent the significant growth path for PV — the true distributed power source.
FALSEHOOD: Current solar technology will soon be outdated and I will have to pay for an upgrade.
TRUTH: Solar is a technology that has been around for decades. Although the industry has been experiencing record growth, the technology itself remains stable and dependable.
CAN WE HELP YOU “GET” SOLAR? To receive a thorough consultation to explore how solar could work for your home and budget, schedule an appointment with one of our solar consultants by clicking here: www.solareworld.com. You might be surprised by what you learn.
Laureen Peck: info@solareworld.com
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2011 Solar Round Up
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Currently there are more solar energy projects planned than any other energy producers including natural gas, coal, oil, wind, and nuclear. Between 2009 and 2010 alone, installations grew by an astounding 109%, and installations of solar panels have doubled over the past year while on track to double again in 2012. And no wonder, with the cost of solar panels and their systems constantly falling, a plethora of new government subsidies and tax rebates, combined with constantly fluctuating traditional energy prices, solar energy just makes sense.
According to the US Department of Energy, the sun above us projects more clean, renewable energy onto the Earth in one hour than humans use in an entire year. The ability to harness that clean energy is steadily growing cheaper and more accessible. And it is becoming a mainstream idea. New polling finds that 9 out of 10 Americans support solar and believe it is a critical piece of future energy policy.
With solar panels now atop municipal light poles and parking meters, traffic lights and school crossing signs, not to mention both old and new commercial and residential properties, its increasingly easy to generate energy at the location it’s needed most. People and governments are starting to recognize this benefit as well since it decreases the volume required by traditional energy grids to handle and transmit. Much easier to place and use, solar energy is becoming more and more widespread as society recognizes its benefits.
As we head into 2012 solar energy will continue to produce increasingly larger shares of the nation’s energy networks while decreasing environmental pollutions associated with energy production at a cost saving rate to the consumer. To see how you can benefit and become part of the future, schedule an energy audit today before tax breaks and subsidies expire.
*Photo is © Copyright Caroline Hampton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
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Solar Energy Jobs Empowering American Families in a Clean & Green Economy
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Position |
Pay( $, per hour)* |
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Solar Installer Helper |
$10-15 |
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Systems Installer |
$14-20 |
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Solar & PV Installer: Roofer |
$15-23 |
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Solar Residential Electrician |
$17-31 |
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Commerical Installer |
$17-31 |
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Commerical Foreman |
$25-38 |
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Systems Designer |
$22-29 |
If you have a Bachelors degree, Trade School Training, or Apprenticeship, you can find many other jobs within the solar energy industry:
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Position |
Pay ** |
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Commercial Installer Engineer |
$31.50 hour |
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Thermoelectric Plant Manger |
$74-88k per annum |
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Solar Cell Designer |
$77-91k per annum |
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Solar Energy Engineer |
$75-80k per annum |
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PV Power Systems Engineer |
$76-88k per annum |
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Solar Energy Sales |
$45-85k per annum |
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Solar Energy Physicists |
$106k per annum (avg) |
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Solar Energy Chemists |
$68k per annum (avg) |
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Solar Energy Software Developers |
$96k per annum (avg) |
The above information provides just a quick snapshot of many jobs and careers within the growing solar energy industry. Unlike the coal and oil industries that rely on machines to extract fuel, the solar energy industry relies on labor itself to research, design, and install solar systems. All of this labor is provided by the people in your communities. With more solar energy projects slated for production than traditional energy (oil, coal) and other new technologies (wind, hydro), there is tremendous opportunities for growth and employment in the future of clean, and natural solar energy.
Interested in learning about new positions in solar energy? Check here.
* – Environmental Defense Fund Green Job Report
** – Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics; Green Jobs: Solar Power
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Solar Home, Solar Car
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Solar energy is an exciting field (ok, maybe not to everyone, but we LOVE it) and each week brings exciting new technologies and opportunities. From time to time we like to highlight news related to solar energy, beyond that standard photovoltaic, rooftop panel, and how it may change the future of how we operate. With exploding demand for solar powered homes, more and more home owners are finding new ways to use their cheap, unlimited energy resource, and change the way they work, live, and play.
Some of these homeowners in California and the UK (and forward thinking commercial developers) have begun installing power stations in their garages for charging electric and hybrid vehicles. These are simple to have installed, and are increasingly coming with their own sets of tax breaks and government subsidies. With more and more automobile manufacturers producing electric cars and their prices falling, it makes perfect sense to combine an electric powered car with your solar powered home. New systems can be installed with circuitry able to charge your car while you sleep. You come home from your day, plug in, and when morning comes you’re ready to go! The best part is that not only did you not have to spend money filling up your car with expensive, polluting gasoline, but the energy you used to charge your car was generated, in part, from solar energy. Not only are you saving money, but you’re also saving the environment.
Commercial developers are starting to install solar powered charging stations at offices, malls, and some college campuses as well. It’s easy and simple to charge your car while you shop, dine, work, or play. While a mall charging station may charge a fee for charging your car, it is considerably less than the price of gas, and you have the peace of mind of knowing that you can run your errands without contributing to greenhouse gases, all thanks to our ever present sun.
Net Metering
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Net metering is a terrific advantage of having a solar energy system. For those without a solar energy technology background, net metering is when you provide excess power to energy companies for use on their grids. For example, if your home or business produces more energy than consumed, that excess energy is sold back to your local utility providing you with decreased electric bills or, in some cases, even a refund.
There are currently no national standards for net metering, but Maryland solar experts can tell you the state’s standards are at that top of the table. Any of our energy auditors can easily explain your available options depending on where you live and any local regulations. Once you have a net metering monitor installed with your solar energy system, it’s almost as simple as “set it, and forget it!” Your metering system will monitor your daily consumption use, and compare it toward your daily energy production while keeping a record of the differences. It will also track the date and times of your energy use and any spikes or drops.
The benefit of tracking this information allows utilities, and yourself, to develop the best energy rates. Solar energy systems will naturally produce more energy and power during daytime hours while the sun is out, which also coincides with the highest demand times for energy. If your system produces more energy than you need during that time, you can “sell” that excess energy at a premium rate since energy demand is high. At night time, when demand is low and your system isn’t producing as much energy, you are then “buying” electric at a decreased amount since demand is normally lower. Net metering provides for a simple way to monitor your rate exchange with your utility company.
The US Energy Policy Act of 2006 requires utilities to provide each residential and commercial end energy user with net metering. This dramatically helps to streamline opportunities to work with your local utility and ultimately provide you with the cheapest energy in today’s market.
How solar energy impacts the economy
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Solar energy has a positive impact in not only the Maryland solar economy, but the national economy as well. The first, and most obvious example, is the decrease in the use of foreign imported oil as an energy source. In 2010, the US imported 19.1 million barrels of foreign oil a day. This is estimated to cost more than $200,000 a minute – over $25 billion a year – that is being spent on foreign oil imports. This is money leaving our country, and contributing to our national trade deficit. Renewable, sustainable solar power can help keep that money in the United States.
As a whole, the solar energy industry grew a total of 67% between 2009 and 2010. Nationally, solar energy is now responsible for over 100,000 American jobs, in over 5,000 businesses in every state. These workers are primarily employed by small to middle-size companies in local communities. Many of these companies are able to take advantage of tax credits for new hires as well. Right here in Maryland, the state is offering $5,000 for new hires in the field of renewable energy. This explosive growth has helped spur the creation of new jobs and provided employment for various companies involved in the renewable energy industry.
There are many more ways solar energy benefits the economy, directly and indirectly. By reducing your home’s use of traditional energy sources, you help keep natural ecosystems intact, reducing tax payer funded clean-ups and potentially devastating oil spills like the recent BP disaster along the Gulf Coast. If your photovoltaic solar panels generate more energy than your home uses, you can sell back energy to your local utility company, leaving more money in your pocket to spend at restaurants, movie theaters, or financial investments.
Solar History: The Vatican and Solar Power
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Solar energy continues to make strides toward mainstream acceptance. In the beginning, though, there were some prominent early adaptors to the technology. In 2007, the Vatican announced plans to install a solar power system, and in 2008 work began on the rooftop of Nervi Hall.
Pope Benedict XVI has made a commitment to preserving the earth and is the first pontiff to embrace solar technology. The 2,400 photovoltaic panels are primarily used to heat and cool the hall, capable of holding up to 10,000 people. The panels, donated and estimated to be worth 1.5 million dollars, produce 300MWh of clean energy a year, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 225,000 kilograms annually.
The project is part of Pope Benedict XVI’s goal to have the Vatican produce 20% of its energy from alternative supplies by 2020. Currently, the city-state has the most solar installed per capita of any nation. Additionally, there have been talks to transform the popular “pope mobile” into a hybrid, however given emergency concerns with the Pope’s privacy, plans are still in development.
Large, solar projects like the one installed at the Vatican have both the largest environmental impact, but also the largest return on investment. Solar energy is a perfect option for commercial use since they can be installed on almost any building and have a high return rate. Solar Energy World has a whole department dedicated to commercial installations and offers free consultations to see if solar is right for your business.
Solar Quiz
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Think you know all the benefits of solar energy? Here is a quick quiz to test your knowledge. You might be surprised about what you discover.
1. A 1 kilo-watt home solar system prevents how many pounds of coal from being burned each month?
A. 7
B. 170
C. 80
D. 12
Answer: B. By fitting your home with a 1 kilowatt home system, you can prevent about 170 pounds of coal from being burned for energy consumption. This helps reduce the release of CO2 gasses into the Earth’s atmosphere, possibly alleviating the effects of chronic asthma and mitigating effects of global warming.
2. Renewable energy creates more jobs than fossil fuels: True or False?
True. A study from the University of California Berkley Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory concluded that per unit of energy, the renewable energy industry has a greater impact on job growth and economic expansion versus fossil fuel production. For more information regarding the impact of solar energy on job growth, you and find the full report here.
3. How much solar energy is produced by 1 square meter of direct sunlight per hour?
A. 20 watts
B. 140 watts
C. 1000 watts
D. 800 watts
Answer: C. Every square meter of the Earth’s surface can produce up to 1000 watts of energy per hour when facing direct sunlight. If every square meter on the surface of the Earth had a solar panel, it would create approximately 120 trillion kilowatts of electricity!
4. Today’s fossil fuels are the direct result of solar energy: True or False?
Answer: True. All of today’s fossil fuels are the direct result of sunlight provided millions of years ago. Today’s oil and natural gas are the carbon based remains of plants and animals that lived and died millions of years ago. Solar energy is truly a never ending provider.
5. Solar energy will no longer be available after:
A. 2020
B. Jupiter blocks the Earth’s sun
C. Earth’s gravity fails
D. 3100
Answer: Trick question! Solar energy will never cease to be a viable, renewable source of energy as long as Earth has a sun. Most scientists predict that our sun will live for another 12 billion years, so it’s a safe bet that installing solar panels at your home or business will provide you with abundant energy for many years to come.