Group discounts for solar power?

Group discounts for solar power, offered through companies like One Block Off the Grid, are an especially smart move for a number of reasons.  First, the cost of solar panels is often off-putting to homeowners.  Second, the idea that other people in your neighborhood or region also are installing solar panels may give you an idea of community, or belonging, especially where some people still regard solar power as a “fringe” idea.

Dave Llorens, founder of 1BOG, comments:

“The idea was to put this online and deliver it to thousands of people at a time.  No one wants to have a salesman in their living room, they just want the numbers.”

In order to obtain group discounts for solar power for its potential customers, One Block Off the Grid screens solar contractors in regions that already offer solar subsidies.  The company then works with approved contractors to get them to offer a percentage discount when and if 1BOG brings a large enough group of customers.  If a deal is reached, it is offered on the One Block Off the Grid website.  The only “catch” is that the estimated number of people must agree to buy the panels in order to get the deal.  Usually, people looking to buy solar panels can realize a discount of about 15% in addition to a $500 rebate.

The cost of solar panels is usually much less using group discounts.  Mr. Llorens states that 1BOG only offers deals with a return on investment (ROI)  of 10 years or less.

Floating solar panels

Since 2007, SPG Solar has been promoting its floating solar panels to government officials and commercial enterprises, such as wineries and industrial mine owners.  Floating solar panels, or “floatovoltaics” as they are cleverly called, can help increase the use of solar power where it might not otherwise be practical or possible.

So what does this entail?

Instead of installing solar panels on rooftops, or even ground-mounted, floating solar panels rest on pontoons on a body of water.  For example, at Far Niente Winery, one of its irrigation pond holds 994 solar panels to help generate clean, green, free solar electricity.

And, Why is this helpful to the company?  According to Larry Maguire, Far Niente’s CEO:

“Vineyard land in this part of the Napa Valley runs somewhere between $200,000 and $300,000 an acre.  We wanted to go solar but we didn’t want to pull out vines.”

Beyond vineyards, other commercial uses could benefit from floating solar panels.  For example, an owner of an industrial gravel mine is considering Floatovoltaics for a settling pond where traditional solar panels may not work otherwise.  Golf courses, amusement parks and other similar uses are also prime candidates for this solar technology.

Would floating solar panels work for your business?  Using prime “real estate” like ponds with ample sunlight exposure may be just the answer to reducing energy costs and carbon footprints.

Where does it pay to go solar in the U.S.?

Ever wonder about the top three states in the U.S. with solar potential?  If you guessed California, Florida and Arizona, you are only 1 for 3!

Arizona State University’s School of Business recently named Arizona, Colorado and Georgia as the top three states with solar potential.  In other words, people who live in these states would benefit most from converting to solar power.

The findings of the report were determined based on the current cost of grid-based electricity, the amount of sunlight each state receives on an annual basis, and state-by-state solar initiatives.  Where power costs more, residents may be more inclined to switch to renewable energy resources like solar energy.

The study, published in The Electricity Journal, ranked states in the U.S. with respect to generation and consumption of solar energy.

“We see a growing trend by states to increase the importance of renewable electricity generation,” says assistant research professor Matthew Croucher, who authored the report. “However, the biggest take-away from this study is that if the U.S. is serious about maximizing the societal benefits of solar generation, then we need to look at the national level at how different states can serve not only their own needs, but also those of other states with less ability to create electricity using solar technologies.”

And its not only homeowners that can benefit from installing solar panels.  Commercial enterprises, government entities and institutions should also consider going solar if they have properties in the top three states with solar potential.

The full study, including the rankings of all 50 states, can be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/10406190. It is called the “Optimal Deployment of Solar Index.”

Even if you rent, you can still tap into solar power (image from Wayne National Forest on Flickr)

Renewable energy is hot these days, and prices just keep falling, particularly when combined with ample tax credits and other incentives.

But what if you are not a homeowner?  Lack of control over the property in which you live may seem like a problem.

But I’m here to tell you that solar power for renters is possible!  Whether you live in a condo, duplex or apartment, solar power can be your source of clean, renewable energy.

Admittedly, the two biggest hurdles to installing solar panels are cost and property ownership.  Yet with the multitude of solar financing options, there are now programs that make it easier to encourage your landlord to go for solar power.

In California, for example, the Multi-Family Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) program, qualifying apartment buildings may be eligible to receive additional solar incentives. The goals of the program are to:

• Stimulate the adoption of solar power in the affordable housing sector;
• Improve energy utilization and overall quality of affordable housing through the application of solar and energy efficiency technologies;
• Decrease electricity use and costs without
  increasing monthly household expenses for
  affordable housing building occupants; and
• Increase awareness and appreciation of the benefits of solar among affordable housing
  occupants and developers.

When special government programs are not an option, you may be able to deal directly with the utility company through solar shares or renewable energy offsets.  As renters generally pay utility bills directly to the electric company, this provides more control over the type of electricity that is provided to the unit – simply by checking a box on a form. Sure, you may pay slightly more than the average utility customer, but you may decide that going green is worth the extra investment.

Check out this video for information about Renewable Energy Certificates:

Another potential option for renters who want to go solar is to draw on energy generated by community solar arrays.  Some cities in sunny locales like Tuscon and Sacramento have built municipal solar arrays from which they sell solar shares to renters or homeowners who cannot afford or otherwise are unable to install their own solar panels.

The bottom line is that going solar need not be limited to those with property ownership.  Renters can take control over the type of energy they use by seeking housing units included in a MASH program, or by looking into renewable energy certificates and/or community solar shares.

Why not look into it today?

Thinking about installing solar panels this year?

One of the most common questions I get on this blog is: where can I find solar panels for sale?  Of course, the answer will vary depending on your location.  But there are a number of solar panel and solar cell manufacturers in the USA.

The following is a list of American solar manufacturers from which you can begin your research to determine which solar components might best fit your needs.  We are not affiliated with any of these companies, nor is the list meant to be a ranking.  In fact, we’ll simply put them in alphabetical order.

1.  Advent Solar: Manufacturer of advanced technology solar cells and modules.

2. Alps Technology: Designs, manufacturers and makes solar cell and solar module products for commercial, industrial and telecommunication applications worldwide.

3.  AmeriSolar:  Manufacturer of solar modules marketed to a range of customers including governments, businesses, military, cities, and rural areas.

Find American solar manufacturers for your project

4.  Atlantis Energy Inc.:  The world’s first manufacturer of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products.  Two product lines include PV roofing shingles and PV glass laminates.

5.  Blue Square Energy: Manufacturer of high performance silicon solar cells.

6.  DayStar Technologies:  Development and commercialization of solar electric power generation technologies, including flexible and rigid PV modules, building integrated components and ultra light weight space PV cells.

7.  Energy Conversion Devices: Energy generation, energy storage (batteries), and information technology.

8.  Evergreen Solar:  Developer and manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, used in remote power and emerging grid-connected markets.

9.  Greenbrilliance: Manufactures Poly-Si/Mono-Si PV modules in India. The company distributes/provides solar-power systems & services worldwide.

10.  Innovalight:  Developer of light-activated power generating products based on a solvent-based silicon nanomaterial platform.

11.  Kyocera Solar: Kyocera is the world’s largest vertically-integrated producer and supplier of solar energy products. Our solar division has headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and regional sales centers on five continents, Kyocera Solar, Inc (KSI), our North American solar products subsidiary, services thousands of customers in both the developed and developing world.

12.  Miasolé:  Joining together conventional CIGS cell structure with a proven high-volume manufacturing technology, Miasolé is working toward improving cost efficiency and reliability for the solar industry.

In the market for solar panels?

13. Solaicx:  Developing and implementing solar-manufacturing technology that yields low-cost, high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic material.

14.  Suniva:  Developer and manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic cells. Suniva’s focus is solely on silicon PV cell technology.

15.  Sunovia: Working to develop a solar cell derived from one of the most advanced infrared materials in the world, to capture a broader spectrum of light.

16. SunPower:  Designer and and manufacturer of high-performance silicon solar cells and PV panels.

17. SunWize: Manfacturer, marketer and installer of residential, commercial and industrial solar power systems.

18. TerraSolar:  Developer, manufacturer and and marketer of solar power products for distributed residential, commercial, and industrial markets.  Incorporates state of the art manufacturing technology to produce lowest-cost solar electric technologies available on the market today.

Time to make 2010 your year to go solar!  Why not review the web sites of these American solar manufacturers and find solar panels for sale today?

Saving Money with Solar Energy is Easier than you Think

Saving money with solar energy has become easier than ever recently!  Don’t believe me?

Well, let’s go over a few fundamentals.  These are among the top reasons to go solar:

• Installing solar panels is like insurance against future rising energy costs – put them in now, and you’ll have access to free solar energy for at least 25-30 years
• Government tax rebates and incentives can dramatically reduce the upfront costs of solar panels.  Instead of paying $10-20,000, how about $5,000-7,000 (or less)?
• For every $1 you reduce your annual utility bills, your property increases in value by $20.  Think of it as extra return on investment beyond significantly lower electric bills
• Other government programs, like no money down or solar loan programs, are also available to help defray costs, depending on your location
• If more of us converted to solar energy, the entire planet could save more money that will need to be spent in responding to crises like hurricanes, forest fires, droughts, etc. that will plague the Earth as global climate change worsens

As reported on a recent San Francisco, California news broadcast:

“Most people can expect their energy bills to go up, but those who use solar energy say the opposite is true. So, it is no wonder that solar may be one of the few recession-proof industries around.”

One person interviewed for the story stated:

“This most recent bill was $3.50. The same billing cycle the year before we got solar was $82.60.”

Reasons to go solar are abundant!

In areas of the world, like sunny California, people agree that there are reasons to go solar because the sun shines often.  But even in cloudy locales, such as Germany, you can be saving money with solar energy in no time.  This is because excess energy generated on brighter days can be sold back into the grid, with the consumer receiving a utility bill credit in the next cycle.  Plus, new solar technology has increased the efficiency of solar panels, even to the point of working after the sun goes down.

Turning back to the San Francisco solar story, there is more great news for the price of solar power:

Lynn Jurich, the president and founder of San Francisco-based Sun Run, says her company’s business increased 300 percent this year.

“Solar is on sale. The price has dropped about 20 percent over the last year,” she said.

Part of this can be attributed to a glut in the solar panel market, which has resulted in a price drop.  And, with the many ways to finance solar panels, including leasing, more people are taking the plunge to use this abundant renewable resource.

What additional reasons do you need to start saving money with solar energy?  Haven’t you had enough of paying high and ever increasing costs for electricity each month?