November 2009

Source:  Silicon Valley Mercury News, reporter Dana Hull:

With the sun setting before 5 p.m., solar power may be the last thing on your mind these days.

But declining panel prices, a federal tax credit and a state rebate all make now a good time to at least investigate whether solar power might make sense for your home — and your budget.

"If you're thinking that you'd like to go solar within the next few years, right now is the time to do it," said Lynn Jurich, president and co-founder of SunRun, a San Francisco-based startup that provides solar financing for consumers who can't afford the upfront costs of buying their own solar systems. "Panels are on sale right now. There's a sweet spot where the state rebates are still relatively high, but the costs have come down."

And winter is a good season to research solar options, experts say. It's generally a slower time for the industry, which means companies may be willing to give you a better deal.

If you're thinking about going solar, here's a checklist of things to think about:

• Take a good, hard look at your electricity usage over the past year or several months. You probably know how much you pay for electricity every month and have records of the checks or bills paid to PG&E or your municipal utility. But do you know how much electricity you actually use? Electricity is charged by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). Some people use as little as 300 kWh per month; others easily use more than 1,200 kWh a month.

In general, solar is a much better investment for people who use a lot of electricity. And PG&E has a tiered rate structure, so customers who use more electricity are charged more.

Understand how you use electricity," said Sue Kateley, executive director of CALSEIA, the California Solar Energy Industries Association. "Get out your bill and look at the tiered rates. If you don't use a lot of electricity — if you are a Tier One or Tier Two customer — then you really need to do a cost analysis to see if solar is cost-effective."

• Take a look at the roof of your house. How old is your roof, and what kind of shape is it in? If your roof is due to be replaced, you'll want to do that before, or along with, adding solar.
• And is your roof ideally situated for solar? Does it face south? "Shading" is also an issue: your roof should have clear, unobstructed access to the sun for most of the day and be free from shade from trees or other buildings.
• Shop around. Ask friends and neighbors who have already installed solar power if they've been happy with their systems. Learn about financing options: Do you have to have the money for the entire system upfront, or does your installer offer a leasing option?

Interview at least three potential installers and obtain bids in writing before making a decision. Whatever the salesperson tells you should be in writing in the contract.

• If you buy electricity from one of California's three investor-owned utilities — PG&E, Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas & Electric — and you have roof or ground space that gets unobstructed sunlight from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round, you qualify for cash back incentives through the California Solar Initiative.

The California Solar Initiative (CSI) was started in 2006 to provide $3 billion in incentives for solar energy projects by 2016. Rebates for smaller residential systems are given upfront — a one-time payment based on system size. The current rebate level for PG&E residential customers stands at $1.10 per watt. So if you're putting in a 5 kw system, that results in a $5,500 rebate. But as more people apply for the rebates, the incentives are reduced, and many experts expect them to drop further later this spring.

Customers of municipal utilities may also qualify for incentives through their municipal service provider.

• Be sure to apply for the Solar Federal Tax Credit, which allows you to claim up to 30 percent of the costs for a new system. A buyer who installs a $25,000 solar panel system on his or her roof will get $7,500 in income tax credits.
• Consider your long-term electricity needs, and find out if the solar technology you're interested in allows you to add on more panels over time if necessary. A swimming pool, changes in family size or the use of a plug-in hybrid car could vastly change your energy consumption.

The Desert Sun reported Friday that the deadline to sign up for the 1BOG Coachella Valley solar pricing discounts with HelioPower has been extended until January 12, 2010.  The original program cut off date was December 12, the paper reported. 

An excerpt from K Kaufman's article:

The campaign, originally scheduled to end Dec. 12, will now run through Jan. 12 to allow more outreach to the valley's snowbirds, said Dave Llorens, 1BOG general manager.

“You're seeing a delayed buying cycle,” Llorens said. “We think we're going to get a bunch of people to (sign up) in the winter.”

Since the company kicked off its local campaign in October, about 190 residents have registered on the group's Web site, with about 90 asking for estimates, Llorens said.

A dozen have signed contracts with HelioPower, the Murrieta installer chosen for the campaign, said Scott Gordon, vice president of residential sales for the company.

The firm is providing discount packages for 1BOG members in the valley, with prices ranging from $5.49 to $6.99 per watt, depending on the type of panel. Prices at other solar installers in the area are $7 to $8 per watt.

Gordon said the valley's slightly older demographics also have pushed a shift in 1BOG's typical online marketing efforts.

“The general population of the Coachella Valley is not as Internet-based as (1BOG) is used to,” he said. “We need to go through more traditional media.”

The company is planning a kick-off event for the extended campaign at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Henderson Community Building in Palm Desert.

For the full article, click here.

On November 19 Scott Gordon of HelioPower worked with Brad Burton of 1BOG on a webinar answering questions about the new Solar San Diego discount community buying program with 1BOG.

You can watch the webinar here:

Solar San Diego Webinar with HelioPower and 1BOG from David Llorens on Vimeo.

This in from the California Solar Initiative….Even the solar industry experiences a year-end rush.

CSI Program Administrators encourage everyone to complete and submit outstanding CSI applications as soon as possible to help ensure timely processing of the application so that the rebate payment can be made in 2009 and qualifying federal tax credits may be claimed. Talk to your HelioPower Energy Consultant for more information.

The U.S. Green Building Council is growing and the newest segment of this non-profit, non-government agency is in the Inland Empire and is growing into one of the most dynamic Chapters in the country. One of the reasons for this growth are the people in this vast area, encompassing over 27,000 sq. miles. An important committee, the only one of it's kind within the USGBC, has developed within the Inland Empire Chapter which is bringing awareness to the importance of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies to Southern California.

HelioPower's Glenna Wiseman was a guest along with U.S. Green Building Council-IE Board Member Jan Hudson, on Mr. Wayne's Green Revolution blog radio today, talking about the USGBC-IE's Energy Committee and efforts to "green" the Inland Empire. Catch the pod cast here:

HelioPower, a leading solar power design and installation firm since 2001, today announced that it is partnering with SunRun to bring affordable solar financing and service to its California residential customers.  SunRun is the nation’s #1 provider of home solar service. The company provides a smart, affordable alternative to traditional electricity.  HelioPower, through its California offices, will offer SunRun to homeowners in the state.

"Our team is already moving homeowners to solar power through the HelioPower-offered SunRun financing plans,” said Scott Gordon, Vice President, Residential Sales for HelioPower. “For as little as $1,000 out of pocket, our customers can lock in a low electricity rate for the next 18 years and save money every month. Imagine if you could have locked in your gasoline costs at $1 gallon or even $2 gallon? How much money you would be saving today?  HelioPower’s offering of SunRun empowers us to accomplish this kind of energy savings with your electricity costs. We are very pleased to be working with SunRun to offer our customers an affordable means to go solar.”

SunRun purchases home solar systems designed and installed by HelioPower for its customers, who pay only a low one-time installation fee, and then a low fixed rate for the solar electricity produced by their system. All SunRun customers receive money-back annual performance guarantees in addition to professional-grade monitoring, maintenance, repairs, and insurance, which remove the complexity and risk from going solar.

“In a very short time, HelioPower has inspired customers to go solar with SunRun, said SunRun President Lynn Jurich.  “Working with HelioPower, we look forward to helping even more California homeowners power their homes with clean energy and take control of their electricity costs.”

Have questions about solar?  Want to know if your roof is appropriate to generate green electricity?  Need to know the best price for solar in San Diego?  Then join 1BOG and HelioPower on Thursday, November 19 at

San Diego solar installation by HelioPower

 7pm PST for a free solar information webinar.  You don't even have to get into your car, now that's carbon neutral!  Here is where you need to register: www.SolarSanDiego.1bog.org/faqs-and-webinar.

Southern California Business Marketing Association (BMA) members and guests will come together on Wednesday, November 18 in the spectacular glass-walled Gallery at The Frontier Project, to explore, "Green Marketing in the Business-to-Business Environment: Does it Really Matter?"    The brand new, all-green USGBC LEED® rated Frontier Project structure, grounds and interior are the perfect backdrop for HelioGroup, Glenna Wiseman’s captivating presentation highlighting three innovative green marketing projects:

• HelioGroup's internal marketing division
• Porsche Logistics
• And the oldest remaining Bob’s Big Boy in America

Glenna will be highlighting the innovative case study of Porsche North America's internal B2B operating division, Porsche Logistics.  She will also feature Bob's Big Boy Burbank, 60th anniversary and how its solar message was utilized to reach new commercial and public sector customers.

Understanding how HelioPower builds strong b2b client relationships will be the first platform of Glenna's presentation.  HelioPower has developed a successful approach to building business-to-business relationships by assisting clients with their “green” brand and communications messaging.  This win/win strategy has yielded new approaches to building green corporate marketing elements.

The topic is appropriate for Chief Marketing Officers, Company Presidents, VPs of Marketing, Marketing Executives, Directors of Marketing, Marketing Managers and Communicators, and Marketing Consultants.

The event is Wednesday, November 18, 2009 from 4:00pm – 7:30pm including a private tour of The Frontier Project, wine tasting and hors D'oeuvers and program.  The Frontier project is located at 10435 Ashford, Rancho Cucamonga 91730.

For more information and to make reservations, click here for the BMA website registration.

One Block Off the Grid (1BOG), the nation's largest solar buying collective, announced today the selection of HelioPower as the installation partner in their newest San Diego solar community buying campaign.  The campaign will make it easy and affordable for San Diego homeowners to purchase solar energy at a group discount rate. By signing up online for free membership to the San Diego 1BOG community, homeowners can enjoy personalized, impartial advice, and receive solar power systems at only $5.29 per watt from the 1BOG selected installer partner, HelioPower.

1BOG's first San Diego campaign ran from May to August 2009 and generated interest from more than 980 local resident 1BOG community members. Working with installer partners HelioPower and groSolar, the first 1BOG San Diego campaign was responsible for almost 10% of the entire region's solar installations for 2009 . For this second 1BOG San Diego campaign, 1BOG selected solar company HelioPower to service the community throughout the entire San Diego metro area with high quality solar panels at the lowest price ever offered.

As California's leading city for solar power, San Diego is working toward the City's 2003 goal of utilizing 50 megawatts of solar power within the city limits by 2013 . However, solar power adoption is still less than 1%.

"We are excited to once again be working with HelioPower to provide the easiest and most affordable way for San Diego homeowners to go solar," said Dave Llorens, Co-founder and General Manager at 1BOG. "Our joint program will offer the city the best solar pricing it has ever seen and will cement San Diego's reputation as California's leading city for solar power."

"We were thrilled to have been selected for the second time to serve the 1BOG San Diego community," said Scott Gordon, Vice President, Residential Sales for HelioPower. "Partnering with 1BOG to offer San Diego residents dramatic group discounts for solar installations earlier this year enabled us to more than double our install rates for the quarter and affect a significant dent in San Diego's solar goals and the widespread acceptance of the solar industry."

In addition to serving the 1BOG San Diego community, HelioPower was also selected as installer partner for the current 1BOG Coachella Valley campaign. 1BOG chose HelioPower for the company's unbeatable group pricing, track record of successful and timely installations and reliable warranties offered. For details about the different packages available, visit: www.SolarSanDiego.1bog.org/campaign-costs.
 
The San Diego 1BOG program is available now to local homeowners in the entire San Diego metro area through February 12, 2010. For more information or to sign up, visit the 1BOG Solar San Diego homepage.
 
1BOG and HelioPower will be hosting a free Webinar and online information session with details about the  San Diego solar program on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. PST. To sign up visit: www.SolarSanDiego.1bog.org/faqs-and-webinar.

At last week's Solar Power International 09, the industry's largest show, SEIA president Rhone Resch used his keynote speech to announce the "Solar Bill of Rights." 

He said, "We declare these rights not on behalf of our companies, but on behalf of our customers and our country.  We seek no more than the freedom to compete on equal terms and no more than the liberty for consumers to choose the energy source they think best."

The Solar Bill of Rights: 

 
1.      Americans have the right to put solar on their homes or businesses. Restrictive covenants, onerous connection rules, and excessive permitting and inspections fees prevent too many American homes and businesses from going solar.

2.      Americans have the right to connect their solar energy system to the grid with uniform national standards. This should be as simple as connecting a telephone or appliance. No matter where they live, consumers should expect a single standard for connecting their system to the electric grid.

3.      Americans have the right to Net Meter and be compensated at the very least with full retail electricity rates. When customers generate excess solar power utilities should pay them consumer at least the retail value of that power.

4.      The solar industry has the right to a fair competitive environment. The highly profitable fossil fuel industries have received tens of billions of dollars for decades. The solar energy expects a fair playing field, especially since the American public overwhelmingly supports the development and use of solar.

5.      The solar industry has the right to equal access to public lands. America has the best solar resources in the world, yet solar companies have zero access to public lands compared to the 45 million acres used by oil and natural gas companies.

6.      The solar industry has the right to interconnect and build new transmission lines. When America updates its electric grid, it must connect the vast solar resources in the Southwest to population centers across the nation.

7.      Americans have the right to buy solar electricity from their utility.  Consumers have no choice to buy clean, reliable solar energy from their utilities instead of the dirty fossil fuels of the past.

8.      Americans have the right, and should expect, the highest ethical treatment from the solar industry. Consumers should expect the solar energy industry to minimize its environmental impact, provide systems that work better than advertised, and communicate incentives clearly and accurately.

For the SEIA link, click here.

For the full text of his speech, click here.