HelioPower

HelioPower Offers Upcoming Community Solar Events starting Tuesday, August 17

Are you curious if solar will help your family budget?  Maybe you've gone solar and would like your friends and family to enjoy the same benefits you are getting from solar? If yes is the answer for either question then we'd like to invite you to one of our upcoming solar community events.

Our solar community events are designed to be no-pressure, informational

The Needham's in Murrieta watch their meter spin backwards as solar by HelioPower cuts their electric bill.

style meetings.  They will give you, your friends and family members a chance to learn how solar works and if it can help you reduce or eliminate your electric bill.  As our utility bills continue to rise, freeing up the money spent on electricity can help your family's budget and return financial benefits for years to come.

Free community events will be conducted for solar information in San Diego, solar in Corona, solar in Redlands, solar in Valley Center and The Frontier Projects event for solar in Rancho Cucamonga. You can find out about the specific programs available in your region and if solar can assist you in reducing or eliminating your rising electric bill.

To reserve your seat at a solar community event near you click here or call us directly at 1 87-SOLAR-888.

One solar customer's story

From the Needhams’ in Murrieta, HelioPower solar power customers since 2006: Over the past few years we have been seeing our energy bills rise as much as 30% annually with no end in sight. Having always had a passion for energy conservation, we thought it was time to take action. When we heard about the state solar rebate that covers one third of the cost, the $2,000 federal tax credit (is now 30% no cap), and the instant increase in our property value… we figured that even at our age it was worth the investment.

After researching solar providers, we found HelioPower provided the best solar panels on the market and offered the lowest price. The installation was a treat for us. They were the most efficient and neatest installers we have ever seen in action. There was never any mess at the end of the day and it took a short 3 days to install. The panels blend nicely into our roof and if we did not brag about it so much, we doubt our neighbors would ever notice.

About six weeks later we received our rebate check from the state. Our panels were turned on April 19th, 2006 and we have not paid for electricity since. We LOVE to watch the meter run backward, especially with all the heat this past summer. We would recommend HelioPower to anyone interested in Solar Power.

Bill and Peggy Needham

Solar Home in Murrieta, CA

By Derek Girling

HelioPower Solar Energy Consultant

Like most of my colleagues at HelioPower, I joined the solar industry because of my concern for our environment.  As a recreational outdoorsman, I appreciate the need to escape the city and spend time in our undeveloped wilderness areas as often as possible. The more I understood the detrimental effects on both our environment and our health from conventional energy production, the more I wanted to be a part of the solution! With it’s proven technology, helping homeowners and businesses go solar is one of the fastest and best ways to make an impact.

Although the environment is what attracted me to solar, I find myself spending most of my time discussing money. While almost everyone would agree that we should be environmentally responsible, our own budgets usually are a big determinant in our ability to commit. Fortunately over the last few years, solar electricity generation has become affordable and an extremely attractive investment. Investment in the form of government tax credits and stakeholder subsidies has driven this cost reduction and prices are now the same or lower as utility rates in many parts of the country.

Economics aside, we must never forget the environment.

By almost every measure, the energy source that causes the greatestdestruction of our environment and degradation of our health is coal. Burning coal generates 54% of the electricity consumed in the U.S. (and 70% in China!) and virtually every step of the process including mining, transporting, burning, and disposing of the remnants represents an environmental as well as human catastrophe.

To start, the most economical method of getting to the coal is by using explosives to literally blow away the surface of earth covering the veins of coal. In 2006, 1.72 million metric tons of explosives were used for coal removal. The remaining contaminated earth is then pushed into adjacent areas destroying life and fouling nearby watersheds.

Next the coal must be broken up and transported via trucks to be burned at the power plants. This uses a tremendous amount of fossil fuel. The trucks also require new roads and introduce tons of exhaust fumes into the mountains of the mostly rural coal-rich areas. Burning the coal to generate electricity then releases millions of more tons of pollutants into the atmosphere. In fact, burning coal is the number one source of air-pollution in the US.

The coal industry, sensing a turning tide, markets the term “Clean Coal.” This is an oxymoron. Their theory is that scrubbers will remove many of the solid particulates that become airborne during combustion. These particulates are then collected into toxic slurry, which is then transported, again via truck to be buried underground further threatening groundwater supplies. Remarkably, some of this by-product called fly ash is used as a soil amendment!

Two recent events underscore the dangers of coal –  the billion ton sludge spill in Harriman, Tennessee in  20o8 and the West Virginia mine explosion that killed 29 miners in April of this year. These events drive home the fact that coal is devastating to the environment and puts human life at risk. As James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Sciences, concludes phasing out emissions from coal “is 80% of the solution to the global warming crisis.”

By contrast, solar panels, once assembled and installed, passively sit in the sun producing electricity for decades and emit nothing!

Installing a solar power system today will not eliminate coal-generated

HelioPower solar installation team!

electricity. But millions of homes and businesses installing solar panels as well as other energy efficiency measures over the next decade will reduce our coal dependency significantly!

My mid-life career change into solar was motivated by my desire to positively effect our environment. Every system HelioPower brings online represents a step in the right direction.

We don’t have to drop what we’re doing and go back to the stone age; I’m a firm believer in the possibility of a future of sustainable energy and food sources, one that creates a future where our children enjoy an even higher quality of life than ours! However, to realize this future, we must assume responsibility and become part of the solution. Relatively small steps like eliminating bottled water, buying sustainable foods, and backyard composting, or more substantial commitments like installing solar panels on your home repeated hundreds of thousands and soon millions of times by concerned consumers will start this process. Don’t wait for your utility company or grocer to change their ways – you can help get this green ball rolling in the right direction right now!

Contact Derek at DGirling@HelioPower.com

Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, Canadian Solar Inc. ("the Company," "Canadian Solar" or "we") (Nasdaq: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar companies, and HelioPower, a leading solar power engineering and installation firm, announced today  a new 116kW roof-mount photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system at the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego at 2929 Children’s Way in San Diego. This is the first Ronald McDonald House in California to use solar energy to help power the House that supports families with seriously ill children in local hospitals.

Ronald McDonald House of San Diego will serve more than 20,000 families this year alone, and the solar electric installation will help offset the electrical needs of the families with clean energy. This month, the House celebrates the one-year anniversary of its 47-bedroom House for overnight guests and its Family Care Center, which serves as a day-time refuge for anyone with a child in a San Diego hospital.

“The Ronald McDonald House ensures families in San Diego receive the necessities they need as they care for their sick child , and we are so pleased to be able to provide our high-quality modules to this pivotal community facility,” said Mike Miskovsky, U.S. general manager of Canadian Solar, Inc. “Through its leadership in California implementing a renewable energy solution, the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego will reap significant financial savings while contributing to environmental sustainability for years to come.”

The Ronald McDonald House of San Diego solar electric system will produce

an average of 147,846 kilowatt hours (kW/h) per year. The environmental offset is equivalent to curtailing the release of 151,420 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, or planting 554 new trees and sequestering the carbon dioxide over their lifetime.

The solar installation was designed and constructed by HelioPower and financed by Helio Micro Utility, and consists of 518 Canadian Solar CS6P-220P polycrystalline modules. These modules are among the top-ranked in the industry in PV USA (PTC) ratings, which are quickly becoming universally accepted standards for measuring real-world module energy production and performance.  PV Powered, Inc., an Advanced Energy company, supplied the 100kW inverter. Canadian Solar, HelioPower and PV Powered all donated price reductions to benefit the charity.

“Ronald McDonald House decided to pursue solar energy to create a healthy and sustainable environment for the children and families we serve, and to help greatly offset power costs,” said Bill Lennartz, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House of San Diego. “Our partners have been vital to our success as a resource to families in some of the most challenging times of their lives, and we are excited to now be producing clean solar energy to help us provide care to even more families.”

The solar installation is part of the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego’s pursuit of U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The House was built according to strict green building standards, using a combination of high-efficiency mechanical systems and envelope and lighting design; it uses 17.5 percent less energy than a typical building in California. Materials used to create the building contain significant amounts of recycled content, and the building provides recycling collection stations to all house guests and employees.

“This is the first Ronald MacDonald House in California to go solar,” said Steve LoRusso, vice president of commercial sales at HelioPower. “Working with our affiliate company, Helio Micro Utility, we developed the critical solar financing structure that worked for them as a nonprofit entity and supported their green building goals.”

“Ronald McDonald House of San Diego makes life easier and more comfortable for many families in need. We are honored to be a part of helping so many people by providing our inverter, with its field-proven reliability and uptime, to this important solar installation” said Erick Petersen, VP of Sales and Marketing at PV Powered.

Join HelioPower and over 1 billion people in 190 countries for this year's 40th anniversary celebration of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22.

This year's theme, "Power the Earth Day Movement," is a clear call to action for solar enthusiasts.

What better way to "power" Earth Day 2010 than by going solar?

HelioPower is here to help you go solar for Earth Day.  We're offering a "free flowers"* Earth day bookmark to remind you that this is the year to get involved with the largest secular civic event on the planet.  We are making going solar easy by offering great solar financing, with the SunRun program that makes it possible for you to go solar for as little as $1,000.**

There are three ways you can request your 40th anniversary Earth Day bookmark: call us at 1-87-SOLAR-888, send us your address via email or visit the HelioPower booth at selected Earth Day events. 

Our "free flowers for Earth Day"  bookmark includes seeded paper embedded with a handful of annual and perennial wildflowers.  Directions are included to plant the paper.  In a short time you'll enjoy free flowers from HelioPower.  By going solar for Earth Day 2010 you'll celebrate green electricity for a lifetime!

Happy Earth Day from your solar energy team at HelioPower!
 
*While supplies last. Bookmark can only be mailed to residents of the U.S. Please allow 2-4 weeks delivery. Flower results not guaranteed.
 
**California residents only. Restrictions apply.

By Tyler Michael
Director/New Solar Homes Division, HelioPower

How much solar do I need?

This is the first question that we hear when asked to design solar for a new custom home. If you get an answer to that question from someone who does not ask you at least four or five questions back, you might consider showing them the door in a hurry before either of you wastes too much of your time. A good solar contractor will always carefully prioritize the customer’s interests.

Generating more electricity for a residence than is required to run that

New solar home installation by HelioPower

residence is not a very good way to spend money. Utilities are increasingly being called upon to pay for “over-production” by residential customers; however your best value is eliminating only the power you actually use. Most people building their “Dream Home” tend to overestimate the energy requirements of their new home because they are thinking in terms of their older home’s requirements.

Why do people overestimate electrical use in their new home?

In most cases, the new home is substantially larger than the old one. Naturally, there is good reason to assume that if the new home is twice as large, the energy required to run that home will be greater. This is not necessarily the case. In California and in most other states there are far more stringent “Energy Efficiency Requirements” in place for building new homes than were in place when the owner’s previous residence was built. Before you can get a building permit in California, you must show that some minimum energy efficiencies have been designed into the home.

For clarification, speak to your architect about your “Title-24” or CF-1-R form. Because of these design requirements, a 3000 square foot home built in 2010 is likely to require about 60% of the electricity that the same size home, with the same amenities built prior to 1985, will require. This difference is not quite as evident in the mildest climates. 

Some of the most important energy efficiency improvements in recent materials and design are:

• Radiant barrier roof sheeting
• Higher insulation ratings
• More efficient HVAC Systems
• High efficiency lighting systems, including activity sensors
• Low ”E”  windows and doors, with better sealing
• More efficient pool pumps

While all of the above greatly reduce electricity loads, there is still the ”Lifestyle Factor” to consider in calculating true energy usage. Your personal habits are an important factor. Just because we design homes with automated systems and better features, there is nothing that will guarantee the occupants will not override the automated controls or ignore the opportunities for energy savings built into the new home. Your energy consumption in your own home is still, and rightly so, your own business. If you choose not to take advantage of the systems in your home you may not realize the benefits of those systems.

Here are some questions that you should hear when a solar contractor discusses sizing a solar plant for your new home:

1. How much (kWh) electricity do you use now in your current home?
2. How many square feet is your old home?
3. How any square feet is your new home?
4. Are those homes in the same “Climate Zone”?
5. Will there be the same number of occupants with the same habits?
6. What are the ages of the occupants? (Small children will grow up to use more energy, and elderly occupants may have special comfort requirements.)
7. Are there “guest rooms” or other parts of the home that will not be in constant use?
8. Do you plan to occupy the home ”full time”?
9. Is your new home serviced by the same utility company as your old home? (rates differ)
10. Do you have or plan on purchasing a Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV)?
11. Are there any other major changes in your lifestyle that you will be making in the new home?

Of course, you can see where these questions are leading. There are many other pertinent questions, depending on your specific requirements, lifestyle and design. The absence of these questions will let you know immediately that you are talking to the wrong contractor, and the presence of these kinds of questions that will at least assure you that you are speaking with someone who MAY be qualified to design an appropriate solar plant for your new home.

New homes are a very specialized sector of the solar marketplace. There are hundreds of solar contractors in California but only a small percentage of those are qualified to design and install solar for new homes, and secure the generous New Solar Homes Partnership Program (NSHP) Rebates for their customers.

For more information contact Tyler Michael at his email, TMichael@HelioPower.com

By Derek Girling,
HelioPower Solar Energy Consultant

In the early 20th century, America’s largely rural population was transfixed by an exciting new technology – the automobile. For most of mankind’s history, people either walked or rode horses, carts or wagons to get from point A to B. The invention of trains and streetcars enabled long distance travel and people could now move about easily within growing urban areas. But travelling from your family farm in Greenville to the market in Mudville was still either a hoof or heels proposition.

Henry Ford’s invention of assembly line production of the venerable Model T brought personal transportation to the masses and expanded mankind’s footprint geometrically across the globe. The implications of this transportation revolution a century ago are dramatically evident today.

How does this relate to solar energy?

Until now, and for the vast majority of people, electrical energy generation has been in someone else’s hands – the local utility. Weekend engineers and survivalists have pieced together their own homegrown solar arrays for over a decade, but recently, and for the first time in history, you can easily and economically generate much of your home’s energy. Yes, most businesses and homes are still dependent on their utility for energy from the grid when the sun’s not shining, but even cars are confined to roads and dependant on gas stations. Harnessing solar energy has brought man an unprecedented level of energy independence, especially in rural areas. Water pumps, lighting and refrigeration have been freed from the shackles of a mass produced energy system.

Those early transportation pioneers overcame their unfamiliarity with this new technology. The first people to buy Ford’s cars didn’t have a father or uncle they could turn to with experience buying cars. They surely didn’t think of cars as being almost disposable either! Within a short time, and no doubt driven by necessity, these new drivers were experts on repairing flat tires and plugging leaky radiators. New industries servicing the auto industry sprang up overnight. America’s and the world’s industrialized economies were on the move.

HelioPower solar installation

Today’s solar pioneers are also addressing their unfamiliarity with this new technology. They diligently educate themselves online about mono vs. polycrystalline efficiencies, optimum tilts and azimuths, and minimizing shading issues while pensively calculating when to jump in and commit to having their own solar power system installed. Fortunately, solar energy systems have virtually no moving parts and are relatively maintenance-free. New service and manufacturing industries including solar financing (not unlike GMAC!), system maintenance and low-energy use fixtures are emerging. Commercial and residential solar system installations have grown from thousands to hundreds of thousands and soon millions within just the last decade.

There is, however, a crucial difference between the personal transportation revolution and the solar energy revolution that cannot be overstated. Although the mass production of the automobile has freed mankind in many respects, automobiles are directly responsible for significant worldwide environmental destruction. Large swaths of the planet have been paved for roads and parking lots. Fuel sources and refineries pollute our lands and waterways. Emissions from hundreds of millions of internal combustion engines choke our skies. Renewable energy sources like solar offer the only hope of breaking carbon-based fuel’s grip on our planet’s health. Today’s solar pioneers are the first responders in the healing of the planet!

This solar revolution promises, at the very least, to slow the rate of global environmental degradation and may be the killer app that turns the tide on the general adoption of renewable energy sources and generation technologies. Ironically, these solar energy arrays will be fueling our plug-in electric vehicles – the equivalent of a Model T and a gas pump on your homestead. A century from now, we may look back on today’s rooftop arrays and be reminded of those pioneering farmers, their trucks laden with the fruits of their labors, smiling as they thank Henry Ford for saving their feet from that long walk to Mudville!

Contact Derek Girling at DGirling@HelioPower.com

By Derek Girling,
HelioPower Solar Energy Consultant

The newest, most exciting trend in residential solar today is on the financing side. Leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) make solar available to almost every homeowner. Radio airwaves are thick with companies pitching “No Money Down” or even “Cash Back” offers.

A well structured solar financing agreement should be a Win/Win/Win proposition – A win for the homeowner who gets the benefits of low cost green solar energy without the relatively large upfront investment, a win for the solar installer who grows their business with new customers, and a win for the solar financing partner whose investors generate a steady revenue stream for years to come.

But just like every other offer that may come your way, the devil is in the details!

Solar is a long-term investment and you should be careful to make sure that you’re negotiating the best agreement possible with a reputable, experienced installer. When evaluating a financing proposal from a company, there are several things you should consider when reviewing their agreement.

First, if you are serious about going solar, ask the solar company’s representative for a copy of their agreement. If they are reluctant to provide this to you prior to signing up, be wary. Some companies will not even send out a representative unless you’ve committed to them! Reputable companies are transparent with their agreements and terms and conditions. They’ll strive to make sure you’re comfortable with them before asking you to sign a contract.

Next, see if you can determine how much they are they charging for the system and how much the buyout is at the end of the agreement. Many companies make this information very difficult to discover! One well-known nationally advertised company charges as much as 30% more per Watt than most installers for similar systems. After 10-20 years of making your monthly payments, are they asking you to pay almost half the original cost to buyout the system? Are you responsible for paying to remove the system should you choose not to buy it? Add up the total of the payments and the buyout at the end and see if this seems reasonable.

Are the payments fixed or do they escalate? If it’s a PPA, then the payments should be fixed at a reasonable kilowatt hour (kWh) price for the life of the contract. If it’s a lease, the payments should escalate at a no more than a nominal rate (2.5 – 3%/year) to cover inflation. Anything more than that sounds like a low teaser payment to get you contracted followed by an increasing rate of return for the finance company.

Virtually all homeowners are installing their very first system and are not familiar with the technology. One of the benefits of a financing agreement can be freeing the homeowner from the responsibility of maintaining and insuring a system. Well-structured agreements place the responsibility for the system with the system owner (the financing company) and also guarantee the amount of energy the system should deliver. If the financing company owns the system, but you’re still responsible for the maintenance, walk away!

Speaking of maintenance, what provisions does the finance company make for funding the maintenance? The best agreements stipulate that an appropriate amount of money is held separately ensuring your system is maintained for the duration of the agreement. This also protects you in the event that the finance company is sold, goes bankrupt, or sells your contract to someone else. The best contracts make it impossible for a company to separate the revenue stream (your payments) from the responsibility of maintenance.

Lastly, what options are available to you to get out of the contract?  If you move before the term is up, can you easily and at no cost transfer the agreement to the new homeowner?  Can you buy the system for a reasonable price at anytime? Can you pre-pay your remaining payments at a discount reflecting the reduced time value of money?  Can you continue on a year-to-year basis without purchasing the system when the initial agreement expires?

Remember, a good, flexible and equitable agreement allows a homeowner to get the benefits of low cost green power now at a fair price from a reputable installer with several options to transfer, buyout, or purchase the system. Read the fine print, ask lots of questions and, most importantly, if the representative is pressuring you to sign something you don’t understand, find another company!

Contact Derek Girling at DGirling@HelioPower.com

Guidelines for communicating the solar aspect of a green marketing program

By Glenna Wiseman, Vice President, Marketing, HelioPower

At HelioPower we help our clients tell their solar story.  We work with commercial, community and utility clients creating communication programs to herald their new solar power installation.   Our efforts help them weave the aspects of a solar installation into an overall green marketing message that supports their brand.

Solar is an exciting addition to an organization’s environmental efforts.  In fact, a solar power system assists on multiple levels of a Triple Bottom Line approach benefiting the company’s people, its profits and environmental efforts (the planet).

Having successfully completed several affiliate marketing programs for HelioPower clients, this information is designed to contribute to the industry’s knowledge base and guidelines for successfully telling a client’s solar story and thus contributing to their overall green marketing message.

Nearly all of our commercial and public sector clients have worked through the normal list of “reduce your energy and energy use costs” before they adopt solar.  Way before the solar conversation starts they have harvested the “low hanging environmental fruit” of recycling, green purchasing, etc.  Past this phase, they move to implementing energy monitoring to determine peak demand usage and reduce it, and energy use overall to create cost reduction programs. Out of this information comes the use of energy efficiency technologies including lighting, motors, HVAC, etc.  Solar is not generally where they start or where they should start, unless they are building a new U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) structure. Then solar power technologies should be part of the design from the initial stages of the development.

Once solar is part of the client’s overall green building, thus environmental strategy, HelioPower works with them to communicate the role solar plays in these efforts and thus the environmental aspects of their brand.

A marketing / communication program for a HelioPower solar client becomes appropriate when we can implement the following guidelines:
• Assist our clients to communicate environmental benefits of solar
• Optimize strategic partner alliances
• Involve the community, green building, local and state government
• Utilize Internet and social media to provide transparency & communication
• Educate stakeholders
• Work as a team

Each solar promotion program will have its unique opportunities and challenges.  In order for solar promotion program to be successful we have found that it is essential to meet all of these objectives. 

HelioPower assists our clients to communicate environmental benefits of solar.  Part of our responsibility as an organization’s solar power partner is to help them gather the information needed about their solar installation.  We assist them in developing a full understanding of their solar power system, how it works, energy generation data, environmental offset data, how to explain it to their constituents and whatever information they need to communicate their solar program. 

We provide information online about the client’s solar power installation on the HelioPower website.  Our efforts are coordinated with the client’s to create information that is easy to access and captures all the correct data about the solar project. 

Affiliate marketing programs must optimize strategic partner alliances. At HelioPower we have

Bill Nye, the "Science Guy" shines light on Bob's Big Boy solar event, supported by Canadian Solar, SMA and sponsors

the distinct pleasure of working with some of the industry’s great brands and high profile clients.  Any program that we participate in or spearhead for one of our clients must involve strategic partners in the industry and those affiliated with our client.  Communicating the solar story would not be complete without involving the solar power panel manufacturer, inverter partner, and potentially the energy performance monitoring company.  It can also involve brands that do business with the client as was the case with the Bob’s Big Boy campaign we implemented last fall.  The key is to involve those within the industry who have participated in the solar installation by way of product and those who do business with the client.

Involve the community, green building, local and state government.  One of the very exciting aspects of taking on a communication program to highlight a solar installation is involving the stakeholders in the community. 

Community groups gather to support Porsche solar panel dedication

We are all obviously familiar with the solar “ribbon cutting/ throw the switch” ceremony.  These are important celebrations of the commitment the client has made to solar power generation.  This type of event is the most valuable when it is an opportunity to reach out to stakeholders in the community and give them a chance to support the client. 

In the construction phase of a solar celebration or marketing program, it is our job to identify community, green building, local and state governmental groups and leaders who should be involved in a program.  And you don’t need to stop here.  You can reach out to a loyal customer base, supporters, local charity groups, and any other organization whose contribution to the program will enrich all parties involved.

Utilize Internet and social media to provide transparency & communication. Marketing messages regarding environmental strategies must be transparent and easy to find online.   This upholds the integrity of the message. 

It is critical to strategize the online aspects of a client’s solar marketing program.  The effort may be as simple as identifying the best media distribution source and insuring the joint press release is supported with accurate online information about the solar installation.  It may be a more comprehensive approach that involves a program-specific website.  Each effort is unique.  Insuring opportunities for an online program are investigated and maximized as needed is essential.

Educate stakeholders.  Telling a solar story must include programs to educate the client’s constituents.  Programs typically include communication to employees, investors, media and press, community members, etc.  When you are considering a program, think about what groups are involved with your company or client and what aspects of the solar installation would hold meaning for them.  Within a particular solar story, different themes and information will hold meaning for each distinct constituent group.  Thinking through all these “story lines” will create positive communication and honor the many groups that support or are involved with the client, and thus have some level of involvement with the solar installation.

Work as a team.  Our renewable energy industry is filled with talented, positive professionals who are a joy to work alongside and truly are impassioned by their mission within the industry.  We have the distinct pleasure to assist our clients in communicating their solar story.  Thus we work to create a team approach for each marketing program, from a relatively simple press release to solar ribbon cutting events and more elaborate affiliate marketing programs. 

It takes a dedicated team of client and solar installation company individuals to successfully design and install a solar power system. So too the best programs to tell a client’s solar story, within the auspices of their brand message, also involve a team effort.

You can reach me at gwiseman@HelioPower.com.  I welcome your comments, insights and observations.

By Scott Gordon

Vice President Sales, Residential, HelioPower

Have you ever driven by a solar installation that was so ugly you wondered what the owners of the house were thinking when they decided to install their system?

Have you found stories on the internet about leaky roofs, fly-by-night solar companies or other tales of solar despair?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you’ve stumbled upon a little talked about topic in our happy industry:  the ugly side of solar.

Most solar installers shy away from the topic of ugly solar for fear of scaring off their potential customers.  After all, who wants to ruin their home’s curb appeal or wind up with a leaky roof?  The reason for this article is to arm consumers with the knowledge they need to avoid falling into either type of botched installation.

"Aesthetically Challenged" Solar Installation

First I’ll cover solar installations I would describe as “aesthetically challenged.”  The above photo is an extreme example of just how ugly solar can get.  As a person with nearly three years of solar sales and design experience, I can hardly wrap my brain around how the above installation was permitted in the first place.  I can only imagine how the neighbors feel when they drive by this house.  Unfortunately, I see ugly installs like this one far too often.

So, how do you avoid such a fate as you embark on your solar journey?  

Asking your installer for a roof plan BEFORE signing a contract is a great first step.  This will allow you to review and compare various plans from all bidders involved in order to see who’s come up with the best design for your roof.

For example, if you have a smallish roof, you may be limited to solar panels with high power density like those made by SunPower.  Panels with high power densities often obviate the need for tilt kits on the roof.  While you may not object to the ‘look’ of the tilt kits in the above photo, you need to consider the wind profile of the area in which you live.  Mounting solar panels on your roof so they resemble sails is never a good idea because sails are what they will become during high wind conditions (like tornados, hurricanes, Santa Ana winds, etc).  While there is little chance the panels will blow off your roof if properly attached, high gusty winds may loosen “sail mounted” panels over the course of several years resulting in roof leaks, deck rot, and other collateral damage.

HelioPower Installation of SunPower Solar Modules

If your best roof happens to be above your front door, you’ll want to get black framed panels, with a black backsheet, and back contacts (if you have the budget).  The second photo shows a recent HelioPower installation using SunPower 225 panels.

First notice how the panels look more like skylights than panels.  Notice how you don’t see any white diamonds or electrical contacts (black back sheet/back contact).  Notice how the solar array is contiguous and well organized on the roof. Such a roof layout takes planning. I tried four configurations before I found one I liked enough to present to this customer.  Think the folks in this neighborhood have a slightly different opinion about solar aesthetics than the previous example? You becha!!

What are some other ways you can be sure that your solar system will look as good as it performs? Again, make sure you get some roof plans.  

Once you’ve reviewed those, ask if there are any systems in your area you can drive by (this is far better than a phone reference).  Also ask to see photos of installed systems that will be similar to what the installer is proposing for your home.  Ask to see the same panels on the same roof type.  For example, if you’re interested in Evergreen panels for your Spanish tile roof, ask to see a photo of Evergreen panels on a Spanish tile roof.  A reputable installer with enough installations under his belt should be able to easily provide you with these and may already have examples you can reference on their website. If you've heard of the high efficiency of the Canadian Solar panels, then ask for installation photos showing these modules. There are many options. At HelioPower we offer all these panel options and more!

If tilt kits are required for one brand of panel, ask if they would be required if you instead bought high efficiency SunPower modules.  In solar, size matters, but in this case smaller is better.  High efficiency and smaller panels go hand in hand, but be prepared to pay a little extra for the efficiency.  It will be well worth it down the road when you have a sweet looking solar installation that doesn’t leak and is the envy of your neighborhood.

Finally, you may not have a good solar home.  That’s right, I said it.  Rare is the solar salesperson who will tell you that your home is not ideal for solar photovoltaics (electric), even if that is the case. You may not like it, but you need to listen.  Remember, these folks are mostly commissioned salespeople; they want to sell you a system.  That’s how they make their living. If one of the bidders declines to bid for this reason, put your feelings aside and consider strongly what he/she is telling you.  Fact is that the top photo is of a house that should NOT have solar panels on it. It’s not a good solar house.  Period.  Of course, the salesman that sold the job would disagree as his/her creativity with tilt kits suggests.  But facts are facts.  Which system would you rather have on your largest investment – A or B? HelioPower Energy Consultants are trained to provide you with the second option or no option at all.

While aesthetically ugly solar will scare off its fair share of customers, often times it’s what you can’t see that matters most of all.  In part two, I’ll get into the gory details of a truly botched solar installation.  It’s the type that keeps most home owners up at night.  Curious?  Stay tuned…

This April 22 is the 39^th anniversary of Earth Day.  HelioPower, founded in 2001 with a dedication to bring solar to as many rooftops as possible, will participate in several CA and Nevada events. The HelioPower energy consultants will help homeowners and commercial property owners understand how solar power can help put more “green” in their pockets and do their part for the planet.

A bit of Earth Day history…

“First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day was spearheaded by a grassroots movement to shake up the political establishment and raise environmental awareness. Although planners had neither time nor resources to effectively organize the event, it took place across the nation with amazing results. An estimated 20 million demonstrators and thousand of schools and local communities participated.  The Earth Day founder, former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, remembers, ‘That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.’ That first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Act.

The amazing energy associated with Earth Day propelled the movement forward, and in 1990 Earth Day went global, reminding us of our interconnectedness and mobilizing 200 million people in 41 countries, lifting environmental issues onto the world stage.  Today, huge climate changes impact everyone; the opportunity to raise awareness seems more important than ever.  Earth Day celebrations have a huge potential to impact change as more than a billion people participate in Earth Day each year.”

Source:  Claudia Abbott, “lastword,” a column in SOM Magazine

Dedicated HelioPower solar consultants will be at the following events.  Please join us in celebrating this 39^th Earth Day – 2009!

Tahoe / Reno

Tahoe Truckee Earth Day, Saturday, April 18, The Village at Squaw Valley

20/20 Earth Vision: Reno Earth Day Celebration, April 19, Idlewild Park,

Orange County, CA

Eco Fair 09, April 22, Cypress, CA

Earth Day Celebration at The Ecology Center, April 25, San Juan Capistrano

Coachella Valley, CA

Party for the Planet, April 25, The Living Desert

San Fernando Valley, CA

Earthfest Carnival 2009, April 25, St. Cyril of Jerusalem School