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 Scott Gordon
Vice President of Residential Sales
HelioPower, Inc

There are a lot of folks in California whose homes (and all improvements done to them) fall under the jurisdiction of a Home Owner’s Association (HOA). If you live in an HOA this shouldn’t be news to you. In fact you may have already gone through the process of gathering neighbor sign offs on your proposed home improvement before presenting the complete design package to the architectural committee for approval. If you have not gone through this process and don’t understand how CC&R’s (the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions that determine what can and cannot be done to your property) can impact your solar power plans, this article is for you!

While I can’t cover all available strategies to move improvements through your HOA’s architectural committee, the purpose of this article is to give you insights and strategies for getting your residential solar energy system approved if you come up against an ornery board member, neighbor, or other impediment.

First, let me lay down the ground rules. In California, The Solar Rights Act of 1978 (and it’s various amendments over the years) states that “Any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of, or any interest in, real property that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation or use of a solar energy system is void and unenforceable.”

The Solar Rights Act goes on to state “installation of a solar energy system… shall not be willfully avoided or delayed. Any entity, other than a public entity, that willfully violates these provisions is liable to the applicant or other party for actual damages and must pay a civil penalty to the applicant or other party in an amount not to exceed $1,000.” Pretty cut and dry, right? Well, here’s where things get a little murkier.

Section 714 of California Civil Code does give municipalities and HOAs some wiggle room by giving these parties ‘reasonable restrictions on a solar energy system’ and it is within these reasonable restrictions that a troublesome HOA board can deny or restrict a residential solar system. Under Section 714, reasonable restrictions are defined as “restrictions on a solar energy system that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance”. The term ‘significantly’ is further defined as “an amount not to exceed $2,000 over the system cost as specified and proposed or a decrease in system efficiency of an amount exceeding 20 percent as originally specified and proposed.” What this means is that an HOA can restrict your solar power system if they don’t increase the cost by more than $2,000 or reduce its output by more than 20%.

Let me stop here for a moment and say that 99% of HOAs we deal with in California approve solar electric systems without a hassle of any kind. Most boards are aware of the Solar Rights Act and/or support renewable energy in their communities. So chances are quite good (especially if you’re not the first solar home in your neighborhood) that your solar power system will get rubber stamped by the board.

For those of you in the 1% minority of HOAs, prepare for a fight. These boards are usually comprised of individuals with anachronistic views of solar energy that fear that solar will detract from the natural beauty of the neighborhood, and they will do whatever it takes to impede your solar installation. These individuals, when presented with The Solar Rights Act, will build their opposition around the ‘reasonable restrictions’ clause of Section 714. The HOA’s most common tactic is to require you, the homeowner, to move the solar panels to a spot where they won’t be visible by your neighbors or to surround them with some type of landscaping if the system is ground mounted. Another common tactic is to require you to buy a certain type of solar panel that the HOA finds to be aesthetically pleasing. If the HOA is particularly opposed, they will play a game of ‘beat the clock’ with your installation hoping that either you will give up on solar or your rebate reservation will expire before installation. ‘Beat the clock’ is a particularly effective tactic if the architectural board only meets monthly or the board can’t seem to get a quorum at its monthly meetings.

Providing that you don’t give up and continue to fight for your right to

Residential solar in Laguna Niguel by HelioPower

go solar, the HOA will often solicit the advice of a third party ‘independent’ solar contractor to review your design. Of course, the HOA (which is using your dues money to pay for this independent assessment), will try it’s best to influence this independent third party. One tactic I’ve seen several times is to have the third party design a system that falls within the ‘reasonable restrictions’ clause. For example, an HOA in Laguna Niguel recently tried this with a customer of mine by asking another solar contractor to design a system that fit entirely on the back roof. The HOA’s goal was to eliminate any solar on the front of the house. Of course, the other contractor was able to oblige by reducing the system’s production by 18% (less than 20%) and because the system was smaller, it was also cheaper. As a result, the HOA thought it had gotten its way and went so far as to show up at an onsite meeting to review the other contractor’s design with me and my customer.

Well, that meeting didn’t work out quite the way the HOA planned. The other contractor had missed a critical shading factor in its design. A seven foot chimney to the south of the array eliminated nearly half of the back roof from consideration (Please see my blog “The Ravages of Shading” to better understand why this would be a problem). How could the other company have missed this tall chimney? The other company tried to design the system from a satellite image so they could save the trip out to the customer’s location. Once this company was made aware of the chimney’s existence, their design was rendered null and void and the HOA (after five months of stalling tactics) was forced to approve the original design.

Solar in Indian Wells, CA by HelioPower

Another HOA we’re working with recently approved a solar installation in Indian Wells provided the customer change from ‘front contact’ solar panels to ‘back contact’ solar panels because they didn’t ‘feel the reflective silver strips fit into the look’ of the neighborhood. They went on to say that they had gone to great effort to solicit ‘solar industry experts’ who insisted that ‘back contact’ panels could be installed for the same price as the originally proposed system. Well, the fact is that this customer was originally proposed the panels the HOA likes, but opted for a less costly solution. The solar system the customer chose was in fact over $7,000 cheaper than the system the HOA wants. The HOA in this case was in clear violation of the Solar Rights Act and was forced to allow the customer to go with the less expensive panel after a bit of wrangling.

I could cite numerous other examples of HOAs blocking solar installations for aesthetic and other reasons. So what do you do if you find yourself with an unreceptive HOA board that frowns upon solar? First, you need to lead the fight. The HOA will not listen to your solar contractor or return his calls in many cases. This is your fight and your solar company will have your back. Second, show your HOA the Solar Rights Act. This piece of paper will make the problem go away 99% of the time. Third, prepare cost and efficiency comparisons between what you want and what the HOA will allow. Be prepared to do a bit of education here since most HOA boards lack solar expertise. This is the best way to leverage your solar contractor. Fourth, have your contractor provide you with photos of other installations they’ve done that are similar to what he’s proposing for your home. After all, the HOA is mainly concerned with the system’s aesthetics, so if you can put their worries of an ugly solar array to bed, then they will likely approve the system. Lastly, if all else fails, you may need to bring in some legal firepower or get creative in some other way. Some things I’ve seen others try are: having your neighbors sign a petition supporting your solar power system as designed; calling the media out to your home to help ‘enlighten’ the board; getting yourself elected to the board to effect change from within, and lastly recalling the board outright.

In sum, if you live in an HOA community, you need to know your rights as they pertain to installing solar energy on your home. Familiarizing yourself with the law and the common tactics your HOA will employ to turn the law to their favor (or wear you down in the process) will inevitably speed system approval with minimal hassle. Your solar contractor should be able to help you navigate this process if you hit a roadblock, but always remember this is your fight, and ultimately you should win it. If you happen to be the first in your HOA to push solar through an uncooperative board, your neighbors will owe you a tremendous debt as they seek to reign in their energy costs in the future.

Scott Gordon can be reached at Sgordon@HelioPower.com

Want to go solar and don’t think you can quite afford it, still? Do you need a little more incentive than the

Residential Solar in Suisun installed by HelioPower

state and feds can give you (state rebate and federal tax credit)? How about looking into your local city and county programs? How about checking into Community Action of Napa Valley (CANV) and their “Napa Valley Solar Partnership” program?

The City of Napa, California has been looking for a way to take advantage of AB 811 and be one of the pioneers of citywide residential solar. Their sister county of Sonoma found a fabulous way to incent their green minded residents to go solar. It’s called “Solar Sonoma County.” Residents who go solar can receive a one- time loan for solar system purchase and pay it back over time through their property taxes. Sonoma County’s program kicked off fairly quickly and with great success due in part to the fact that their water district had funds available for the program. Unfortunately Napa City and County have not yet identified a funding pool for their own AB811 program.

In walks Jon Vaden, Director of CANV’s (Community Action Napa Valley) Napa Valley Solar Partnership Program. CANV applied for and received a federal grant to educate the residents of Napa Valley and get as many of them as possible to go solar before the end of 2010. The organization is trying to help all Napa County homeowners go solar, but also has a special emphasis on helping match low-income residents with available loan programs that can provide the upfront cost for solar.

With the grant in place Jon has set out on a trail of solar seminars around the valley called “Making Cents out of Solar” (with me, Solar Sarah, in attendance). He covers how solar works and how residents are connected with PG&E with their “net metering” agreement to buy AND sell energy back to the utility. He also goes over the programs and incentives available, as well as what to look for in a contractor. He explains to homeowners what to expect as it pertains to the process of bidding and installation – basically covering the ins and outs, from paperwork and permits to financing and commissioning your solar system. All of this is done from an educational standpoint with no pressure or steering to any one installation company. Of course I’m always ready, willing and able to schedule a site visit for those eager to get started!

CANV has a prescreened vendor list to assist Napa residents in choosing a qualified installer. Jon has vetted each company carefully, checking their contractor licenses and standing with the Better Business Bureau as well as the requirements of C-10 (Electrician), C-46 (Solar) and NABCEP certifications. The program requires that each company use screened employees and not sub-contractors or temporary workers, ensuring quality workmanship and professionalism from any company participating in the program.

HelioPower, Inc is proud to be a part of CANV’s Napa Valley Solar Partnership and I am privileged to attend every seminar and meeting. I’m Solar Sarah Madsen of the Napa Valley and you can find me at the weekly seminar spot, wherever that may be (find event listings on CANV’s website). I’m grateful to Jon Vaden for including us and believing in my commitment to service the Napa Valley and beyond. Everyone has worked together to create a successful program and it won’t work overnight, but your solar system doesn’t work overnight either  

Now let’s get going GREEN and GO SOLAR with SOLAR SARAH in the NAPA VALLEY!!

You can reach Sarah Madsen via email at solarsarah@heliopower.com.

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…

Editor's Note: Photo is of Scott Gordon residence and his solar power array system

"I live in a 2000 square foot house. How many solar panels do I need?"

If I had a 200 watt panel for every time I've been asked this question, I would've solved the world's energy problems long ago. Alas, I wish there was a simple answer to this question. The answer lies not in 'how big' your house is, but rather 'how big' your appetite for energy is. A simple illustration of two identically sized houses should shine some light on this topic.

Tommy and Eric live next door to each other in identical tract homes.

To the casual observer, the only obvious difference between Eric’s house and Tommy’s is the paint color. However, if we analyze the cost of operation of each of these buildings (yes although you may not like to think of your cozy little home this way, it is indeed just a building) we’ll discover dramatic differences in both the volume and application of energy.

Knocking on Eric’s door we discover he’s a friendly bachelor who works at home as an outside sales rep. He travels a lot on business, so he often asks Tommy to feed his cat. Of course, Eric has the usual things, a 60” flat screen tv with surround sound and the latest gaming consoles of choice. As to be expected he also has a refrigerator, electric stove, dishwasher, central air, washer & dryer, and home office complete with computer, printer, wireless internet, Gibson electric guitar, amplifier, and a charging station for all of portable electronics. The lighting in his house has been almost entirely changed to compact fluorescent bulbs. Since Eric travels a lot he doesn’t get to enjoy his home theater as much as he’s like and since he prefers eating take-out his kitchen appliances (other than the fridge) are hardly touched. In addition, the local cleaner happily washes and presses most of his clothes. Eric’s annual electric bill is around $600.

Tommy on the other hand is a father of three: Jimmy (age 12), Johnny (age 8), and Sally (age 4). Tommy’s wife Molly is a homemaker and makes the best chocolate chip cookies in town. Upon entering Tommy’s house, we find many of the very same appliances Eric has, with one major difference – they actually get used!

With three kids to look after, Molly is very busy. Every morning she turns on PBS for Sally and throws in a load of laundry. It’ll be the first of many throughout the day. While Tommy and the boys take showers, she makes breakfast (and later dinner) for the family using some combination of electric and microwave oven. She empties last night’s clean dishwasher load and fills it right back up after breakfast with plates, glasses, coffee cups, utensils and pans. Then Molly runs a vacuum over the house.

Even though the sun is shining in the house’s east windows, almost every lightbulb in the house is on and they’re all incandescent! Jimmy left the bathroom lights on as he hurried out to school (he also left his computer and stereo on). Three of the bedroom closet lights are on. The lights in the family room where Sally enjoys morning cartoons and the twelve canned lights in the kitchen are always on – 24/7.

At 11:00am every morning, the pool pump kicks on. This bad boy runs for 6 hours a day everyday of the year. To make matters worse, it’s 102 degrees outside, so Molly cranks up the AC and leaves it on late into the night since the second floor gets incredibly hot and the family has a terrible time sleeping in such heat.

Can you guess what Tommy’s annual electric bill looks like? Well, I can tell you that if Tommy lives in California his average monthly electric bill is in the $500 – $600 range putting his annual nut at a whopping $6,000 – 7,000!

This financial drag would be bad enough for poor Tommy and his family, except his utility just notified him that they’ll be increasing tariffs next year by 14%. This is the equivalent of adding a thirteenth month to his bill! I hope Tommy gets a pretty hefty raise next year. He’s going to need it.

I wish I could say that I made this story up, but it’s based on the very real differences in power consumption I see every day. Are you more like Eric or Tommy or are you somewhere in the middle? You must answer this question for yourself before buying solar panels from anyone. This self analysis is critical if you’re to get the biggest bang for your solar buck.

In my next post, I'll help you determine your 'Energy Profile' and how your use of energy impacts the cost of going solar.