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	<title>Energy Solutions &#187; Solar</title>
	<atom:link href="http://blog.heliopower.com/category/solar/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://blog.heliopower.com</link>
	<description>A Sustainable Energy Blog</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:30:53 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>How Solar Leases Mask High Prices</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2012/01/how-solar-leases-mask-high-prices/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2012/01/how-solar-leases-mask-high-prices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:16:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Solar Power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Gordon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar Power Systems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar financing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar leases]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What You Need To Know When Shopping For a Home Solar System
By Scott Gordon
SVP, Sales, HelioPower
I consider myself among the lucky. I had the good fortune to land a job in solar sales way back in 2007. Back then, times were simpler. The majority of my customers paid for their systems with cash or HELOCS [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>What You Need To Know When Shopping For a Home Solar System</strong></em></p>
<p>By Scott Gordon<br />
SVP, Sales, <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/">HelioPower</a></p>
<p>I consider myself among the lucky. I had the good fortune to land a job in solar sales way back in 2007. Back then, times were simpler. The majority of my customers paid for their systems with cash or HELOCS (home equity lines of credit). PPAs (power purchase agreements) and leases were the realm of multi-megawatt commercial and utility installations and nothing of the sort was available for residential consumers.</p>
<p>In the “earlier” days of solar savvy customers compared solar purchases by comparing price per watt. Price per what?</p>
<p><strong>Price Per Watt</strong><br />
Price per watt simply tells you how many dollars you are spending to buy a “watt” of solar power. Think of it this way: if your home requires a 6 kilowatt (KW) solar power system (6000 watts) and you pay $42,000 to have one installed, you’ve paid $7/watt. If on the other hand, if you spent $12/watt the same system would’ve cost you a whopping $72,000! Yes, the same system! Today’s solar leasing products allow some dealers to mask dramatic price differences, such as these, behind “low monthly payments.”</p>
<p>The chart here illustrates the range of prices paid by customers in Southern California Edison (SCE) territory according to CSI (California Solar Initiative).  This data was compiled by a third party, <a href="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/blog1.php/solecon/state-of-solar-california-part3">RunOnSun</a> in Pasadena, CA.</p>
<p>In 2007 charts like this weren’t publicly available, so homeowners really had no way to verify whether they were getting a bad, good, or great <a title="CA-Solar-Pricing-Run-On-Sun" rel="lightbox[pics1188]" href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/CA-Solar-Pricing-Run-On-Sun.png"><img class="attachment wp-att-1189 alignright" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/CA-Solar-Pricing-Run-On-Sun.thumbnail.png" alt="CA-Solar-Pricing-Run-On-Sun" width="187" height="200" /></a>deal on a solar system unless they compared 4 to 6 bids. Still price/watt held an important place in the conversation between solar buyer and solar dealer. By 2009, “What’s your price/watt?” was often one of the first questions my customers would ask me. By then, price/watt was solar’s APR (annual percentage rate used to compare bank loans).  It’s how you knew you were getting a good deal after you settled on equipment and installation.</p>
<p>Today, the subject of price/watt has all but vanished from the dialog. Why? The advent of now readily available leasing and residential PPA programs allow for the selling of solar systems using ‘savings per month’ in place of price per watt. This approach allows unscrupulous dealers to mask high, some might say, outrageous prices from their customers. Does it matter what your paying if you’re saving money every month? Of course it does.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. There are many reputable dealers who help their customers to go solar through leasing and PPAs, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with either choice, but when dealers mask high prices in leases, consumers end up holding the bag.</p>
<p>This type of thing may have already happened to you if you’ve ever leased a car. Savvy buyers know to negotiate the price of the car before they choose how to finance it and then check the contract numbers carefully to make sure there’s nothing funny going on. Naïve buyers walk into a car dealership and fall for the “What kinda payment are you looking for on this baby?” line. If that’s you, keep reading.</p>
<p>Today, we see the similar tactics infiltrating the solar industry. You go online, get a quote, and you get excited because the solar company you contacted can save you $50/month on your electric bill with their exciting new lease! So you call them up, they dispatch a salesman, and just like that you’ve gone solar. Does it really matter what you paid? After all, you’re saving $50/month, right?</p>
<p>Let’s say the system that saves you $50 cost you $12/watt. If you leased a 6KW system you’re on the hook for $72,000. That same system for $6/watt would’ve saved you $100/month and cost $36,000. Big difference! Which system would you lease? The savvy buyer would’ve asked how much the system cost; how much power they were getting; and compared multiple bids. Such a buyer would by enjoying both significantly higher savings and a much faster ROI (if he put money down).</p>
<p><strong>Questions for Your Solar Contractor</strong><br />
As I mentioned, price/watt is solar’s APR. When considering solar for your home, you need to ask your solar contractor two questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>What is the cost of the system?</li>
<li>How many watts am I getting for that cost?</li>
</ol>
<p>After you have your answer, you take the cost; divide by watts; and just like that you’ve mastered the art of price/watt and are a master solar shopper (well almost, look for my upcoming article Solar Lease Red Flags to become an even savvier solar shopper).</p>
<p>With price/watt in hand, you now know whether you’re getting a good value or being taken to the cleaners. Savings per month is a great way to determine the impact solar will have on your bank account, but a terrible way to shop for it. Price per watt is the great equalizer. Now that you have the power of price/watt to guide your decision, you can shop more confidently for your new home solar  system.</p>
<p>You can reach Scott Gordon directly at SGordon@HelioPower.com.</p>
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		<title>Maplewood Homes Wins Novogradac Award</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2012/01/maplewood-homes-wins-novogradac-award/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2012/01/maplewood-homes-wins-novogradac-award/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MASH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Renewable Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California Solar Initiative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HACSB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Novogradac]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1182</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Maplewood Homes Community, a development of The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB), has received this year’s Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits “Development of Distinction” award for outstanding achievement in the Renewable Energy category.  The project was designed and constructed by HelioPower, an integrated energy solutions company based in California.
The Developments [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Maplewood Homes Community, a development of The <a href="http://www.hacsb.com/" target="_blank">Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino</a> (HACSB), has received this year’s <a href="http://www.novoco.com/low_income_housing/dod_awards/2011/renewable_energy.php" target="_blank">Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits “Development of Distinction” award</a> for outstanding achievement in the Renewable Energy category.  The project was designed and constructed by<a href="http://www.heliopower.com/" target="_blank"> HelioPower,</a> an integrated energy solutions company based in California.</p>
<p>The Developments of Distinction Awards were established as an annual event to recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the development of tax credit projects using the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC), historic tax credit (HTC), renewable energy tax credit (RETC), Section 1602 Exchange Program grant funds and/or tax credit projects using U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program financing.</p>
<p>Past winners in the category include the Coastal Community Action Program of Aberdeen, Washington, and its Coastal Energy Project, a 6 megawatt wind development near the Washington coastline in Grayland, Washington.  Honorable mention in 2010 went to Make It Right – SOLAR, a subsidiary of the Make It Right Foundation, founded by actor Brad Pitt, which serves as a renewable energy developer focused on affordable housing. MIR-Solar has completed more than 40 residential solar panel installations in New Orleans’ historic Lower 9<sup>th</sup> Ward.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.heliopower.com/projects/california/san-bernardino/maplewood-homes" target="_blank">Maplewood Homes</a>, an almost 70 year old affordable housing site with 296 units in the city of San Bernardino, California, is being honored for</p>
<div class="imageframe alignright" style="width: 200px;"><a title="View of Rooftops with Solar Panels installed by HelioPower at Maplewood Homes" rel="lightbox[pics1182]" href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/HACSB-Maplewood-Homes-Multiple-Roofs1.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1183" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/HACSB-Maplewood-Homes-Multiple-Roofs1.thumbnail.jpg" alt="View of Rooftops with Solar Panels installed by HelioPower at Maplewood Homes" width="200" height="133" /></a></p>
<div class="imagecaption">View of Rooftops with Solar Panels installed by HelioPower at Maplewood Homes</div>
</div>
<p>HACSB’s use of the U.S. renewable energy 1603 tax credit. The Housing Authority’s collaborated with HelioPower to apply the credit and California Solar Initiative grant money to reduce the community’s energy costs, create jobs, educate tenants, and foster an environmentally green community.</p>
<p>In 2010, the HACSB received a $1.84 million grant from Southern California Edison’s Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Track 2 program – the largest program grant awarded. The Housing Authority worked with HelioPower to design, develop, engineer, and construct a 302 kilowatt solar photovoltaic facility, a system that is among the largest and most innovative roof mounted solar projects in San Bernardino. The project consisted of 1,288 solar panels atop 100 units. 85% of its production will benefit residents directly and 15% will offset common area energy load, with the savings directed to help fund on-site employment. The solar facility will offset over 1500 kilowatt hours (kWh) per unit annually, reducing resident’s energy bills on average by 30% or $166/unit/year.</p>
<p>HACSB is monetizing the savings from the green energy generated on the common area meters and channeling those funds into the green job</p>
<div class="imageframe alignright" style="width: 200px;"><a title="HelioPower solar crew at Maplewood Homes, San Bernardino, CA" rel="lightbox[pics1182]" href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/Installers_5835.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1184" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/Installers_5835.thumbnail.jpg" alt="HelioPower solar crew at Maplewood Homes, San Bernardino, CA" width="200" height="133" /></a></p>
<div class="imagecaption">HelioPower solar crew at Maplewood Homes, San Bernardino, CA</div>
</div>
<p>training programs now underway. HelioPower trained and hired two residents and one community member giving them the opportunity to learn a new trade and gain solar industry expertise. HelioPower also conducted workshops for residents of Maplewood Homes about the benefits of solar and energy efficiency, how it works, what it means for them, and other tips on reducing wasteful energy and water consumption.</p>
<p>“This project is the first of many that the Housing Authority is pursuing to show commitment to implementing green initiatives to increase sustainability and save energy, and provide on-going employment opportunities for its residents in the growing green-building industry,” states Susan Benner, HACSB’s President/CEO.</p>
<p>The renewable energy honorable mention 2011 winner was the BioFuels Energy LLC project, which took a wasted, environmentally damaging resource, in this case methane gas being flared at the City of San Diego Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Facility, and built a system to convert it to renewable energy.</p>
<p>“Each year we gather to honor the best and the brightest in the tax credit industry, and each year I’m amazed at the caliber of so many deserving projects; this year’s winners truly are members of an elite group,” said Michael J. Novogradac, managing partner of Novogradac &amp; Company LLP. “It is heartening that there are so many deserving housing, historic and renewable energy tax credit developments being built to serve residents in need and, more broadly, serve communities in which they are located. I congratulate this year’s winners and invite all with a housing, historic and renewable energy development to enter next year.”</p>
<p>Full descriptions of the 13 projects winning Developments of Distinction Awards are available at<a href="http://www.novoco.com/low_income_housing/dod_awards/2011/index.php"> http://www.novoco.com/low_income_housing/dod_awards/2011/index.php</a>.  A video presentation of the renewable energy winners is available at <a href="http://www.novoco.com/low_income_housing/dod_awards/2011/renewable_energy.php">http://www.novoco.com/low_income_housing/dod_awards/2011/renewable_energy.php</a>.</p>
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		<title>How a Solar PV Array Can Preserve Your Privacy</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2012/01/how-a-solar-pv-array-can-preserve-your-privacy/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2012/01/how-a-solar-pv-array-can-preserve-your-privacy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:26:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Meters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Gordon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smart meters & Solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1177</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Source:  EcoOutfitters.net
Reporter:  Dawn Allcot
Final post in this series on Smart Meters and Solar by  EcoOutfitters  featuring Scott Gordon, Vice President of  Residential  Sales for   HelioPower. 
In this, the final of our four-part series on smart meters and solar PV arrays (start here), we’re going to address one of three dangers [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Source:  <a href="http://www.ecooutfitters.net/blog/2012/01/how-a-solar-pv-array-can-preserve-your-privacy/" target="_blank">EcoOutfitters.net<br />
</a>Reporter:  <a href="http://www.ecooutfitters.net/blog/author/dawnallcot/" target="_blank">Dawn Allcot</a></p>
<p><em>Final post in this series on Smart Meters and Solar by  EcoOutfitters  featuring Scott Gordon, Vice President of  Residential  Sales for   HelioPower. </em></p>
<p>In this, the final of our four-part series on smart meters and solar PV arrays (<a href="http://www.ecooutfitters.net/blog/2011/12/what-is-a-smart-meter-who-is-it-really-smart-for/" target="_blank">start here</a>), we’re going to address one of three dangers <a title="Privacy" rel="lightbox[pics1177]" href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/Privacy.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1178 alignright" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/Privacy.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Privacy" width="200" height="132" /></a><a title="HelioPower" href="http://www.ecooutfitters.net/installer/heliopower" target="_blank">HelioPower</a> CEO Scott Gordon revealed to us about smart meters: How they are infringing on our privacy.</p>
<p>We’re going to assume that no one reading this is doing anything  illegal in their homes that they want to hide. But Americans view  privacy as one of our basic rights. While the right to privacy is not  expressly outlined in the U.S. Constitution, the fourth amendment does  guarantee us “privacy of the person and possessions as against  unreasonable searches.”</p>
<p>Of course, our founding fathers never could have envisioned digital  meters that can record and share every detail of our electric usage.  (Mostly because they didn’t envision electricity!) But this is exactly  what smart meters do. Why does the electric company want that  information? On the surface, the utilities claim that they’re collecting  this data in order to make us smarter consumers and conservationists.  Armed with the knowledge of when, where, and how we use electricity, we  are better able to reduce our usage and lower our electric bills.</p>
<p>In reality, there is a lot more they can do with the information. As  Gordon explains: “Every time you use an electrical device, it draws a  specific amount of power, different from other devices. The smart meter  sees your life and the way you use electricity in 15-minute increments.  It can see how many loads of laundry you do each week, when you’re home,  when you leave, if you work from home, if you have a pool, how many  refrigerators you have … I can literally build a profile of you and your  life.”</p>
<p>Laws prohibit the electric company from sharing this information  without your permission. But what if they offered you 20 percent off  your bill to permit them to share the information with marketing  partners? “Many people, in this economy, would take them up on it,”  Gordon notes.</p>
<p>If you thought targeted Facebook ads were scary in a sort of “Big  Brother is watching” sense, imagine this type of marketing going on  across your home, through mail, email, cell phone — any avenue  advertisers choose to reach you.</p>
<p><strong>Protect Your Privacy with Solar</strong><br />
When you’re connected to a home solar PV array, your solar system is the  only power signature the smart meter can read. All your other devices  draw their power from the solar system. “Everything else is literally  hiding behind a smokescreen that is your solar system,” Gordon explains.</p>
<p>For years, Gordon said, the driving factor behind installing a solar  array has been to save money. “Saving the environment and being  eco-conscious is nice, but for the most part, people are concerned about  lowering their electric bills.”</p>
<p>Now, smart meters introduce a whole new reason to go solar. For 10 to  16 hours of the day, depending on the time of year, your solar PV array  is supporting your right to privacy. (Read more in HelioPower’s <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/node/908" target="_blank">10 Things About Smart Meters and Solar.</a>)</p>
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		<title>Solar Keeps Things Cool</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/12/solar-keeps-things-cool/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/12/solar-keeps-things-cool/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:06:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Electricity Bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[getsolar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1160</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Source:  GetSolar.com
Thursday, December 8th 2011 2:01 PM
There  are a lot of ways for electricity bills to run high in a place like  southern California. With high temperatures year round and blistering  summers, almost every home features at least some kind of air  conditioning. Many homes also have pools that must be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Source: <a href="http://www.getsolar.com/News/California/Los-Angeles-Solar/Solar-Leasing-Keeps-Things-Cool-in-Sunny-Southern-California-800659061" target="_blank"> GetSolar.com</a><br />
Thursday, December 8th 2011 2:01 PM</p>
<p><img src="http://www.getsolar.com/brafton_images/800659061_large.jpg" border="0" alt="" align="right" />There  are a lot of ways for electricity bills to run high in a place like  southern California. With high temperatures year round and blistering  summers, almost every home features at least some kind of air  conditioning. Many homes also have pools that must be filtered. This  only adds on top of all the televisions, computers and countless other  consumer electronics that ring up the kilowatt-hours each month. Sam  Spagnolo of Rancho Cucamonga, east of Los Angeles, paid for all of these  with the added expense of having grandchildren who were all to happy to  make use of them.</p>
<p>&#034;My electric bills were averaging over $400 per month,&#034; Sam explained to California solar installer <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/testimonial/rancho-cucamonga-resident-sam-spagnolo-recently-went-solar-heliopower-and-sunrun" target="_blank">HelioPower</a> when he first visited them about the possibility of adding a <a href="http://www.getsolar.com/blog/what-makes-a-roof-good-for-solar/6928/">rooftop solar</a> installation.</p>
<p>Four  hundred dollars per month is fairly high for California, where the  average bill was $82.85 per month in 2009, according to the U.S. <a href="http://205.254.135.24/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&amp;t=3" target="_blank">Energy Information Administration</a>,  but this includes the entire state, even the far cooler climes in the  north. By comparison, nearby Arizona paid an average of $116.09 per  month, despite seeing average electricity rates more than 25 percent  lower. At California&#039;s excessive electricity prices, the sunny state  could have been paying monthly bills of more than $156 on average.</p>
<p>Indeed,  the state as a whole saw the second-lowest average monthly electricity  usage in the entire country at 562 kilowatt-hours, behind only Maine.  Tennessee, the state with the highest monthly usage in the country,  would have faced average electricity bills of more than $205 per month  at California&#039;s rates, though much of this disparity can be attributed  to California&#039;s efforts at <a href="http://www.getsolar.com/blog/what-is-a-hers-rating-and-why-is-it-imporant/4669/">energy efficiency</a>.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the <a href="http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/us_12-month_avgt.shtml" target="_blank">National Weather Service</a> illustrates how much warmer it can get in the southern reaches of the  state. Meanwhile, the state&#039;s tenth-highest residential electricity  rates make clear how much of an impact this difference could have on  residents bills.</p>
<p>After a long talk with a representative from HelioPower, Sam was certainly interested in the potential savings a <a href="http://www.getsolar.com/blog/five-things-to-do-before-you-get-solar/3687/">residential solar</a> installation could offer him under these circumstances. But at the end of the day, he decided he simply could not afford it.</p>
<p>&#034;Quite  frankly, although I could clearly see the returns, I wasn’t ready to  make that big a commitment by buying a system,&#034; Sam told them.</p>
<p>That  problem quickly solved itself, however, when California-based SunRun  struck an agreement to work with HelioPower. SunRun&#039;s residential solar financing program offers homeowners the opportunity to add a solar  installation and to cut down on their electricity bills simply by paying  a fixed monthly bill or fixed rate for the electricity produced by the  system.</p>
<p>Solar power purchase agreements arrangements can generally be made with  little money down, and sometimes none at all. In Sam&#039;s case it cost only  $1,000 and work started on his roof within only a few weeks of having  HelioPower put through paperwork for the various permits and federal and  state solar incentives.</p>
<p>Now,  a 33-panel photovoltaic solar installation sits on the back roof of  Sam&#039;s house. At 230 watts each, the solar panels combine for a peak</p>
<div class="imageframe alignright" style="width: 200px;"><a title="Solar in Rancho Cucamonga at Sam Spagnola's residence" rel="lightbox[pics1160]" href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/Rancho-Cucamonga-Spagnolo-Residence.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1161" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/Rancho-Cucamonga-Spagnolo-Residence.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Solar in Rancho Cucamonga at Sam Spagnola's residence" width="200" height="150" /></a></p>
<div class="imagecaption"><a href="http://www.heliopower.com/projects/california/rancho-cucamonga/spagnolo-residence" target="_blank">Solar in Rancho Cucamonga at Sam Spagnola&#039;s residence</a></div>
</div>
<p>capacity of 7.59 kilowatts and can produce more than 11,100  kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, according to the <a href="http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/version1/US/code/pvwattsv1.cgi" target="_blank">National Renewable Energy Laboratory&#039;s PVWATT Calculator</a>.  That represents more than one-and-a-half times the average  Californian&#039;s annual energy needs. At California&#039;s average electricity  price of 14.74 cents per kilowatt-hour, that amounts to more than $1,600  per year. Between a good first month that saw Sam&#039;s solar system  produce enough to give him a $300 credit from his electricity company  and a $500 rebate from the City of Rancho Cucamonga, it took only two  months for Sam to earn back the $1,000 he paid in up-front costs, and he  only expects to save more over the years.</p>
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		<title>SCE Awards Largest MASH Track 2 Grant</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/12/sce-awards-largest-mash-track-2-grant/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/12/sce-awards-largest-mash-track-2-grant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:29:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar Communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California Solar Power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MASH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SCE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southern California Edison]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1150</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Housing Authority of San Bernardino Marks Completion of Solar Power Installation Built by HelioPower to Benefit Low-Income Families with Free Solar Energy
Southern California Edison (SCE) awarded its first and largest Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Track 2 Grant of $1,840,000 to The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) yesterday at a “70 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Housing Authority of San Bernardino Marks Completion of Solar Power Installation Built by HelioPower to Benefit Low-Income Families with Free Solar Energy</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sce.com/solarleadership/gosolar/mash/mash.htm" target="_blank">Southern California Edison (SCE) </a>awarded its first and largest Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Track 2 Grant of $1,840,000 to <a href="http://www.hacsb.com/" target="_blank">The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB)</a> yesterday at a “70 &amp; Solar” celebration.  The presentation took place at the Maplewood Homes affordable housing community, home to over 1100 residents.  The event focused attention on the innovative “green” project which incorporates solar retrofits atop 100 of the community’s rooftops, green job training and creation as well as ongoing solar production monitoring and green outreach.</p>
<p>65 residents, community members, and representatives of SCE, HACSB, San Bernardino city council members and <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/" target="_blank">HelioPower</a>, the solar</p>
<div class="imageframe alignright" style="width: 320px;"><a title="Southern California Edison awarded its first and largest MASH Track 2 Grant ($1,840,000) to the Housing Authority of San Bernardino for the Maplewood Homes solar power system installed by HelioPower. From left to right: Maurice Camp (Project Manager, HACSB), Susan Benner (President/CEO, HACSB), Gustav Joslin (Chief Operating Officer, HACSB), Aileen Lagbao (SCE MASH Administrator), John Bogardt (Project Manager, HACSB), and Tom Millhoff (VP Business Development, HelioPower). Source: HACSB." rel="lightbox[pics1150]" href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/HACSB-Maplewood-Homes-70-and-solar-group-check-C-e1322767288565.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1151" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/HACSB-Maplewood-Homes-70-and-solar-group-check-C-e1322767288565.jpg" alt="Southern California Edison awarded its first and largest MASH Track 2 Grant ($1,840,000) to the Housing Authority of San Bernardino for the Maplewood Homes solar power system installed by HelioPower. From left to right: Maurice Camp (Project Manager, HACSB), Susan Benner (President/CEO, HACSB), Gustav Joslin (Chief Operating Officer, HACSB), Aileen Lagbao (SCE MASH Administrator), John Bogardt (Project Manager, HACSB), and Tom Millhoff (VP Business Development, HelioPower). Source: HACSB." width="320" height="226" /></a></p>
<div class="imagecaption">Southern California Edison awarded its first and largest MASH Track 2 Grant ($1,840,000) to the Housing Authority of San Bernardino for the Maplewood Homes solar power system installed by HelioPower. From left to right: Maurice Camp (Project Manager, HACSB), Susan Benner (President/CEO, HACSB), Gustav Joslin (Chief Operating Officer, HACSB), Aileen Lagbao (SCE MASH Administrator), John Bogardt (Project Manager, HACSB), and Tom Millhoff (VP Business Development, HelioPower). Source: HACSB.</div>
</div>
<p>installation firm on the project, all gathered in the community center to applaud the completion of the “green” project and HACSB’s 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary.  The celebration included the presentation of a $1,840,000 solar program rebate check by SCE to Susan Benner, HACSB’s President/CEO.</p>
<p>“We extend a warm welcome to the Housing Authority into the solar community,” said Aileen Lagbao, Program Manager, MASH &amp; Solar Thermal for Southern California Edison, as she presented the grant check.</p>
<p>“The MASH Track 2 award has provided employment for our residents and local businesses.  Families at the site have also been learning about conservation measures including the benefits of solar power and conserving energy,” said Benner.</p>
<p>100% of the clean energy generated from the solar power system will benefit residents at this affordable housing community.  An average family at Maplewood Homes spends $572 annually on electricity. Community-wide the average cost saving from the solar power generated energy will be $166 per unit per year, or about 30%.</p>
<p>HACSCB worked with HelioPower in the development of the grant proposal, engineering and construction of the solar power system and development and delivery of the educational, training and Internet components of the program.  A solar and energy efficiency seminar was presented to residents as part of the program by Tom Millhoff, Vice President of Business Development at HelioPower.</p>
<p>“This is part of a larger more comprehensive strategy the Housing Authority is developing for energy management.  It’s our intention to reduce energy and water use across our housing portfolio, which today includes over 3,000 units of affordable, market rate and senior housing,” explained Benner.</p>
<p>This project is the first of many solar installations that the Housing Authority is pursuing to show its’ commitment to implementing green initiatives not only to increase sustainability and save energy, but also to provide employment opportunities for its residents in the growing green-building industry.  HelioPower hired two residents and one community member giving them the opportunity to learn a new trade and gain solar industry expertise.</p>
<div class="imageframe alignleft" style="width: 320px;"><a title="The California Solar Initiative MASH Track 2 funds supported the installation of a 302 kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic facility at Maplewood Homes.  The 100 solar power systems were engineered and installed by HelioPower." href="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/HACSB-Maplewood-Homes-Multiple-Roofs.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1152" src="http://blog.heliopower.com/wp-content/uploads/HACSB-Maplewood-Homes-Multiple-Roofs-e1322767572212.jpg" alt="The California Solar Initiative MASH Track 2 funds supported the installation of a 302 kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic facility at Maplewood Homes.  The 100 solar power systems were engineered and installed by HelioPower." width="320" height="214" /></a></p>
<div class="imagecaption">The California Solar Initiative MASH Track 2 funds supported the installation of a 302 kilowatt (kW) DC solar photovoltaic facility at Maplewood Homes.  The <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/projects/california/san-bernardino/maplewood-homess" target="_blank">100 solar power systems were engineered and installed by HelioPower</a>.</div>
</div>
<p>The MASH Track 2 funds supported the installation of a 302 kilowatt (kW) DC <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/projects/california/san-bernardino/maplewood-homes" target="_blank">solar photovoltaic facility on 98 residential homes and 2 community buildings at Maplewood Homes</a>.  85% of the clean energy production will go to residents and 15% will be channeled through common area energy savings to help fund on-site employment.  The solar facility will offset over 1500 kilowatt hours (kWh) per unit annually.</p>
<p>Maplewood Homes is an affordable housing community located at 1738 West 9<sup>th</sup> Street, San Bernardino, CA.  It was built in the late ‘40’s and has undergone several renovations.</p>
<p>“I lived here on 10<sup>th</sup> street and played here as a child. The transformation at this community is marvelous,” said San Bernardino Councilmember, Rikke Van Johnson in his event presentation.  “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”</p>
<p>HelioPower ‘s Tom Millhoff said, “HACSB’s demonstrated outstanding initiative, creativity and financial savvy in developing this solar project in conjunction with a major energy efficiency retrofit and property upgrades at the affordable housing community of Maplewood Homes.  The result is substantially improved living environment for residents, reduced living expenses, and a shining legacy that sets the ‘green standard’ for other Housing Authorities.”</p>
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		<title>HelioPower Delivers Lowest Solar Price</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/11/heliopower-lowest-solar-price-in-sce/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/11/heliopower-lowest-solar-price-in-sce/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:22:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar Energy Installations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SCE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southern Calfiornia Edison]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Source: Run On Sun, September 9, 2011

From &#034;State of Solar California&#034; post by Jim Jenal:  In the first two installments in this series (Part 1 and Part 2)  we looked at the most recent data from the California Solar Initiative  (CSI) covering the first half of 2011 in Southern California Edison&#039;s (SCE) service [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Source: <a href="http://runonsun.com/~runons5/blogs/blog1.php/solecon/state-of-solar-california-part3" target="_blank">Run On Sun, September 9, 2011<br />
</a></p>
<p>From &#034;State of Solar California&#034; post by Jim Jenal:  In the first two installments in this series (<a title="State of Solar California - Part 1" href="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/blog1.php/solecon/the-state-of-solar-california" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a title="State of Solar California - Part 2" href="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/blog1.php/solecon/state-of-solar-california-part2" target="_blank">Part 2</a>)  we looked at the most recent data from the California Solar Initiative  (CSI) covering the first half of 2011 in Southern California Edison&#039;s (SCE) service area. Using that  data we identified trends in cost, equipment and system efficiency.</p>
<p><strong>Who Charges What?</strong><br />
Here is a chart of the Cost per Watt for the largest installation  companies in the SCE service area (you can click on the chart to see it  full size):</p>
<div><a title="Click for full size chart" href="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/media/blogs/a/Outliers1.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/media/blogs/a/Outliers1%20-%20small.png?mtime=1314835504" alt="" width="450" height="324" /></a></div>
<p>First, let us give credit where it is due.  The low end outlier is  HelioPower, Inc., at $6.56/Watt, and they did it with an efficiency  factor of 87% &#8211; second best of anyone on that chart.  Nice.</p>
<p>But who is that way off in left field?  Coming in at a staggering <strong>$13.32/Watt  &#8211; a full $1.40 higher than their nearest competitor and more that twice  what <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/free-site-evaluation" target="_blank">HelioPower</a> is charging &#8211; is Galkos Construction, Inc</strong>., <strong>also known as GCI Energy</strong>,  out of Huntington Beach.  For that money, they must surely be offering  only the most efficient and sophisticated technology, right?  Not so  much.  To the contrary, the average installation efficiency for Galkos  is only 84.9% &#8211; the second worst on the chart and well below the average  of 86.11%.  In fact, 99% of the time Galkos appears to use Sharp panels  &#8211; not exactly an exotic solar panel brand &#8211; and in particular the Sharp  ND-224UC1 panel (66.5%). A quick <a title="Google search for Sharp module used by Galkos" href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=sharp+nd-224uc1&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;tbm=shop&amp;cid=13367791664758703685&amp;os=sellers&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=-9ReTtj8MZTYiALXjomzBQ&amp;ved=0CDMQ_QgwAQ" target="_blank">Google search reveals that the Sharp ND-224UC1 can be purchased, at <em><strong>retail</strong></em>, for $2.65/Watt or less</a>.   Given that Galkos handled 400 projects in this data set, it is hard to  believe that their price for all of their equipment, particularly the  Sharp panels, would not be not heavily discounted.</p>
<h4>Quality Counts</h4>
<p>Quality, of course, is important, and the data does not reveal &#8211;  though the Internet hints at &#8211; the quality of installations from  Galkos.  Here is how the company describes its own product offerings  (from the “Services” page of their website):</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Solar by GCI [Galkos Construction, Inc.] Energy </strong><br />
GCI Energy is the largest solar company in Southern California <em><strong>with over 30,000  customers</strong></em>. So you get the most knowledgeable professionals, excellent  customer service <em><strong>and a better price</strong></em>.<em><strong>GCI Energy solar offers the highest efficiency solar panels on the market &#8211; those manufactured by Sharp</strong></em>.  With Sharp Solar Panels, GCI Energy can tailor a solar panel  installation to your specific needs and  lifestyle, so you get maximum  performance without a maximum investment.<br />
(Emphasis added.)</p></blockquote>
<p>Does Galkos actually have 30,000 <strong><em>solar </em></strong>customers?   Certainly not (nobody does).  Are they providing “a better price&#034;?  It  is not clear what their standard of comparison might be &#8211; but their  price is not better than any of their major competitors in that chart.   And of course, the statement does not define what they mean by “the  highest efficiency solar panels on the market,” but it seems unlikely  that Sharp would make that claim.  <a title="Chart of solar panel efficiencies" href="http://sroeco.com/solar/table/" target="_blank">Here’s one chart that concludes that they couldn’t</a> (note the efficiency of the SunPower and Sanyo panels first, then search for Sharp).</p>
<p>All we can say in response is, <a title="Definition of caveat emptor" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caveat%20emptor" target="_blank"><em>caveat emptor</em></a>.</p>
<h3>Oddities &#8211; SolarCity</h3>
<p>Now we turn to the Oddities section of this post.  Unlike the  outliers, which were always of interest to us, we were not looking for  the oddity we report here &#8211; it literally just jumped out at us.</p>
<h4>Sold versus Leased</h4>
<blockquote><p><strong>Question: What is the difference in reported cost between  systems sold directly to the end customer and those that are leased  (i.e., have a third-party owner in CSI parlance)?</strong></p></blockquote>
<p>The initial difference that we stumbled upon was so startling that we  knew we needed to narrow our focus and control for as many variables as  possible to isolate that one factor.  To achieve that end we restricted  the data to those residential systems (i.e., between 1 and 10 kW) that  were “pending” in the CSI/SCE data (thus, the newest proposed systems in  the data which, based on our Part 1 analysis should mean the lowest  cost systems). That way our project sample would be as homogenous as  possible, eliminating cost variations based on system size and timing.</p>
<p>Given those restrictions, the top 5 installation companies in which  the system is owned by a third party are: Verengo (482 systems),  SolarCity (468), American Solar Direct (124), Sungevity (99), and  HelioPower (63).  Of those five, only two also have direct sales  projects pending: Verengo (7) and SolarCity (9).  Let’s see how they  compare:</p>
<div><a title="Click for full size chart" href="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/media/blogs/a/Oddities1.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://runonsun.com/%7Erunons5/blogs/media/blogs/a/Oddities1%20-%20small.png?mtime=1314920971" alt="Lease impact on costs - SolarCity vs Verengo" width="450" height="68" /></a></div>
<p>What is going on here?  For Verengo, as the number of systems  increases &#8211; which it does in going from sold systems to leased systems &#8211;  their cost per Watt decreases &#8211; which is what we would expect.  <em><strong>But  not so for SolarCity &#8211; even though they are leasing 50 times as many  systems as they are selling, their cost for the leased systems went up &#8211;  way up &#8211; as in up by $3.12/Watt!</strong></em></p>
<p><strong> </strong>For the complete post by Jim Jenal of Run On Sun, please link here:<a href="http://runonsun.com/~runons5/blogs/blog1.php/solecon/state-of-solar-california-part3" target="_blank"> http://runonsun.com/~runons5/blogs/blog1.php/solecon/state-of-solar-california-part3 </a></p>
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		<title>Gordon to address proposed SDG&amp;E charges on Saturday</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/10/gordon-to-address-proposed-sdge-charges-on-saturday/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/10/gordon-to-address-proposed-sdge-charges-on-saturday/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:39:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Electricity Bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Grid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Meters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SDG&E]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1124</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[HelioPower&#039;s Scott Gordon will address the new proposed surcharges to solar users announced this week by San Diego Gas &#38; Electric (SDG&#38;E) at solar meetings in Laguna Niguel this Saturday.
NC Times announced today that &#034;Homeowners with solar power may have to dig a little deeper to pay off their green investment if regulators approve San [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>HelioPower&#039;s Scott Gordon will address the new proposed surcharges to solar users announced this week by San Diego Gas &amp; Electric (SDG&amp;E) at solar meetings in <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/SmartMetersandSolar" target="_blank">Laguna Niguel this Saturday.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/article_49671e51-02b5-58a4-9384-10752bb50fa1.html" target="_blank"><em>NC Times</em> announced today</a> that &#034;Homeowners with solar power may have to dig a little deeper to pay off their green investment if regulators approve <a href="http://www.nctimes.com/content/tncms/live/sdge.com">San Diego Gas &amp; Electric Co.&#039;s</a> request to change the way electricity is billed.</p>
<p>Under its proposal, SDG&amp;E would unbundle the charges for electricity and for transporting electricity.&#034;</p>
<div>The article goes on to say &#034;In December, <a href="http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_54826a4e-6f71-5f99-8e66-5090dbf14eae.html"> the utility asked</a> the California Public Utilities Commission to let it charge customers an extra $1.1 billion, a request still under review by regulators. Monday&#039;s filing proposed exactly how the utility would collect that money from its customers.</div>
<div>
<p>Rates for electricity would be lower, but a new &#034;network use charge&#034; would tack on a fee for using the utility&#039;s power lines. J.C. Thomas, the utility&#039;s manager for government and regulatory affairs, said the charge would be about 4 or 5 cents a kilowatt, based on a customer&#039;s average hourly use, excluding late at night.</p>
<p>SDG&amp;E didn&#039;t share its completed filing before it was sent to regulators on Monday, but it briefed numerous advocacy groups, most of whom expressed concern about SDG&amp;E&#039;s assumptions.</p>
</div>
<p>&#034;They are trying to mitigate, in their mind, the so-called cost subsidy issue,&#034; said Leeweigh Tan, a regulatory analyst for the <a href="http://www.dra.ca.gov/dra/">Division of Ratepayer Advocates</a>, an independent arm of the commission. &#034;Sometimes utilities get enthusiastic about addressing a certain issue and they blow it out of proportion. We want to make sure the data supports their claim.&#034;</p>
<p>Indeed, all of the advocates reached for this article wondered how SDG&amp;E generated those figures for the subsidy. The complete filing is likely to address that question.</p>
<p>&#034;SDG&amp;E ignores all the benefits of solar and only looks at the costs,&#034; said <a href="http://www.ucan.org/michael_shames">Michael Shames</a>, executive director of the Utility Consumers&#039; Action Network, an advocacy nonprofit.</p>
<p>Because the new charge would extend the return on investment for solar, it would make explaining solar to potential installation customers more difficult. It would probably depress what has been a growing market, said Scott Gordon, an SDG&amp;E residential solar customer and vice president for sales for Murrieta solar installer HelioPower.</p>
<p>&#034;That is frightening,&#034; Gordon said.</p>
<div>The role of the utility is changing, says the article.  This same point is addressed in Gordon&#039;s Smart Meter and Solar discussions, which helps consumers understand how the role of the utility is changing, how pricing for electricity is changing and the role the smart meter plays in gathering data.  <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/SmartMetersandSolar" target="_blank">The series this Saturday in Laguna Nigue</a>l will also feature a discussion about this proposed new pricing from SDG&amp;E.</div>
<div>Source:  <em><a href="http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/article_49671e51-02b5-58a4-9384-10752bb50fa1.html#ixzz1ZpnoOevV" target="_blank">NC Times</a></em></div>
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		<title>Giving You The Power To Save</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/09/giving-you-the-power-to-save/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/09/giving-you-the-power-to-save/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:23:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canadian Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1114</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
HelioPower&#039;s Steve LoRusso and the company&#039;s solar installation at the Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego are featured in this Canadian Solar USA produced video.
From a home in Southern California, to the Ronald McDonald Charities House in San Diego, to a hulling facility in the San Joaquin Valley, watch how 3 individuals weigh the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7t_MTPorMWU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>HelioPower&#039;s Steve LoRusso and the company&#039;s <a href="http://www.heliopower.com/projects/california/san-diego/ronald-mcdonald-house" target="_blank">solar installation at the Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego </a>are featured in this <a href="http://www.canadiansolar.com/en/" target="_blank">Canadian Solar USA </a>produced video.</p>
<p>From a home in Southern California, to the Ronald McDonald Charities House in San Diego, to a hulling facility in the San Joaquin Valley, watch how 3 individuals weigh the options and chose solar. Gain insights into how solar has impacted their families, their businesses, and their wallets.</p>
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		<title>Smart Meters can either work for you—or against you.</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/09/smartmetersandsolar/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/09/smartmetersandsolar/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2011 23:59:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smart Grid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Meters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1103</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Smart Meters can either work for you—or against you. Tens of millions of  smart meters are being installed globally.  In California alone 13  million homeowners will have a smart meter by the end of 2012.  It will  monitor your energy use, tying you into a smart grid world.
If  you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0pj_pgdVnVo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Smart Meters can either work for you—or against you. Tens of millions of  smart meters are being installed globally.  In California alone 13  million homeowners will have a smart meter by the end of 2012.  It will  monitor your energy use, tying you into a smart grid world.</p>
<p>If  you have a monthly electric bill of $100 or more you need to know about  smart meters, and how to make sure they don&#039;t hurt you. Specifically,  how they can negatively impact your bank account, your lifestyle and  your privacy.</p>
<p>You have the opportunity to make the &#034;smart meter&#034; reality help you.</p>
<p>With  solar, you can make the smart meter work for you&#8212;instead of against  you.  The smart meter can provide you with energy information.  By  adding solar, you can turn this information to your benefit.  You can  save energy and money.  You can ensure your family&#039;s privacy and  security.</p>
<p>Come to the Smart Meters and Solar neighborhood meetup  in your town to get all your questions answered, check out your energy  options and see how much money you can truly save.</p>
<p>Video features Scott Gordon of HelioPower.  More information at<a href="http://www.heliopower.com/SmartMetersandSolar" target="_blank"> www.HelioPower.com/SmartMetersandSolar</a></p>
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		<title>CA homeowner plagued by $2400 monthly bill finds relief with free solar</title>
		<link>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/09/ca-homeowner-plagued-by-2400-monthly-bill-finds-relief-with-free-solar/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.heliopower.com/2011/09/ca-homeowner-plagued-by-2400-monthly-bill-finds-relief-with-free-solar/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:45:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>glenna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[HelioPower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residential Solar Power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SunRun]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.heliopower.com/?p=1097</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SunRun Uncovers California&#039;s Highest Electric Bills &#8211; Over $2400 of Financial Pain
An Oroville family growing food for veterans&#039; shelters  will receive free solar power for 20 years from SunRun after presenting  the largest electric bill in California.  The family submitted a June  electric bill for over $2400 to SunRun&#039;s Battle of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>SunRun Uncovers California&#039;s Highest Electric Bills &#8211; Over $2400 of Financial Pain</strong></p>
<p>An Oroville family growing food for veterans&#039; shelters  will receive free solar power for 20 years from SunRun after presenting  the largest electric bill in California.  The family submitted a June  electric bill for over $2400 to SunRun&#039;s Battle of the Bill&#039;s contest.</p>
<p>Family members David Sato and his father and sister were delighted to  learn they can take charge of their electricity costs and save money  while switching to clean solar power from dirty power sources like coal.   SunRun partner <a href="http://www.HelioPower.com">HelioPower</a> will perform the Sato&#039;s installation.</p>
<p>&#034;When we moved to California we bought 13 acres so we could have a more  self-dependent and local lifestyle,&#034; said homeowner David Sato.  &#034;We  have big gardens, we&#039;re building an orchard so we can grow our own  produce, and we want to support our needs with renewable energy as much  as possible.  We&#039;re hoping to grow enough to be able to donate a large  portion of the food to the local veterans&#039; shelter.&#034;</p>
<p>Despite the Sato&#039;s best efforts to make their home as energy efficient  as possible &#8211; for example, energy-efficient light bulbs, double-pane  windows, new insulation &#8211; they struggle to keep electricity costs down.   The Sato&#039;s noted that increasing rates and volatility with the local  electric company are constant financial challenges.</p>
<p>&#034;We&#039;re so excited to have SunRun,&#034; said Sato.  &#034;Even if we didn&#039;t win  the contest we&#039;d switch to SunRun because you can go solar without  paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.  The fact that this company  lets you lock in low rates for clean energy is a huge draw.  The first  thing we want to do with our savings is invest in more solar!&#034;</p>
<p>&#034;We offered this contest to help educate more homeowners that solar can  be a low-cost, smart investment, and that it&#039;s a great way to take  control of your energy costs,&#034; said SunRun President and Co-founder Lynn  Jurich.  &#034;We&#039;re looking forward to helping another home make the switch  affordably.&#034;</p>
<p>&#034;We were overwhelmed by the number of entries we received, and by the  fact that so many people didn&#039;t realize solar is an option for them,&#034;  added Jurich.  &#034;Even families with bills as low as $100 can save money  with clean solar energy.&#034;</p>
<p>SunRun is the nation&#039;s leading home solar company and owns, installs,  and maintains home solar panels so families don&#039;t have to pay $30,000 or  more for them. Homeowners lock in low solar electricity rates for 20  years, protected from unpredictable utility rate increases.  The company  installs more than $1 million in solar every day.  Details on Battle of  the Bills can be found at:   http://www.sunrunhome.com/landing-pages/highest-bill-ca.</p>
<p>Source:  SunRun</p>
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