Morgan Hill Today 2013 06 Summer | Page 61

Solar Gaining Huge Momentum

Solar energy isn ’ t just environmentally conscious — it ’ s also one of the fastest-growing segments of California ’ s construction industry . The Department of Labor estimates that nationally , more than 200,000 new jobs will be created in the solar energy field over the next four years . Many will come right here in California , which tends to be on the leading edge of every construction trend .

The Momentum Starts Here

The cost of electricity continues to increase each year causing hardship and discomfort for many families and businesses . We homeowners know about Peak Day Pricing , “ tiers ” or perhaps , “ tears ” ( if we want to run our hot tub , heat our pool or even our own house ). When we use electricity beyond our allowable “ baseline ” usage ( which is the reasonable rate ), we are charged more money per watt . As we elevate to the next tier or tiers we start paying double , triple and more . If we conserve electricity during peak hours , we can save money on our electric bills . If not , this is where electricity really gets expensive and this is where solar can come to the rescue .

The Beauty of Solar

The beauty of solar is it can eliminate those high-tier costs by producing energy during the peak day hours . Instead of using PG & E ’ s electricity , solar panels capture the needed electricity by converting the Direct Current ( D . C .) from the sun to Alternating Current ( A . C .) that ’ s the power your home uses .

The cost of solar has significantly dropped over the past three years and for those who have a tax burden , you can still write off about 30 % of your investment as a tax credit . Solar can be an awesome investment if you select the right solar panels and the right installer . All solar is not created equal .

The Panels

Beware of companies offering super cheap panels ! Many of these “ cheap panels ” are from off-shore manufacturers that are closing their doors each year leaving homeowners without recourse . Do your research on the panel manufacturer . Ask how have their panels are tested against other panels , do they utilize fully automated production lines for quality assurance or cheap manual labor , how long have they been in business , how financially strong are they , and do they have strong ties in the US . These are all important questions for consumer protection .

The Installer

Know about your installer , their reputation , experience with solar , and if it ’ s a roof-top installation , what kind of a warranty will they provide for your roof under the panels .

The Savings

There are so many affordable solar options right now for homeowners and businesses , even non-profits . You can own your solar energy , lease it or buy it over time . The great thing is your payments , if any , are normally far less than your current electric bill , and in some cases can eliminate most of your bill and can protect you from electric rates increases for years to come — saving you literally thousands upon thousands of dollars . Just think if we could have locked in the prices of gasoline 20 years ago when it was under a $ 1 per gallon — we ’ d be singing every time we go to the pump .

Information Provided by Pamela Garcia , CEO Affordable Solar Roofs Morgan Hill , CA

In November 2012 , PG & E had all small and medium size business customers transition from flat rates to time-ofuse rates . Beginning November 2014 , small and medium business customers will automatically transition to Peak Day Pricing . This will increase business energy cost once again , during the hours that most businesses have higher demand and it doesn ’ t stop there . For more information , rate schedules and energy saving tips , see PG & E . com .

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