Green Remodel Forum was in partnership with SunShot (Department of Energy Sunshot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge), Contra Costa Economic Partnership, Diablo Innovation Alliance, Contra Costa Association of Realtors Sustainable San Ramon, and Sustainable Contra Costa to hold a Solar Financing Workshop for Residential Properties on January 10, at the Community Center in San Ramon, CA.
The event was a panel discussion on basic solar PV and financing options. Over 70 people from different parts of Contra Costa County attending the event.
Our co-founder, Yuet Lee, led off the panel with an explanation on how the historic low prices of solar PV can be used to erase the high electric utility rate. He talked about a Lawrence Berkeley Lab study showing a solar PV equipped home sells at a premium that offsets the initial cost. He emphasized that although solar PV systems are cleaner form of energy sources (they generate 6-8 times of energy as is required for manufacture and disposal), it is still important not to oversize a solar PV system. Conservation and changing out inefficient appliances lead to more savings and better environment protection.
Steve Padberg of Solar Universe Diablo Valley talked about the installation and permit application process, federal tax credit and other local incentive.
Steve, and Daniel Bell of Sungevity, then talked about lease and power purchase agreements. These financing options are rapidly gaining popularity over the traditional purchase option as they require little or no initial cost.
Randy Kauffman of NextEnergy offered advice on how to find a good solar contractor – experience being most important in addition to making sure the contractor is licensed and bonded.
Scott Jower from UBS Wealth Management Group related a story of how one of his clients switched a portion of the investment into buying a solar PV system and found happiness.
Tina Neuhausel from Sustainable Contra Costa and Anne Cavazos from Sustainable San Ramon, speaking as event partners from the audience, encouraged homeowners to reduce energy usage before installing solar systems.
Often time, most people want to have a large solar system installed on their roof without thinking to reduce energy use. The attendees felt informed that they could do something before having a large solar system installed on their roof. In return they could save money and energy.
