The First Step House of North County is staffed and managed by a group of volunteers committed to providing food and short-term housing to alcoholics, including indigent and low-income, as they make a new beginning in sobriety. Learn more about First Step House of North County at: https://fshnc.org/

LG Electronics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-efficiency solar panels. Quick Mount PV manufactures high-quality attachments and racking for solar panel installations. Based in Carlsbad, San Diego County Solar designs and installs residential solar electric systems in the greater San Diego area.

The post San Diego County Solar provides Free Power to First Step House of North County appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

There has been a trend in the residential solar industry to treat solar as if it were a commodity. All solar is not the same. Every home is unique. What may be perfect for one home and one family will not be the best solution for the house next door. Be suspect of anyone who offers pricing before they’ve visited your home. Be suspect of a company that sells solar, but doesn’t install it themselves. What would you think of someone who gave you pricing for a kitchen remodel without ever setting foot in your kitchen?

How to Shop for Solar

Solar is a home improvement that affects your roof, your home electrical system, and the aesthetics of your home — not just your future electric costs. Make sure you choose a contractor who’s experienced, and who isn’t using the cheapest roof attachments, wire management, etc. Make sure you’re only considering options that will work with your actual site conditions. And to make sure your solar is sized properly, you’ll want to work with a consultant who understands how to estimate your future electric usage, and your future solar production. Finally, pay attention to the aesthetics of your solar system design, so that you’re not embarrassed to show it off to your neighbors.

Here are just some variables an experienced solar contractor will consider in the design and pricing of your solar system:

1. Roof:  material, age, condition, dimensions, orientation, pitch, location of vents, spacing of rafters, shading, etc.
2. Main electric panel:  location, brand, amperage of busbar, amperage of main breaker, available breaker space, compatibility with SDG&E’s renewable meter adapter, etc.
3. Electric usage:  historical monthly usage, daily usage patterns, opportunities for energy savings, expected increases or decreases in future electric usage, etc.
4. Aesthetics:  is the solar layout based on actual roof and shading conditions?  will there be gaps left in the solar array for vents?  will the solar panels line up?  will the conduit be hidden in the attic?  will any exposed conduit be painted to blend in?  where will the inverter (or combiner box) be located?

Don’t be fooled into thinking that all solar contractors are the same — they’re not! Would you like to speak with a qualified solar professional who can explain the logic behind their equipment choices, and the reasoning behind the solar system size and design? An established San Diego solar contractor who offers quality materials and workmanship at a fair price? Then contact San Diego County Solar for a free consultation.

The post Solar is a Home Improvement, Not a Commodity appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

Here’s the link to the article.

And here’s the text of the article:

A solar electric system can help many homeowners reduce their monthly expenses while adding value to their home. Unfortunately, the solar industry has attracted some unscrupulous people who target specific populations, such as seniors. Therefore, it is wise for seniors to take extra precautions when considering solar for their home. Seniors may even want to seek counsel from a trusted family member or neighbor before making any decisions.

Here are some questions to consider during the process:

• Does the solar company have a contractor’s license in good standing? Is the salesperson licensed? Click here to find out.
• How long has the company been in business? Do you expect it to be in business in 10 years?
• Is the salesperson educating you, or just trying to close the deal? Can they back up all of their claims from reputable third-party sources? Does their proposal consider your expected future electric usage patterns and your specific site conditions (e.g. roof orientation and shading)? Have they explained how your relationship with the utility changes when you go solar?
• Are they transparent about financing options, the pros and cons of each, and the costs involved?
• Do they have good online customer reviews on platforms like Yelp and Google? Do they have previous customers that you can speak with? Have they installed existing solar systems in your area that you can see?

Some solar companies go door to door selling solar. Seniors are sometimes lured into signing up for a 20-year solar lease because the doorknocker is effective in creating a false sense of urgency. Commonly they claim that there is a new incentive program that allows homeowners to go solar for free. “Just sign here on this iPad to see if you qualify,” they say. Well, if it sounds too good to be true…

The best strategy is to ask for their contact information. Then research the company later without pressure. This is far better than signing on the dotted line or providing personal information. Here are a few tips about how best to deal with door-to-door salespeople.

While solar leases (sometimes called PPAs) are a legitimate method for going solar (vs. owning), they are often presented in a false light. Read the fine print. Research the problems that others have experienced. Ask local real estate professionals what issues they have seen with the lease. For myriad reasons, most homeowners choose to own their solar system rather than to lease one.

Going solar is a long-term decision. Homeowners, and especially seniors, should not make that decision casually, much less under pressure. When in doubt, ask for help. Feel free to contact us with more specific inquiries.

The post What Should Seniors Watch Out For When Considering Solar? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

1. How will the solar system affect the value of your home when it’s time to sell? Currently there is no accepted metric for determining exactly how much a solar electric installation will increase your home value, but it generally will increase the value by some amount (unless it’s a solar lease or a PPA). Imagine looking at a home for sale in a neighborhood in which homeowners are spending $2000 – $3000 per year on electricity, but this homeowner spends close to $0 per year on electricity — would you pay more for that home?
2. How long will it take to recoup my solar investment? In SDG&E territory, the answer is typically between 4-7 years at current electric rates, depending on the configuration of your roof and on your electric usage. However, if you consider that you would also recoup some additional value from the solar should you sell your home, the “payback period” decreases to 2-4 years. It also decreases if you consider future utility electric rate increases.
3. If you plan to rent out your home when you move instead of selling it, it’s important to consider that a solar home can garner higher-than-market rates. Renters may be happy to pay an extra $100 – $150 per month in rent if the solar system will save them $200 per month.
4. The 30% residential solar tax credit is in place for systems installed and “placed into service” during 2019. After that, the tax credit will step down, and then disappear altogether for systems put into service after 2021. It makes sense to capture these government incentives while they are in place, because the next homeowner will not be able to.
5. Net Energy Metering (NEM) rules changes over time as the electric grid is comprised of more and more renewable energy. These rules dictate the value that homeowners can obtain from their solar electric system. Each time these rules change they become less favorable to new solar homeowners. However, any residential solar installation placed into service under the current NEM rules in California will remain under these rules for the next 20 years, even if the home is sold during this time period. This makes a solar system installed now more valuable than one that might be installed under future NEM rules.
6. If offsetting your carbon footprint is part of your motivation for considering solar, then installing a system can be a way for you to leave an environmental legacy beyond your tenure in your home. It’s reasonable for considerations other than financial to be an important part of your decision-making process.

If you expect to eventually move, but plan on going solar now, then we recommend:

1. Go solar with an established and reputable contractor that you expect to stand the test of time. Remember, bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to residential solar installers. As with other trades, you should look for a solar installer who’s business model relies on referrals from happy customers instead of on a big marketing budget.
2. Choose solar equipment from established manufacturers with a strong balance sheet. Not all manufacturers stand the test of time either.
3. Pay attention to aesthetics. Become involved with the system design, even down to the conduit run. Avoid “reverse-tilt” installations on your roof if at all possible, as they have been known to be so aesthetically unappealing as to solicit complaints from neighbors. The last thing you want is for your solar system to be a liability when selling your home, instead of an asset.
4. Make sure all warranties are transferable, and that you have all the records you’ll need to pass on to the next homeowner.
5. Consider that if you finance your solar installation that you will likely have to pay off that loan when you sell your home.
6. Shy away from solar leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Prospective homebuyers may not want to assume a monthly lease or PPA payment for a solar system, making your home more difficult to sell. In many cases the sellers of a home end up buying out the remainder of their solar lease at an inflated price in order to sell their home.

San Diego County Solar is a local and established residential solar contractor with a focus on quality and the customer experience. If you would like to learn more about solar for your home, please contact us for an educational consultation (not a sales pitch).

The post What If We Plan To Move? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

Well, not necessarily. 10-15 years ago, the cost of solar was extremely high. That’s no longer the case.

When thinking about potential efficiency upgrades, it’s important to consider how much they’ll impact your future electric usage. First, compare your electric costs during the summer months to other months in order to get a rough idea how much you’re spending on air conditioning. Is it $200 a month for three months each summertime? $300 for four months?

Well, new efficient windows can save you a portion of that extra cost. Same with a new efficient air conditioner. Remember that if you don’t have an air conditioner, then efficiency won’t save you anything at all!

Next, consider how much these efficiency upgrades cost. After looking at the cost vs. the savings, many homeowners decide to forego the efficiency upgrades. A new air conditioner, for example, may cost $10,000 or more to install, and might save the homeowner just a few hundred dollars each year. The same utility savings could be achieved with just $1,000 – $2,000 of solar instead.

There are cases though in which efficiency can be a good investment. LED light bulbs are perhaps the efficiency investment that pays for itself the fastest, and the quality of light now is good. Caulking around windows and doors is very inexpensive, and can save on energy costs to heat or cool your home. Insulation in your attic can be an inexpensive way to save on energy costs too, especially on the cost of heating (this will save you gas more than electricity). And replacing an old pool pump with a new efficient variable speed pool pump will generally pay for itself in energy savings fairly quickly.

And there are other legitimate reasons to invest in efficiency, having more to do with comfort than with economics. Dual pane windows may reduce hot spots and cold spots in your home, and can block some outdoor noise. New efficient air conditioners are quieter and cause less air turbulence, and can improve your indoor air quality.

But if your motivation is primarily economic, postponing solar in favor of major efficiency improvements just does not make financial sense. A dollar spent on solar will save you MUCH more than a dollar spent on a new air conditioner or new windows. And the 30% federal solar tax credit will start stepping down after 2019, and will disappear altogether for systems installed after 2021. So if you’re going to get solar, it makes sense to do it now. Then think about major efficiency improvements at your leisure.

The post Energy Efficiency Before Solar? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

But, for those of us who do not have the cash to cover the cost of solar, there are an abundance of finance options. The easiest method is often to sign up for a loan through your solar contractor, many of which will qualify you online within minutes. Some of them offer fantastic rates of 2.99% or 3.99%, or even 18 months “same as cash.” Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it is. Solar contractors must pay fees to the loan provider for the privilege of offering these loans. Those fees are often thousands of dollars per loan, and are of course passed on to the homeowner in the form of higher solar contract prices.

Other loan options require more effort on the part of the homeowner, but this effort can translate into significant savings. Here are some of these options… let us know if you think of others that we’ve forgotten:

1. Equity loan / HELOC/ Cash-out refinance:  this is a loan against your home equity. This might require small fees upfront and maybe even an appraisal, and it may take some time to complete the process. But the interest rate can be quite attractive. And for many homeowners, the interest portion of the loan payment may be tax-deductible. Sometimes homeowners borrow against a second home or a rental property, rather than the home on which the solar will be installed.
2. Collateral loan:  Some homeowners are able to use their retirement account or other asset as collateral for a loan. This is done either through your bank or credit union, or through the company holding your investment accounts (certificates of deposit [CDs], brokerage accounts, life insurance, 401K’s, etc.). Alternately, some homeowners have even used their automobile or motor home as collateral in order to finance their solar purchase (i.e. car loan).
3. Property Assessed Clean Energy loan (PACE):  This is a relatively new category of loan, available in many (but not all) regions. The loan is taken on behalf of the home, and paid back on the homeowner’s property tax bills. The main benefits are that the loan does not require the homeowner to meet FICO or debt/income thresholds in order to qualify, and it does not show up on the homeowner’s credit report. That means that it will not affect your ability to borrow for something else. There may also be some tax benefits. The main downsides are that there are significant fees that are rolled into the loan, the interest rates are relatively high, and the accrued interest between annual loan payments can be significant.
4. Credit union solar loan:  As distinct from other solar loans, some credit unions offer no-fee or low-fee solar loans to homeowners at very reasonable rates. At the time this blog was posted, the author is unaware of any solar loans available to homeowners through banks, and is aware of  only a few solar loans offered through credit unions. However, the ones that do exist can offer quite favorable terms. The downside is that the approval process may require several emails or even a trip to the credit union, and may take a couple of days instead of a couple of minutes (depending on the credit union). Some homeowners use no-fee loans of this type as a short-term loan to cover just the portion of the solar contract price that will come back to them in the form of a tax credit — don’t forget that there is currently a 30% solar tax credit that is set to start phasing out after 2019!
5. GRID Alternatives:  If your family is below specific income thresholds, you may qualify for a free solar installation from the government through the SASH Program. GRID Alternatives is the administrator of this program, so contact them to learn more. But be very cautious when looking at this option, as there are a ton of disreputable companies pretending to be affiliated with the government or the utility, and that use misleading language to lend themselves an air of authority.
6. Get creative!:  Some homeowners have gotten loans with which to buy solar through special programs offered by their employer, because of their military background, or through a club or professional affiliation. Homeowners will sometimes borrow money from a family member or a family trust, if they know they’ll be able to pay it back quickly. Or sometimes they can even finance a portion of the solar contract on a credit card — again, if they know they’ll be able to pay it back quickly.

A solar installation on your home can save you a lot of money. Most San Diego area homeowners can obtain loans with which to finance their solar installation that offer much lower payments than they’ll be saving each month. That is, they’re cash-flow positive from Day 1! If you’d like to look at a solar proposal specifically designed for your home and your electric needs, or if you’d like to explore further which finance option makes the most sense for your family, please contact the experts at San Diego County Solar.

Disclaimer:  When considering options that may include tax benefits, we highly advise speaking with your tax professional regarding your ability to capture them.

The post Creative Financing Options appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

• Hot does net metering work with SDG&E?
• What are the pros and cons of solar?
• How do the tax credits work?
• What does solar cost?
• What are the different finance vehicles available?
• When does it make sense to buy vs. lease?
• In what situations does solar not make sense?
• How do you size a solar system that that will cover your future electric needs?

These classes are taught by Seth Tilley, a 12 year veteran of the solar industry, with experience and education in renewable energy, real estate, and business. And also by Ken Roberts, an engineer with 19 years experience in technology, a certification by NABCEP in Technical Sales, and a laser-focus on educating the public about the often-missed important details.

Please reserve your seat now at an upcoming educational seminar. Take note, there will be no sales and no pressure at these meetings — just information from two local solar experts.

Click HERE to register for one of the four time slots.

• 9/29/18 10:30-11:30am – Bonita-Sunnyside Library
  • 4375 Bonita Rd. / Bonita 91902
• 10/06/18 -10:30-11:30am – Oceanside Library Mission Branch
  • 3861 Mission Ave. / Oceanside, 92058
• 10/13/18 – 10:30-11:30am- La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center
  • 8450 La Mesa Blvd. / La Mesa, 91942
• 10/20/18 – 1:30-2:30pm- Carlsbad Library Dove Branch
  • 1775 Dove Ln. / Carlsbad, 92011

Click HERE to register for one of the four time slots.

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Scientists today are working on prototypes of this technology. In laboratory conditions that mimic the conditions in space, they currently can power an LED that is 20″ away from the solar collector. Clearly this technology is many, many years from being deployed in the real world. And there are still huge obstacles involving cost and safety that may never be overcome.

For years here at San Diego County Solar, our customers have asked us about the solar technology of the future. Solar paint. Solar film that can be applied to windows. Concentrated solar power. Thin film solar. Solar roof tiles. Solar roadways. Etc. Etc. Etc.

While some of these technologies have been proven in the lab, or even in the real world at small scale, none of them have replaced the silicon solar panel that is most prevalent today. It’s worth noting that silicon solar was proven in the laboratory as early as 1954, and first used to power radios transmission on space satellites in 1958. Though the first solar panels were sold to consumers in the late 1970’s, they’re adoption outside of specialized government projects was very limited until about a decade ago.

This is to say that new solar technology takes a very long time to reach market, and usually cannot compete on a cost basis with existing silicon solar technology. Silicone solar panels, like the ones installed on San Diego homes, have continued to improve over the past 65 years in terms of efficiency, reliability, and cost. We expect silicon solar to reign supreme in the marketplace for decades to come.

Space-based solar power: How close to reality?
What’s Next for Solar Energy? How About Space
The History of Solar

The post Solar Energy from Space? appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

1. Does the solar company have a contractors license in good standing? If they don’t, then they’re sub-contracting out their installations to someone who does. In recent years, there’s been an onslaught of “solar companies” in the marketplace that do not actually install solar! They have no liability for the solar that’s installed, and the installer has no liability for the proposal that was presented to the homeowner. Not good for the consumer! In California, you can check contractors licenses here, as well as verifying that your salesperson is a licensed Home Improvement Salesperson.
2. Do they have positive online customer reviews that span at least a few years? We recommend looking at Yelp, Google Reviews, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Some other review sites such as Angie’s List, EnergySage, and SolarReviews strongly favor solar companies that pay fees to the site.
3. How long has the solar company been in business? Solar is a competitive market, and the simple truth is that the majority of solar companies do not survive. As a consumer it’s to your advantage to go with an established contractor. It may behoove you to verify their longevity claims on the state licensing website.
4. What is the solar company’s financial viability?
    Are they profitable? Do they have a lot of debt? This is equally important information to know about the manufactures of the solar panels and inverters.
5. How long has the solar salesperson been in the industry? Were they selling cars or cellular plans last month? Most solar salespeople do not make it in the industry for very long. Similarly, it’s important to know the experience level of the solar installers, since they are the ones that will be working on your roof. Avoid companies that hire installers seasonally.
6. Is the salesperson educating you, or just trying to close the deal? Have they explained Net Energy Metering (NEM), the annual True Up cycle, and time-of-use (TOU) electric rate schedules? Are they proposing a specific layout of solar panels on your roof, and providing estimated annual production of that system based on your actual roof orientation and your actual shading conditions? Are they discussing with you what your expected future electric usage might be, and providing you with options to choose a variety of system sizes? Can they speak intelligently as to why they are specifying the solar panels and the inverter solution on their proposal? And will you have any contact with the salesperson after you sign the contract?
7. Are you able to see previous installations in your area, and talk with previous customers? Does it look like the solar company values the aesthetics of their installations? Do they paint any exposed conduit to match, do they line up the panels properly, etc.?
8. What quality of equipment are they using for the balance of the system? Is the system designed to last for decades, exposed to the elements? Are the roof attachments protected by flashing, or do they rely on sealant? Are they using plastic zip ties to hold the cabling off the roof, or actual wire clips made for outdoor conditions? Do they use plastic flex tube, or metal tubing?
9. What does the pricing on the proposal include, and how firm is it? Some solar companies almost never change pricing once a contract has been signed, and some use change-orders on most every job. What contingencies might cause a change in price? Have they verified that your main electric panel is sufficient, and that there is sufficient space on your roof?
10. Are they transparent about their financing options? It is very common now for contractors to increase your contract price to accommodate “contractor” or “dealer” fees they pay to the finance company in order to offer a special loan product. If the loan sounds too good to be true (e.g. 12 years at 2.99%, or 18 months same as cash), then you are paying for it somewhere else. If they are offering a PACE loan such as the HERO loan, have they explained the extra costs involved, and the actions required when you sell your home? For many homeowners, the best loan may be an equity loan or a loan from a local credit union.
11. Are they pushing a lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA)? There are many downsides to the lease/PPA model, the most important ones being that #1 it is vastly more expensive than buying solar, and #2 it can act as a liability if you sell your home rather than as an asset (talk to a Realtor about this). The lease/PPA model may still be appropriate for some homeowners, but be wary if your salesperson discusses the pros and not the cons. And of course, look at online reviews of the provider of the lease/PPA.
12. Are verbal warranty and guarantee claims backed up in writing? What does the installation warranty cover? Do the equipment warranties from the manufacturers include full replacement or just partial? Do they include labor? What are the production guarantees? It is important to know exactly what is covered. You may be told that a battery has a 10 year warranty, when in fact the reimbursement rate after just a few years for a 40%+ loss of capacity may only be around 1/2 of the original purchase price.
13. Is the solar company offering a never-ending string of promotions? $2000 cash back if you sign up before the end of the month! Sign up now and we’ll pay your utility bills until your solar is installed! Act fast to get your free iPad! Some companies simply design the cost of these constant promotions into their pricing, but for others it may be a sign that the company is struggling.
14. Are there actually new incentives being offered? Can I really get solar for free? Unfortunately a common sales tactic among disreputable solar companies is to claim there are new incentive programs being offered by the government or by the utility, when in reality there are not. Some doorknockers and telemarketers will even pose as a representative of the utility in order to lend authority to their claims. Be very wary of this sort of tactic! Ask for third-party verification for all their assertions, and do your own research before giving them your contact information.

Lastly, we recommend to our friends and family in other regions that they choose a local solar contractor rather than a multi-region installer. In our experience, the customer experience suffers once the company grows too large. And though larger companies can achieve some cost savings through greater buying power, it is not enough to make up for the added costs of bureaucracy. Many national residential solar installers have gone bankrupt in recent years, and as a whole they have seen their market share decrease dramatically. Residential solar is primarily a regional market now, similar to residential roofing, HVAC repair, and swimming pool service.

The post INFREQUENTLY Asked Questions appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

Solar in California grew dramatically with the introduction of the California Solar Initiative on January 1, 2007. This rebate program initially incentivized solar at a high rate, when solar was expensive. Then as more solar was installed and as solar became less expensive, the rebates gradually decreased until they were gone.

The federal tax credit began in 2005 at $2000. Then in 2009, the federal tax credit increased to a full 30% of the contract price. This tax credit will begin stepping down after 2019, and it will disappear altogether after 2021.

By the time the rebates through the California Solar Initiative were exhausted, the reliability of solar had improved, the cost of solar had fallen, and utility rates had increased. Online production monitoring also had become standard, so that homeowners could make sure their systems were always working properly. This translates now into a very high return on investment (ROI) for homeowners who chose to buy solar.

During the Great Recession, the housing market was declining and solar financing become more difficult for homeowners to secure. This lead to the advent of the residential solar lease and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Under this program, the homeowner pays a monthly fee for the benefit of the solar electric production, but they do not actually own the solar system itself.

The lease/PPA briefly became the dominate method homeowners nationally used to go solar, topping out at almost 72% of the 2014 market. But since then, the substantial downsides of the solar lease/PPA have become more widely recognized, and solar loans have become more widely available. Now in 2018, about 70% of California homeowners going solar are choosing to purchase their solar system (with or without a loan).

The proportion of electricity on the California utility grid has grown substantially, and more solar is coming online everyday. Homeowners who felt that solar did not make economic sense 5-10 years ago are finding that today’s lower solar prices and higher electricity prices have changed the equation.

As solar becomes a greater part of our California energy mix, the electric utilities will push for new rules governing  homeowners who go solar; generally existing solar customers at the time of the rule changes are “grandfathered” under the old rules for a period of time.

The post A History of Residential Solar in California appeared first on San Diego County Solar.