|
Solar Energy News Update
· Solar Santa Monica is getting
more attention - and we like it! Just a month ago
The
Lobster restaurant hosted a "Solar Celebration" to
bring the City's attention to its new solar array (cleverly
following the curve of the roof, and therefore nearly
invisible). Mayor Katz, front row left, toasted the
restaurant's
commitment to solar and to all the actions it has taken
to become more "green."
~ Watch for Solar Santa Monica
advertisements in two of
the SM Daily Mirror special publications - the
Santa
Monica Magazine 2008 (the Environmental
Sustainability issue) and the spring Home &
Garden
Guide. And as a reward to you for carefully
reading
this newsletter, if you see one of our ads, and give me
a call or send me an e-mail, we'll reward you with one
of our new Solar Santa Monica magnets!
~ Two weeks ago, after a two-year effort, the
City adopted a new building code that carries
a
number of new, green requirements. The Energy and
Green Building Programs office - administrator of
Solar Santa Monica, too - headed up this effort.
Susan Munves and Brenden McEneaney are also
working with different City departments to put the final
touches on new Solar Installation Guidelines. Watch
for more details soon.
~ In case you missed it, he U.S.
Senate voted to extend solar tax credits - currently
scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Now it's
the House's turn. This is one we're watching
VERRRY closely!
|
|
| New Installers, Lower Prices! |
| |
Solar
Santa
Monica is pleased to announce that
seven solar contractors have been selected as
Preferred Providers to support the City-sponsored
program, now starting on its second year. In an
expansion of the program, our 2008
Preferred Providers will install solar photovoltaic
(electricity) and solar thermal (hot water)
systems for homes and businesses at agreed-upon,
fixed prices.
As before, Solar Santa Monica held a competitive
solicitation for contractors. The winning companies
range from local companies who have been doing
business here for many years, to some new names of
some of the largest installers in the country.
Selected to do the residential photovoltaic
systems:
~ California Solar Electric
~ HelioPower
~ REC Solar
~ Solar Forward
Commercial photovoltaic systems will be installed
by:
~ PermaCity Solar
~ SunTrek Industries
Residential and commercial solar thermal systems
will be installed by:
~ All Valley Solar
~ SunTrek Industries
We'll be putting out more information about our
Preferred Providers, and you will have the chance to
meet them at upcoming events. In the meanwhile, if
you are looking for a referral through the Solar Santa
Monica program, we will be sending you to one of
these companies. And, we'll be happy to do it!
|
| |
|
| |
| Lower prices for the "Santa Monica Special" |
| |
Part of
the
selection process for
Preferred
Providers involves the contractors' bidding on a typical
solar system. With this information we are able to
discuss with them not only prices but the components
they would recommend. This year, prices for
our "fixed- price residential system" came down
somewhat - to be $540 to $1,200 less than last year.
Prices for commercial systems went up somewhat.
For both types, prices get lower per Watt as the
systems get larger.
NOTE ON CASH FLOW: What if you could get solar
with no money down? We are finding that a
number of participants have been able to get their
solar systems installed with no money down, and with
a monthly payment that is less that what they were
paying the utility. This doesn't work every time -
but it
does happen. If cash flow is important to you, we will
be happy to look at your situation and run a couple of
scenarios. We can then refer you to one of our solar
lending specialists.
|
| |
|
| |
| "It's Earth Day -- Take public transportation..." |
| |
If you recognize this trolley car, you lived in L.A. before
1961...! You can see it today at the Orange Empire
Railway Museum in Perris.
|
| |
|
| |
| Matt Henigan - Part of the Team |
| |
Many of you will already have met Matt Henigan, our
newest Man-in-the-Field. Matt also works with
Sustainable Works in the Business Greening
Program, so he has a strong background in energy
efficiency as well as in solar.
When you're ready to find out your home or your
business's solar potential, call (310) ----- to set up an
appointment for your Solar Site Check. Matt is likely to
be the one you'll be meeting with.
|
| |
|
| |
| More Ideas and Resources |
| |
- Want to know where to go in L.A. for green
retailers, restaurants, drycleaners, building suppliers,
landscapers and more? Check out the Greenopia
guide.
www.greenopia.com/la/
- Looking for a trustworthy contractor to work on
plumbing, windows, HVAC, insulation, roofing? Solar
Santa Monica is adding to its list of "Specialists." If
you want to make a referral, please let us know
whom
you recommend, and why you recommend them. If
you need a referral, tell uswhat
particular
service. We'll do our best to connect you.
- Show us your solar! We have plans for a new and
FAR MORE EXCITING website, and we need photos!
Please send
us photos of your installation - with a
brief identification, please - so we can show it off
properly!
|
| |
|
| |
| Solar Santa Monica is administered by the City of Santa Monica's Energy & Green Building Programs office. |
| |
|
| |
|
