The Haygood family has been enjoying the benefits of solar on their home for 3 years now.  Their 20-panel system saves them over $100 a month, allowing them to use their air conditioning with less of an impact on their bill.  Per James Haygood, "...previous to the solar we were in Edison's Tier 3, but now we are consistently in the bottom two Tiers, so the electricity we do have to buy from the grid is about $0.14/kWh." (Editor's note:  The rate for electricity from Edison's highest tier, Tier 5, will be $.31/kWh this summer!)

The Haygoods saw early the need for alternative energy, even though rebates weren't as attractive then as they are today.  "We wanted to do our part to get the industry going," James says.  He adds," I wish there was more emphasis on local, distributed power instead of large systems in the desert which have to transmit power through pristine desert land.  Look at all of the sun we get right here in Santa Monica!"

For the full interview with the Haygoods, and a description of how the Edison Tiers work, visit our website.

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is alerting California homeowners about the need to select a licensed and qualified contractor before signing a contract for a solar energy project. The Board is concerned that consumers could be preyed upon by unlicensed, unscrupulous, or unaware contractors.
 
Per their May 18 press release, unlicensed contractors in several parts of California have been convicted or are being investigated on suspicion of taking thousands of dollars from consumers for solar energy systems that were incorrectly installed -- or not installed at all. Consumers may not qualify for government incentives if contractors fail to enter into solar energy contracts correctly.
 
Solar Santa Monica urges residents to become as knowledgeable as possible before calling a contractor, and then to get several bids before deciding.  Our website lists "preferred contractors" that have signed up with the program, documenting their licenses, insurance and experience so that residents can have a higher level of confidence as they move forward. 

You can find the Solar Santa Monica Preferred Contractor list here.  And you can find the full text of the Contractors State License Board release on our website, too, with their list of five tips.

New stimulus funding is adding new requirements for energy audits.  Solar Santa Monica has always recommended audits as being the best way to find energy efficiency opportunities.   Naturally, there are different audit formats.

• Custom.  Over the past three years, Solar Santa Monica staff members have provided over 370 in-depth Energy Savings Analyses for residents and businesses in Santa Monica.  These reports were based on a "walk-through" of the property, examination of the owner's utility bills and a discussion of energy goals.

• Online.  Solar contractors installing systems and applying on behalf of their customers for California rebates have had to state that an "energy efficiency" audit was completed as part of the process.  In the past, one way to fulfill this requirement was to have the customer use the free Home Energy Efficiency Survey offered by Southern California.  This online audit is available to all Edison customers.

• Certified.  Now, stimulus funding is being tied to energy efficiency improvements verified by an independent, third-party HERS Rater.  The Home Energy Rating Service certification is offered by three different organizations within California.  Inspectors perform blower door tests to measure building leakage (see photo).  They test air flow, measure refrigerant charges, and inspect to be sure insulation is installed properly.  The cost of a HERS inspection may range from $300 to as high as $1,000, depending on the size of the building, the experience of the rater, and - you guessed it - what the market will bear. 

In preparation for the expansion of stimulus-funded programs, Solar Santa Monica is seeking to add more qualified auditors, included HERS Raters, to its list of preferred contractors.  (Guidelines to be included are on the contractor page of our website.  If you have any questions about the value or requirement for an audit, Solar Santa Monica will be happy to assist you in finding answers.