People are looking for some light at the end of the tunnel of the economic climate. What many are finding is that the light at the end of the tunnel is solar energy. As the competition heats up to win customers, it is also driving prices for Solar Panels to an all time low.
In addition to the competitive market, the federal government is pouring billions into the renewable energy market and much of that is going to the advancement of the technology manufacturing processes of solar panels which is not only increasing the overall efficiency of the end product, but also decreasing the cost of the product because it costs less to produce.
But wait, that’s not all, as those annoying infomercials say. Some of that federal money is going to the solar Energy consumer in the form of Federal Tax Credits which covers 30% of the total purchase and installation of a solar energy system.
So what does this all mean to me, you ask.
The answer is that more than ever the prices of solar energy is brought into the realm of affordability for the average home owner.
While there are many companies that are very competitive in their solar prices, one of the most competitive is a small company in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas called Advancing the Green. They can sell their solar panels to deal-hungry home owners anywhere in the country at $2.84 per Watt and have an excellent selection of other solar, wind and geothermal products. They are also bold enough to offer an additional $500 discount for those customers who purchase a complete solar energy system. They also provide the same solar product to many other dealers and installers (you’ll need to call for that pricing).
The common thought that people have when they see prices that low is that this must be an inferior product of some sort. Well in the case of Advancing the Green, this is not the case. Those solar panels that they sell at $2.84 per Watt have a great 25 year warranty and a full array of certifications including UL, CE TUV and IEC. They are also California CEC approved, which means that they will qualify for the rebate program in California and those many other states and utility companies that rely on the same CEC approval list.
For those people who are still on the fence with the price of solar, you should also check with your State or utility company to see if they also offer any rebates or other incentives that might sweeten the pot any more.
So with all of these rebates, incentives, tax credits and solar panels priced lower then dirt, what does it mean to the bottom line. Now the math will be slightly different for everyone depending on a host of different factors, but for some, the Payback period of a fully installed Solar Energy array could be as low as 3 years, yes that really a 3 (Three), instead of the 10-15 that we typically see and are familiar with. This means that if you only plan on staying in that home for 5-6 years, you could still have a couple years of free energy after the system has completely paid for itself.
There is no question that the industry is continuing to grow and change. If the focus and the exposure continue growing at the current rate, it will be a very interesting picture to see where we are at as a world society in 10-20 years with our use of solar and other renewable energy sources.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
West Texas Solar Park
Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. a company in Jacksonville is planning to build a 300 Megawatt energy park that would be sufficient to power as many as 60,000 homes. This project will be the largest solar park on the American continent.
The project will cost $750 million to build and is expected to take six years to complete. When it is completed it is expected to generate about $100 million in sales the first year and will save an estimated 700,000 metric tons of carbon emissions that are currently being produced.
Doing the math, that means that they are building the entire facility for roughly $2.50 per Watt which gives them an estimated pay-back period on their initial investment of only 8 years. Not a bad investment for a large scale energy producer.
As the interest and focus on renewable energy continues to increase across the country, we can only hope that there will be many other investors that will see the light and the logic of producing clean energy from facilities like this and get involved.
However big or small, there is ample opportunity for each of us to do our part to “Advance the Green”. If you want to help, but aren’t quite sure how to get started, or don’t have much time to devote to it, we can help. We will give you a commission of 2% on every customer you refer to us. Click here to learn more about this program.
At Advancing the Green, we are doing our part by providing our customers solar panels at only $2.84 per Watt. And in addition to that, if the customers purchase a full system of 10 panels or more, they will also qualify for an additional $500 discount.
The project will cost $750 million to build and is expected to take six years to complete. When it is completed it is expected to generate about $100 million in sales the first year and will save an estimated 700,000 metric tons of carbon emissions that are currently being produced.
Doing the math, that means that they are building the entire facility for roughly $2.50 per Watt which gives them an estimated pay-back period on their initial investment of only 8 years. Not a bad investment for a large scale energy producer.
As the interest and focus on renewable energy continues to increase across the country, we can only hope that there will be many other investors that will see the light and the logic of producing clean energy from facilities like this and get involved.
However big or small, there is ample opportunity for each of us to do our part to “Advance the Green”. If you want to help, but aren’t quite sure how to get started, or don’t have much time to devote to it, we can help. We will give you a commission of 2% on every customer you refer to us. Click here to learn more about this program.
At Advancing the Green, we are doing our part by providing our customers solar panels at only $2.84 per Watt. And in addition to that, if the customers purchase a full system of 10 panels or more, they will also qualify for an additional $500 discount.
Monday, July 27, 2009
CoServ & Renewable Energy Rebates
CoServ is a Cooperative Energy reseller serving portions of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex market and have thus been a slow adapter of Energy rebates. Neighboring areas in Denton County for example are covered by Denton Municipal Electric and Oncor. Both of these companies offer very nice rebate programs to their customers who install solar or other forms of renewable energy generators.
It was anticipated by several of the Texas energy companies, that the State of Texas would pass legislation that would assist them in providing rebates and other forms of incentives to their energy wise customers who improved the energy efficiency of their homes or purchased some form of approved renewable energy generator, such as solar panels or wind turbines.
So earlier this year when the Texas State Law makers met, they had this renewable energy item on their agenda, but because they lollygagged too long on other pet topics, they simply didn’t get around to it, leaving the State Renewable Energy program is seriously behind the curve. Because it wasn’t addressed this last session, it will likely not be addressed at all until they meet again in a couple years, if ever. According to discussions with certain energy companies, the only chance our states renewable energy program has to get up and going is if Governor Perry calls for a special session to address it, which is looking unlikely at this point in time.
As a result of the lack of attention from the state, energy companies like CoServ are left to fend for themselves in providing rebates and other incentive programs for their customers who invest in energy efficient upgrades or renewable energy systems.
For companies like Advancing the Green, a company based in Flower Mound, Texas, who’s focus is the sale of solar panels and other energy systems, they report that many of their customers are simply waiting for that added rebates from the state and/or their energy company, CoServ. However, for the customers of CoServ, the light of hope they have had for these rebates and other incentives is quickly fading.
CoServ does report that they will have some form of rebate or incentive program for their customers as it relates to adding energy efficient products or renovations to their homes, though details on what will be covered in this incentive program and amounts are still sketchy. This program is expected to be unveiled in the August/September timeframe and is still going through the internal approval channels.
So until CoServ can provide some form of rebate or incentive for Solar and other forms of renewable energy, companies like Advancing the Green will have to focus their attentions on the customers of Oncor and Denton Municipal Electric.
For a new solar panel installation, Oncor currently offers a $2.46 per Watt rebate program and Denton Municipal offers a $3.00 per Watt rebate. These are powerful selling points for anyone contemplating the purchase of solar panels. And when these rebates are coupled with the Federal Tax Credits and the wholesale prices of companies like Advancing the Green (with Solar panels as low as $2.84 per Watt), the payback period for a new Solar Energy System could be as little as 3 years instead of the 10-15 that so many of us have grown to expect with renewable energy solutions like this.
Bottom line is that while homeowners everywhere are rapidly increasing interest in renewable energy options, they will always be somewhat financially limited in their ability to adopt green solutions like this until the state can adjust accordingly to provide the necessary support to where it’s needed.
It was anticipated by several of the Texas energy companies, that the State of Texas would pass legislation that would assist them in providing rebates and other forms of incentives to their energy wise customers who improved the energy efficiency of their homes or purchased some form of approved renewable energy generator, such as solar panels or wind turbines.
So earlier this year when the Texas State Law makers met, they had this renewable energy item on their agenda, but because they lollygagged too long on other pet topics, they simply didn’t get around to it, leaving the State Renewable Energy program is seriously behind the curve. Because it wasn’t addressed this last session, it will likely not be addressed at all until they meet again in a couple years, if ever. According to discussions with certain energy companies, the only chance our states renewable energy program has to get up and going is if Governor Perry calls for a special session to address it, which is looking unlikely at this point in time.
As a result of the lack of attention from the state, energy companies like CoServ are left to fend for themselves in providing rebates and other incentive programs for their customers who invest in energy efficient upgrades or renewable energy systems.
For companies like Advancing the Green, a company based in Flower Mound, Texas, who’s focus is the sale of solar panels and other energy systems, they report that many of their customers are simply waiting for that added rebates from the state and/or their energy company, CoServ. However, for the customers of CoServ, the light of hope they have had for these rebates and other incentives is quickly fading.
CoServ does report that they will have some form of rebate or incentive program for their customers as it relates to adding energy efficient products or renovations to their homes, though details on what will be covered in this incentive program and amounts are still sketchy. This program is expected to be unveiled in the August/September timeframe and is still going through the internal approval channels.
So until CoServ can provide some form of rebate or incentive for Solar and other forms of renewable energy, companies like Advancing the Green will have to focus their attentions on the customers of Oncor and Denton Municipal Electric.
For a new solar panel installation, Oncor currently offers a $2.46 per Watt rebate program and Denton Municipal offers a $3.00 per Watt rebate. These are powerful selling points for anyone contemplating the purchase of solar panels. And when these rebates are coupled with the Federal Tax Credits and the wholesale prices of companies like Advancing the Green (with Solar panels as low as $2.84 per Watt), the payback period for a new Solar Energy System could be as little as 3 years instead of the 10-15 that so many of us have grown to expect with renewable energy solutions like this.
Bottom line is that while homeowners everywhere are rapidly increasing interest in renewable energy options, they will always be somewhat financially limited in their ability to adopt green solutions like this until the state can adjust accordingly to provide the necessary support to where it’s needed.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Congrats to New Jersey for their Solar Initiative
Congratulations to New Jersey on their new title as the #2 Solar Power Generating State in the Union. While they are still quite a ways behind California (#1), they more than double the Kilowatt hours generated as the number three Colorado.
While the Federal Government and other states are lagging behind, they have stepped up to the plate and put their action plan into action.
Wouldn’t it be great if every state was so after-it in regards to renewable energy?
Granted New Jersey has shifted their focus from consumer solar generation to the solar generation of utility companies. While this is still a good thing for most energy consumers, there are many people that want to reduce their dependence on the grid.
While the Federal Government and other states are lagging behind, they have stepped up to the plate and put their action plan into action.
Wouldn’t it be great if every state was so after-it in regards to renewable energy?
Granted New Jersey has shifted their focus from consumer solar generation to the solar generation of utility companies. While this is still a good thing for most energy consumers, there are many people that want to reduce their dependence on the grid.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Municipality Gold Rush
I'm a wholesale Solar Energy distributor in Texas (http://www.advancingthegreen.com) and I’ve discovered that States and local municipalities have recently begun on a mass scale to break down their self imposed barriers for solar energy. They’ve found it to be essential since many of them are being forced in various ways to accept the Federal Stimulus Funding designated only for Green initiatives. They obviously couldn't use those funds for solar or other renewable energy without removing their own self imposed roadblocks. This is use-it-or-lose-it money, so if they don't use it, their constituents will be mighty upset that they didn't accept all that FREE Money from the federal government.
Likewise homeowners are finding that with all the rebates available when you install a solar energy system, the out of pocket cost when they buy from discounted distributors like “Advancing the Green” could end up being as little as 10% of the total cost. For example, in Denton, Texas, if a homeowner buys a 22 panel solar energy system through our company, it is possible after all the rebates that their out of pocket costs could be less than $3,000.
To all you readers, Keep up the great work of Advancing the Green.
Likewise homeowners are finding that with all the rebates available when you install a solar energy system, the out of pocket cost when they buy from discounted distributors like “Advancing the Green” could end up being as little as 10% of the total cost. For example, in Denton, Texas, if a homeowner buys a 22 panel solar energy system through our company, it is possible after all the rebates that their out of pocket costs could be less than $3,000.
To all you readers, Keep up the great work of Advancing the Green.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Advancing the GREEN
Advancing the Green is dedicated to discussing new ideas, technology and processes that will increase the efficiency of our homes further reduce our impact on this green planet.
Topics will include primarily how to increase the efficiency of our homes, either through renovation, or from ground up construction. We will discuss and bring attention to products currently available as well as emerging technologies that will further change the landscape and the possibilities in the world of home efficiency.
Topics will include primarily how to increase the efficiency of our homes, either through renovation, or from ground up construction. We will discuss and bring attention to products currently available as well as emerging technologies that will further change the landscape and the possibilities in the world of home efficiency.
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