Tag Archives: solar

Time To Go Green With Solar Energy

Posted on January 20, 2012 by JMarsden| 1 Comment

For the last few years I have been telling my wife that I would love to save us a little money by getting a solar system on the house.  Well, late last year I heard a commercial about getting a solar system for $0 down.  Keep in mind that as time goes on the cost for electricity goes up.  A few years ago electric was far cheaper than it is today, and delivery costs did not exist.

We called the company and within a few days a man came out to the house and went over all of the fine details.  After hearing his offer I decided to shop around and see what else was available to me.  I found another company that offered me a system with more GUARANTEED Killowats Per Year.  Sungevity gave me information that I didn’t have to decode, or have a science degree to figure out.

We started out with the web interface that pinpoints your house, and asks some general questions about your current electric.  Once that was completed I got a email back the following day with “Projected” system specifications.  In a lot of ways I found this easier than getting home insurance quotes, or even an rv insurance quote.  If your house is not feasible they will email you why, and you can decide on resolving the issue if you want to still go solar.  We then signed a contract based on those calculations.  (You are fully able to cancel the contract if anything isn’t as you desire in the next steps.)  The next step was to have a site inspection.  During the site inspection they check shading, roof, electric, and a few other things.

We signed our contract at the beginning of October 2011.  By the beginning of December everything was in line regarding paperwork, and permits were applied for.  When we came back from vacation the first week of January we were contacted to schedule our installation.  Last Friday the trucks rolled in and started the installation.  By the time all inspections were finished we came to today.  The system was tested out, and the only thing left is the interconnection to the utility system.  They are giving me an IPad 2 as part of their promotion.  The IPad 2 is coming with an app that will keep me apprised of my solar systems status.  There is NO Android app as of yet, but I already figured that out, and have the capability of seeing the info on my Android.  The installation crew was very nice, and did a very good job.  There were no problems, and they worked around us in every possible manner.

On top of those savings we also signed up with one of the subsidary utility rates.  Our electric is locked in currently at @11%.  In September we are going to change over to a different subsidary so that we can take advantage of lower rates again.

If you are thinking about saving some money on your electric feel free to ask me any questions you have.  I have done all the number crunching manually so that I could see for myself what I will be saving.  My numbers had nothing to do with anyones promises so noone set any expectations.

Here are my calculations…

You can do the same if you have your yearly KwH from your electric company, and you have calculated your yearly spending with your electric company.

  1. Last year I used @17400 KwH
  2. I spent $2962.59 for electric in 2011.
  3. I am being GUARANTEED @6100 KwH (Included with my lease)
  4. Multiply 6100 x JCP&L rate = PowerSavings
  5. Multiply 6100 x JCP&L delivery = Delivery Savings
  6. Add those 2 numbers together.
  7. Subtract those numbers from your yearly spent.
  8. Add your yearly lease cost.
  9. The final number is what you would have spent last year if you were on solar electric.
  10. We have come to calculations of @$500-600 savings after all costs. (This number does not include any extra electric that we generate over the 6100 KwH.  That electric is ours for FREE.)

Send me an email, or leave a comment here if you want me to send you a link so that you can benefit from the promotions that are running.  Currently they are offering a $500 bonus, and a IPad 2 if you are referred in by another customer.

My email is: JMarsden92@Comcast.Net

My Sungevity referral number is: 121828.  Use this number when going through the website for your IQuote.

Posted in Economy

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Solar Is A Go… After Some Research

Posted on October 16, 2011 by JMarsden| Leave a comment

As I posted a few days ago we are going to get a solar system on our home.  I decided to do a bit of research to see if I could get any better offers.  What I found was astounding.  There are many companies that offer a FREE system.  The biggest difference between all the companies is the monthly fee.  This fee is based on the size system from all the information that I have.

We are signing with Sungevity.

If you are thinking of saving some money then I can only recommend you check out the Sungevity site.  It will ask some questions, and come back with some approximate savings information.  Don’t be scared if your roof isn’t brand new.  As long as your roof is sound then they seem to have no issues.

How would you like to earn a $500 gift card?  Well, once you get installed you will receive a $500 gift card from Sungevity.  Be sure to put in your referral information.  Make sure to put my name “John Marsden” into the friend field, and my email address “JMarsden92@Comcast.Net” into the friends email field.

Click the link below for a No Cost evaluation.  This is all web based, and no one will come out to see you at this point.

Let’s go solar together – get an iQuote.

Posted in Economy

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We Are Going Solar

Posted on September 30, 2011 by JMarsden| 1 Comment

I was driving home from a job the other day when I heard a commercial for solar.  We have discussed solar quite a few times in our house.  We have seen the “Rent Your Roof” type ads, and never thought twice about them.  In the past the cost is what stopped us.  I told my wife that I would call and get a price to see where we stood.  The person on the phone gave us an appointment scheduled for 2 days later so that we could get a no cost analysis of our electric situation.

I must say this first… There was no pressure sale, or tactics that I caught onto.  All I was presented with was an opportunity to save some money.  Take it, or Leave it.

The man that showed up looked very professional.  He didn’t look like the average Joe that shows up with his builders clothing, and Carhartt coats on.  Gil came in and sat down.  He started by talking to us about the process in general of how solar can save us money.  Next he asked us for electric bills.  He was amazed that we had them in such an orderly fashion.  We totalled up the KwH (Kilowat Hours) so that the information would be complete.

He then asked to take a visual look at direction, and pitch of the roof.  He told us that we could get solar with no major issues.  Next we went back in and sat down so that he could give us a full breakdown of the savings that are available.  What I understood immediatelly was that JCP&L rates will increase in the future.  I also realized what they have increased since we got our house.

Here are the best parts… They own the system.  They do all repairs at no cost to me.  It is mine after 20 years, or if I purchase it from them.  I will be cutting money off my electric bill.

Gil went through any questions my wife and I had.  My wife gave me the final accountability in this decision.  I told Gil that we were going to go ahead.  I signed the paperwork, and now it is just a waiting game.

I am all for saving some money, and helping the environment.

Posted in Economy

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