If everyone in the Sunbelt used solar power to generate electricity for their home, the country’s energy needs – and its emissions – would go down by as much as half.
I’m using Sunbelt loosely to define a swath of the nation from California in the west to South Carolina in the east, where the average, daily solar radiation exceeds five hours – more than enough to generate electricity.
The drawback to more solar has so far been the upfront costs for a typical solar energy system. The average home (two adults, two children, 1,400 square feet) uses about 15 kilowatt hours of electricity a day. At roughly $5,500 per kilowatt, a fully solar electric system can cost upwards of $80,000.
This may be more than the average homeowner is willing to invest, especially in today’s economy. Federal and state government rebates on alternative energy can defray costs up to 30 percent, but any system large enough to supplant conventional energy is bound to be costly, even for homeowners whose mortgages are satisfied.
Cooler Planet, which provides interactive solar maps, solar calculators, and a list of solar energy resources, would like to give honorable mention to SunRun, a California company that offers solar systems with no astronomical upfront costs, no hidden costs and no surprises.
Starting with a custom design based on your budget and expectations, SunRun Solar Service will show you how much solar energy you can generate via various configurations, and how much you can save on your electric bill.
If you agree, SunRun will install a system for a nominal, up-front fee. SunRun will also provide free, proactive solar system maintenance and monitoring for the life of your system, and arrange for insurance to cover the installation. Basically, it’s solar rental, and the cost is comparable to rates from any one of California’s major electric providers (PG&E, Southern California Edison, SDG&E). Not only that, any excess electricity you generate through SunRun’s system can be sold back to your local grid.
It’s a great idea for solar newbies or the financially uncertain. If, on the other hand, SunRun’s terms aren’t quite to your liking, or you want to install your own solar system from scratch, simply consult Cooler Planet’s list of California installers. For Florida, Colorado or Massachusetts residents, Cooler Planet’s landing page provides additional installer listings to help you get the best systems your area has to offer. A simple mouse click can put you in contact with reputable installers ready to do your bidding. Literally!
