This new Berkeley Lab report is a must read for PV installers and homeowners considering PV, specifically those in California.  The report found an average and fairly new solar installation increases an average home’s value by appoximately $17,000. 

Interestingly, the report also shows the existing homes that add PV have more than twice the additional resale value than that of newly constructed homes with PV.  Regardless, the report found new home builders may consider adding PV to all of its new homes and be willing to accept a lower premium in exchange for faster sales velocity. 

Read the Full Report Here

Can it really be done? Skeptical Science brings you “A Plan for 100% Renewable Energy by 2050.”

Treehugger has compiled a list of “Wacky and Unexpected Things Using Solar Power“. It’s a fun look at some things that are already using the sun’s energy. However, it also makes you wonder about the potential for more everyday items to utilize the power of the sun.


From movie theaters to planes, beehives and dog sweater,  solar can turn up in unexpected places.


And tell us… what is the weirdest use of solar energy you have seen?

We were recently names a 2010 Constant Contact All Star. The criteria include:

• communicate with customers and members for all four quarters of the year,
• update their mailing lists often and obtain permission from all their subscribers to contact them,
• have high open and click-through rates, and low bounce rates,
• use mailing list sign-up tools like a “Join My Mailing List” (JMML) box on their website or our app on their Facebook Page,
• use reports to gain insights about their contact list and online marketing activities, and
• use our social media tools.
• If they are an Online Survey customer, they have high survey completion rates.
• If they are an Event Marketing customer, they have a high ratio of invitees who register for their events.
• If they are one of our Partners, they make great use of their own or their clients’ accounts.

Less than 15% of Constant Contact customers receive All Star status. Yay us!

groSolar CEO, Jeff Wolfe, will be one of the featured presenters for the online presentation by AltaTerra Research Network titled “On-Site Solar Power Policies and Incentives: Where’s the Money?” The presentation will be held on Thursday, March 17th from 11a-12:30p PDT/ 2p-3:30p EDT.

Overview

For most companies and organizations considering rooftop or other on-site solar in the U.S. today, government economic incentives strongly influence when, how, and whether or not to “go solar” at a particular facility. For solar product and service providers, the state and federal policy environment is crucial to determining which markets will be the most active.

In California and New Jersey, advantageous policies have stimulated the creation of the two largest solar markets in the United States. Now other states are beginning to follow suit–including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina.

In this online briefing, Eric Paul, analyst at AltaTerra Research, opens the session with an overview and outlook for federal and state support for distributed renewable energy systems. Jeff Wolfe, chair of the Photovoltaics (PV) division of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) and CEO of groSolar, provides a perspective on how commercial, institutional, and industrial customers evaluate solar project opportunities. As head of one of North America’s oldest and most geographically diversified solar energy distributors and installers, Mr. Wolfe has unique insight into how customers are actually deploying solar energy systems and which policies have been the most effective at stimulating the market. Mr. Wolfe will be joined by a speaker from SEIA’s Government Affairs division discussing the current state of play and legislative agenda in Washington.

Just one of the few that didn’t make the cut….

See all of our rejected ads at groSolar.com/bloopers

In just a few weeks, we’ll be commissioning our 1.5 MW solar installation at Clean Harbors landfill in Bridgeport, NJ.
Check out the recent article on NJ.com.

1BOG compiled this great infographic about a world without oil.

Home Solar Power Discounts – One Block Off the Grid

I’m posting a link to an interview that Grist did with Ray Kurzweil purely because it is so optimistic about the growth of solar energy.

Kurzweil, is considered a “futurist” – someone who tries to predict the future of human society or life on earth using systems thinking. He accurately predicted the growth and use of personal computers based on his law of accelerating returns. Now he is predicting that we can meet all of our energy needs from solar in 20 years.

Read more: “Futurist Ray Kurzweil isn’t worried about climate change,” by Lauren Feeney

Sells Residential Division to SolarCity

White River Junction, VT – groSolar today announced the expansion of its solar distribution and large-scale commercial business, positioning the company for future growth. To facilitate this, groSolar announced today that it has sold its residential division to SolarCity, the nation’s largest residential solar service provider.


“This transaction allows us to concentrate fully on our distribution and commercial businesses, which are the fastest growing solar markets” said Jeff Wolfe, CEO, groSolar.  “It allows us to target, expand and move our distribution and commercial solar businesses to the next level.  It’s a very exciting time for the company and our customers.”


groSolar’s distribution channel has seen tremendous growth.  A strengthened focus on inventory, quality technology from manufacturers, and market development will allow groSolar to continue as a leading nationwide, full-service solar distributor.  groSolar has added sales and customer service staff to its distribution team and will continue to enhance its services.


groSolar’s commercial division has received contracts for multiple large-scale commercial projects in 2011.  In the coming weeks, groSolar will commission its largest commercial installation to date, at Clean Harbors landfill in New Jersey.  The 1.5 megawatt installation, which will sit on top of a capped landfill, will power equipment used to decontaminate groundwater and offset 90% of the facility’s annual electric bill.  The commercial team will hire more personnel to support the new growth.


SolarCity will take over all support and maintenance services of groSolar’s existing and contracted residential customers immediately.


“We are extremely proud of the industry leadership demonstrated by groSolar over the past decade of experience.  We look forward to an increased focus on our existing distribution and commercial channels, while we are also pleased that most of our skilled residential division personnel will continue this important work, now for SolarCity,” said Wolfe. “We share the mission of affordable solar for all and we’re certain that our residential channel could not be in better hands.  Furthermore, our distribution and commercial divisions will be stronger than ever.”


About groSolar
groSolar is North America’s premier provider of solar energy solutions for commercial and residential applications.  groSolar serves the 1-30 MW commercial markets with complete EPC, financing, and development options, while serving the residential markets exclusively through our nationwide dealer network value added distribution services.  Founded in 1998, groSolar brings leading knowledge to the industry and integrates components from leading solar manufacturers into simple solar energy solutions, which generate clean, reliable energy for decades.  groSolar is a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy systems and financial solutions. Learn more at groSolar.com or call 800.374.4494.