Written by Janna Geary

Progressive solar projects are popping up all over the country.  Solar farms being built on old landfills, fueling energy for thousands on homes on land that would otherwise sit vacant and unusable.  Nevada just opened the largest solar farm in the US, generating 48MW of energy where construction began in January of 2012.  Some of our neighboring cities are joining the solar movement.  As we move into a culture of renewable energy options, we wanted to take a moment to recognize some of the most recent solar projects.

Burbank and LA

The cities of Los Angeles and Burbank have agreed to sign a 20-year agreement to purchase power from a solar plant being to be built in Nevada by Sempra U.S. Gas & Power.

Palo Alto

On November 5, 2012, Palo Alto embarked on their first solar energy contract. Their Utilities Advisory Commission and Finance Committee announced their unanimous approval of a 25-year contract. Brannon Solar LLC will provide up to 52,000-megawatt-hours, 5% of the city’s electricity needs, per year for no more than $91 million for the duration of the contract.

San Jose

California top solar city, San Jose has installed 54.6 megawatts on homes and commercial buildings, including those of eBay and the San Jose Unified School District.

Lancaster

Lancaster, is the thirtieth-largest city in California, with a population of just over 156,000 people.  Per capita, Lancaster has a solar generating capacity of just over 132 watts per resident.  Pretty remarkable.

Palmdale

Palmdale, Lancaster’s neighbor comes in seventh among the state’s solar cities with 11.1 MW, helping push Los Angeles County to the lead among California counties despite little help from the county seat.  The City of LA us not even in the top 20 producers of solar power.

UNDERSTANDING THE NUCLEAR POWER ISSUE
Written by Janna Geary

Recently we learned that the world indeed did not end.  Whew!  Some families right here in my own backyard went out and spent thousands of dollars purchasing emergency supplies and food to last them for six months.  Preparedness is something each of such should understand given we live in Southern California, where nature could take its course and put us in a compromising lifestyle, at least for a period of time.

However, the other concern we have is not a natural disaster.  It is a possible self-inflicted disaster caused by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) right on the otherwise beautiful shores of San Clemente.  Let’s take a look at the history and current state of this plant.

1992  Permanent Closure of Unit 1
Unit 1, a water reactor which operated for 25 years, closed permanently and has been dismantled.

December 2005 Ratepayers pay for Nuclear Makeover
Southern California Edison spent nearly $700 million ― financed by ratepayers ― to install four new steam generators, which were supposed to keep San Onofre’s aging reactors running well into the future.

March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Level 7 Nuclear Disaster
Major release of radio­active­material with widespread health and environmental effects.  Significant amounts of radioactive material have been released into ground and ocean waters.

Jan 2012  Leak of Radioactive Steam
Unit 2 and Unit 3 shut down due to premature wear found on tubes in steam generators  Plant officials have pledged not to restart the units until the cause of the tube leak and tube degradation are understood. Neither unit has yet been restarted.

May 2012  Lost Power Replaced
In May 2012, two retired natural gas electrical generators were brought back online to help replace the lost power generation capacity.  However, the San Clemente Power Station produces only 440MW of power.  Additionally, the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad has assisted in replacing the missing capacity, providing 965MW of power; coupled with new conservation measures, this has helped keep power available to San Diego andRiverside counties.

June 2012 Cause of Leak Discovered
But in June, federal regulatory officials announced that faulty computer modeling caused the generators’ steam tubes to deteriorate much more quickly than expected, which led to the leak in January.

September 2012 Unit 3 Fuel Removed
Allison Macfarlane, the NRC Chairwoman, said that plant will be down for a prolonged period, and that the fuel from Unit 3 will be removed  due to significant damage to the unit

October 2012  Edison submits plan to restart Unit 2
Southern California Edison requests to re-open Unit 2 at only 70% power capacity for 5 months despite the repairs needed to prevent public safety hazards.

November 2012 Over $300 MILLION Cost
As of November 2012, the cost of the outage has gone over $300 million

January 2013 Pre-hearing for Re-opening of Unit 2 at 70%
Edison asks for a protective order to prevent findings from being public information, currently found in the Order Instituting Investigation (OII)

“The OII must consider the cost-effectiveness of Edison’s proposal to restart only the Unit 2 reactor in light of Commission Decision (D.) 05-12-040’s Finding of Fact 153 that “the split shutdown scenario is more costly than shutting both units down”. City Council Resolution

Quick Facts

1.  With its proximity to seismic fault lines and a history of accidents, security breaches and safety complaints, SONGS has long been deemed one of the most difficult siblings in its nuclear family.

1.  Edison and SDG&E customers already have some of the highest electricity rates in California and the nation.
2. Call Greenstream Solor & Electric
   Installing a PV System will help reduce our dependency on nuclear power.www.GreenStreamSolar.com

A GREAT YEAR AHEAD    

Written by Janna Geary

While we have become accustomed to hearing about the unemployment rates and our economy’s blight we must not forget to acknowledge the growth and success of one of our country’s progressive markets – solar power! Consumers are rewarded with many benefits. The safety, reliability, tax incentives and financing options are a few. With 2012 behind us, we wanted to take a moment to recognize yet another great contribution of solar on our communities – JOBS!

On November 14th, 2012, the National Solar Jobs Census discovered that the U.S. solar industry currently employs 119,016 Americans. This figure represents the addition of 13,872 new solar jobs and a 13.2 percent employment growth rate between August 2011 and September 2012.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the overall economy grew at a rate of 2.3 percent* during the same year. As well, fossil fuel electric generation industry actually lost jobs – shedding 3,857 workers, or 3.77%, of its workforce (EMSI).

This helps us to understand that 1 in 230 new jobs nationwide were created in the solar industry.

You remember the Home Energy Efficiency Rating (HERS) from our last post?  Here’s a great way to get the most from your home and your money.  An Energy Efficient Mortgage means saving money while living in a more comfortable home. When you are buying, selling, refinancing, or even remodeling your home, you can increase your comfort and actually save money by using the Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM).

This federally recognized program can be applied to most home mortgages. If you make the recommended energy efficient improvements to your home or purchase a home that has a high HERS rating you will certainly reap the benefits as a buyer, and then again as a seller.

Homeowner Benefits

As a homeowner, you will have lower utility bills which means more money in your pocket each and every month. Therefore, you can set aside a larger portion of your income toward a better home instead of letting your cash waste away a home with poor insulation, or an old furnace.  Here’s an example how having a more efficient home can better your pocketbook.

Seller’s Benefits
You have experienced a great home, and now you are passing it on to your seller.   Since you have a HERS report showing the improvements you have made, how much your energy bills once were, and how much you are saving now they will be at ease knowing can better calculate their monthly household expenses. Your home will stand apart from others who have not taken advantage of making energy efficient improvements, and they will easily realize the home has been maintained optimally.

Green real estate is becoming more and more important to buyers.  Currently, 40% of home buyers consider energy efficient heating and cooling to be “very important.”  The real estate market has responded by establishing the National Association of Realtors’ GREEN Designation, special training to equip realtors with the knowledge and resources to educate and direct buyers to great, energy efficient homes.

Take Action
Call Green Stream Solar at 877-672-8667 to:
1.  Find a certified HERS rater
2.  Help you manage any energy efficiency upgrades
3.  Develop a relationship with a real estate agent who is well versed in energy      efficient homes

Written by Janna Geary
It seems each year more incentives are being passed down to home owners encouraging the use of solar energy.  We’ve got another one!  If you’re in the market for a new home or you are looking to sell at some point, we’re talkin‘ to you.  Buyers, there’s a new mortgage in town which will allow you to make energy efficient improvements to your new home and roll the cost into your new mortgage. We’re all familiar with high prices at the pump, so let’s use that to learn about this new option.

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS)
The State of California has implemented a way for home owners, sellers, and buyers to measure how energy efficient their home is as compared to the goal of bringing all California homes into an age of ultimate efficiency.  We worry about miles per gallon when we buy a car, now we’re going to find out if our home needs a “tune up.”

A Rating Index is between 1 and 100. The lower the score, the greater the efficiency of the home. The report recommends cost-effective upgrades which will save more money through energy savings than they cost to install.

Getting the HERS Rating Certificate
A HERS rating usually costs between $300 and $800 and depends on the size and features of your home.  The rating can be paid for by the buyer, seller, lender, or real estate agent, or even be financed as part of the mortgage.

The Benefits
As an example, new homes built after 2004 with a HERS score of 60 can bring a 70% savings on your energy bill each month!  Homes built prior to 2004 benefit by a 40% savings as compared to a typical new home.  So, it’s worth it to find the builders who offer this guarantee…they are out there!  Find a builder who is a participant in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program.

1.  Show a buyer the home was optimally maintained by presenting a HERS report

1. Live in a more comfortable home
2. Use government incentives
3. Help the environment by conserving energy
4. Increase your home’s resale value
5. Have accurate numbers to show the financial benefits of installing solar panels
6. Take advantage of an Energy Efficient Mortgage!  (We’ll cover this next week)

Take Action
Call Green Stream Solar and Electric at 877-672-8667 to have an Energy Consultant review the many options for energy efficiency financing vehicles which best suits your needs.

WHERE IT COMES FROM & HOW IT WORKS

As we wish for our lives to become simpler, they only become more complex.  I remember when I needed to buy a new toothbrush.  I found the quaint display of brushes–4 to choose from–easy decision.  Now, you stroll an entire AISLE of toothbrushes, each one aiming to convince you that the spinning bristles will bring about a brighter smile or the handle was designed ergonomically correct to prevent carpal tunnel.  Whew!   So, we decided to make to make SOLAR SIMPLE.

Where does solar energy come from?
Solar energy is commonly thought to come from the sun.  Let’s clarify.  It actually comes from particles of light (created by the sun) that hit your roof.  This is energy that is already hitting your home each day, and unless you have Solar Panels, that precious energy is going to waste.

How It Works
Let’s use the diagram to understand how a typical home runs on solar energy.
Solar (PV) Panels create electricity by converting the sun’s energy to electricity.

DISCUSSING THE CALIFORNIA RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD

While many consumers think of solar panels as “just another offering”, the State of California has a much different perspective. Here’s why–the California Renewable Portfolio Standard (CRPS), a state wide regulation that promotes the production of our energy from renewable energy resources.

The CRPS mandates 33% of the electricity used to be derived from renewable energy by 2020. Benchmark goals are in place to measure each utility company’s level of compliance–December 31, 2013, nearly one year away, 20% from renewable energy sources; and by December 31, 2016 they must reach 25%. 


What happens if they do not reach their goal in time?
The State of California already assumes the highest commercial and residential rates in the country. This is partly due to our choice to use natural gas, rather than cheaper alternatives such as coal. However, if utility companies fail to comply, they will suffer steep financial penalties by the state.

These substantial penalties would increase the utility company’s cost of doing business, and commercial and residential electrical rates would be raised to help the utility company minimize the blow. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the increase will be about $175 per year by 2020 for the average family.

The Shift in Power

California has a lot to protect, water sources, natural habitats, forests and wildlife; and California leads our country in environmental and technological advancements. There is clearly an ongoing goal to become more energy efficient, and it is evident in the many solar companies popping up in our local communities. Just as we make changes with computer technology or the latest smart phone, we understand that those changes often improve our quality of life, give us new opportunities and make the world a better place to live. (Imagine life before your iPad.)

To help consumers make the migration from standard electrical consumption to solar, they have implemented programs throughout the nation to educate and to financially benefit those who are willing to make the switch such as feed in tariffs, state rebates, tax credits and exemptions, and net metering, Some of these terms may sound new, so we’ll be covering them in detail on our blog.

What Can We Do?

1) Be aware. Learn about solar energy and other methods of renewable energy sources. Our blog will be a great resource to get the basics so you can make an educated decision on how to make solar a part of your solution.

2) Take a closer look at your bill. Instead of tossing it to the side, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the current rates and taxes incurred.

3) Consider the benefits. Solar energy among other sources of renewable energy are a benefit not only to our environment, but also to our economy as a whole. Green jobs are created and new markets have the chance to emerge which turn our communities into more productive, efficient and less wasteful places to live.

There are numerous benefits of having solar panels on your home in San Diego.  Use of solar panels in San Diego continues to rise because its benefits are many.  Solar power use in California is the highest across the nation in the total number of homes which have solar panels installed.   San Diego receives so many more sunny days than cloudy days that use of solar panels makes sense.

Harvesting the suns’ rays to create free energy for ones’ home has been around for decades.  Today, solar panels have become efficient, even more so than just a decade ago. It is easy to see when driving around a neighborhood solar panels in San Diego seem to be everywhere.

In one study by a group of California economists published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, it appears that the homeowner can recover approximately 97 % of their investment costs when installing solar panels. In contrast, a kitchen remodel would only recover 60% of its cost.

Though San Diego has different  micro climates ranging from coast to inland valleys, and mountains to deserts, on average, San Diego receives about 266 days of sunshine every year.  Where ever you live in San Diego, the benefits continue in not only the homeowner recuperating the costs of installation but also in lower energy costs on a monthly basis.

San Diego also has a wide variety of different styles of homes.  Though many homes in San Diego are Spanish style with clay tiles on their roofs, solar panels can be installed in these homes and most any type of roof.  Ideally, your roof should be facing south, but if isn’t, then design and installation can be compensated for roofs facing other directions.

If your house receives a lot of shade, use of solar panels is still possible.  If trees block your roof, cutting back may be suggested, but solar panels do not have to be installed on a home’s roof.   Installation can also be placed on other structures on your property or even in your yard.

Another advantage of using solar panels in San Diego is that when energy is produced by the sun’s rays, no negative effects are created such as smoke, gas, or green house gas. The production of carbon emissions when burning fossil fuels for energy has affected the overall temperature of the planet.  By using solar panels in San Diego, homeowners can do their part in leaving less of a carbon footprint.

In going solar, you can join the thousands of homeowners in San Diego who are paying less for their energy costs. Many homeowners who have solar also feel better about offsetting use of their gas guzzling cars too.  San Diego receives so many more sunny days than cloudy days that use of solar panels makes sense.

Forbes Article: Bucking A Trend, California Residential Clean Energy PACE Program Thrives

by Justin Gerdes, Contributor
(Independent journalist specializing in energy and the environment)

Resistance from federal housing officials nearly scuttled the residential market for property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, as cities and counties across the country shuttered programs. But a few jurisdictions bucked the trend. One outlier is the HERO (Home Energy Retrofit Opportunity) program, which appears to be thriving in western Riverside County, California.

I have written frequently at this blog about PACE financing. My posts have focused, for instance, on the launch of commercial PACE programs in California, Connecticut, and South Florida.

Such reporting is valuable, I hope, in keeping readers up to date on the nascent but fast-maturing PACE market. The HERO program, which launched in December 2011, can claim the distinction of being the rare PACE program that has successfully funded projects. Renovate America, which runs the HERO program for the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), announced earlier this month the approval of more than $50 million for residential energy retrofits, with half of that funding approved since July.

According to PACENow, an advocacy group, 2,000 homeowners have applied for HERO PACE financing; of these, 1,250 have met the program’s underwriting criteria. Some 300 residential projects worth $5 million have been completed. Two-thirds of the projects have funded energy efficiency measures; the most popular improvements: upgraded HVAC units (30%), windows and doors (24%), and insulation (6%). The balance of projects funded is largely rooftop photovoltaic systems.

The HERO program for the commercial sector has been slower to complete deals. PACENow reported that a $700,000 project was slated to close in August, with projects valued at $20 million more expected to close in the coming year. WRCOG Executive Director Rick Bishop told the Riverside Press-Enterprise last month that private lenders have committed $225 million to finance commercial HERO projects.

The design of PACE programs varies widely, but the basic premise is the same. A residential or commercial property owner is able to tap low-interest financing to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades without the burden of upfront costs. An audit is often undertaken to identify energy- and water-saving opportunities.

Property owners wishing to pursue PACE financing then enter into an assessment contract, tied to the property, which releases the project funding; in the case of the HERO program, the homeowner enters into an agreement with Renovate America, which also funds the program. The contract stipulates that the property owner agrees to repay the cost of the improvements through an annual property tax assessment lasting up to 20 years. If a building is sold or transferred, the PACE lien remains tied to the property.

The HERO program relies on contractors to sell PACE financing to property owners. More than 400 contractors are now registered. WRCOG expects the HERO program will create up to 4,000 jobs in the region. Reporting by the Riverside Press-Enterprise’s Debra Gruszecki revealed that contractors are seeing a boost in business and adding jobs.

“It’s had an extreme impact on business,’’ Douglas McMillan, general manager of Riverside-based California Showcase Construction, told Gruszecki. “I’d say 75 percent of our work is HERO at this point; business has been so good, we’ve hired more people — seven, so far.”

Another small business owner, Mike Mohr of Mohr Power Solar said: “HERO has definitely put more people to work. Our business is up 10 to 15 percent.’’ Mohr said the extra business has preserved jobs at his company that would have been lost.

The HERO program is able to close residential PACE deals, despite objections by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), because it requires property owners to meet rigorous Department of Energy lending guidelines. The property owner, for instance, must be current with property taxes and mortgage payments and have at least 10% equity in their home.