Environmental impact

Solar electric systems provide a sustainable source of clean energy. By installing a PV system you will significantly reduce the carbon emissions caused by burning fossil fuels.

A typical 3kW Solar Electric System will offset the following:

• 180,000 lbs of CO2 (greenhouse gas)

• 300,000 miles driven in an average car (at 12,000 Miles a Year)

• Protects our air quality, equal to planting 1.5 acres of trees

• Prevents more than 90,000 lbs of fossil fuel from being burned

Who is leasing solar arrays?

It seems to me that many of the residential customers I am coming in contact with are moving more to a purchased system instead of leased option.  The interest here is whether there is sufficient savings to be made with a lease over the cost avoidance offered by purchasing a system.  Many of the leases are for 15-20 years and offer advantage to the home-owner over purchasing the system outright.  The advantages include warranties, maintenance, and SREC transfer.  But will potential users sign up for solar with only a 10% savings offered?

The homeowner needs to recognize the hidden costs associated with purchasing the arrays and the stability of cost associated with leasing.  If these variables are not well articulated to the potential user, I think it is hard to justify a lease today … with the SREC market in free-fall.