New data from the Environment Colorado Research and Policy Center (ECRPC) shows that Colorado played an important role in the development and growth of the solar industry over the past few years. The report, entitled “Lighting the Way: The Top Ten States that Helped Drive America’s Solar Energy Boom in 2013,” reveals that Colorado experienced an 18 percent increase in solar energy use during 2013. This is largely due to the state and local governments’ investment in developing policy and initiatives that encourage continued expansion. Between 2011 and 2013, the solar industry nearly tripled across the nation. In the last 10 years, solar power has grown 120-fold, according to the Pagosa Daily Post. This year, solar energy is estimated to account for approximately 74 percent of all new electricity generation installations in the U.S. “Solar energy is emerging as a go-to energy option here in Colorado and across the country,” Charlotte Bromley, the field organizer for Environment Colorado, told the Pagosa Daily Post. “Thanks to the commitment of Colorado’s leaders, this pollution-free energy option is poised to play a major role in helping us meet our carbon emission reduction standards set by the Clean Power Plan.” The good news about the large-scale growth of the solar industry is that it decreases the price of solar installations for home and business owners. It also causes a surge in the number of green power jobs available, ranging from panel design to installation and maintenance. Not only are solar electric panels good for your wallet, they’re also great for the environment, with a carbon emission output of zero. In fact, the report from the ECRPC states that the solar industry creates 96 percent less pollution than coal plants. To be a part of the solar revolution, contact Golden Solar today!

The end of July in Colorado was rife with news and meetings regarding the future of the state’s rooftop solar industry. Utility company Xcel Energy has issued a challenge to the state’s key financial incentive when it comes to rooftop solar installations. The idea of net metering on homes that install solar paneling is an important part of the state’s initiative to get residents to invest in solar power. Net metering allocates a credit for every kilowatt-hour that is generated by the solar array connected to the grid for the same price that residential customers are charged for regular electricity. For the area, this price is generally around 10.5 cents per kilowatt hour. As a result of this contest, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission heard the claims by the Xcel executives as well as representatives from the solar industry on Thursday, July 24th. This initial meeting is part of a three-part workshop series that will act as fact-gathering sessions for how to proceed. Xcel argues that the expense that net metering creates ends up costing their customers who may not subscribe to a solar program more in the long run. According the Denver Post, “Xcel calculates that the added power and avoided costs, such as needing less fuel, amounts to only 4.6 cents. The remaining 6 cents is picked up by Xcel’s other customers, the utility said.” The fact is that the cost that accompanies solar electric panels is insignificant when you factor the savings that homeowners experience as a result of their alternative energy generation. If you are interested in becoming a part of the green revolution, contact Golden Solar today.

In the world of solar energy, there are a lot of intricacies and details that consumers have to factor in before they invest in a new panel system for themselves, and there are a number of important considerations to be made when considering the installation of your own solar electric panels. One phrase thrown around a lot is Power Purchase Agreement, or PPA. Despite the complicated and overly technical name, it’s actually simpler than it sounds. Here are the answers to a few questions you might have about PPAs:

What is an SPPA?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “A Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) is a financial arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates, and maintains the photovoltaic (PV) system, and a host customer agrees to site the system on its roof or elsewhere on its property and purchases the system’s electric output from the solar services provider for a predetermined period.” This arrangement creates an agreement between supplier and consumer: customers are able to save money on their energy costs, while the provider is able to claim other financial incentives like tax benefits and income that is generated by the sale of the energy provided by the solar paneling.

How do they work?

In order to power their homes, consumers purchase the services and power of a photovoltaic system without having to actually install the physical units on their property. This allows customers to save on the up front cost of paneling, determining permits and regulations allowances and the risk that accompanies the system’s performance. It is important to note here, though, that solar panels are very durable and low maintenance. Generally, once they are installed, there is very little that homeowners or building staff have to do by way of maintaining their integrity or functionality. The benefit, in these cases, is that it affords huge opportunities to municipalities that offer solar energy to their customers in lieu of traditional power sources. There are also federal and state benefits that can be reaped from taking advantage of these types of systems.

What are the benefits for consumers?

Aside from the financial impact that going solar will have on your utility bill, as a consumer you will also be a part of a movement to a more eco-friendly way of generating energy. With your home attached to an off-site solar source, you will also see a surge in property value as your home will cost less to maintain. If you are interested in Colorado solar leases, contact Golden Solar today. We offer free on-site consultations, during which our engineers will discuss all your solar options with you.

On this blog we talk a lot about the advancements and developments of solar energy and how municipalities across the country are putting this technology to use. With structural, installation and integration innovations happening everyday, now is the best time to implement solar power into your residential or commercial residence. But even with all of these upgrades and updates, many people don’t know why solar energy is important, or how it stands to become increasingly beneficial in years to come. So today, we thought it would be a great idea to go over the top five benefits that solar power has to offer for the nation, the economy and our everyday lives.

• Green and Clean – For the eco-conscious, solar energy is ideal. Solar power is renewable, sustainable and affordable. Taking up only a small amount of space – on the ground or on the roof of your establishment – the only part of solar technology that eats up raw materials is the creation of the panel itself. This means that the environmental impact of using solar is minimal. Additionally, this form of energy does not produce the carbon, methane or other harmful emissions that fossil fuels do.
• Financially-Savvy – ‘Save some green’ might as well be the motto of the solar industry. With the environmental benefits paired with the cost-saving effect of implementing solar power, users do their part to save both the environment and some cash. Many state and federal agencies offer financial incentive programs to aid solar consumers to purchase paneling. Some districts extend these offers to businesses as well.
• Plenty of Jobs – Because this technology is ever-evolving, jobs sprout up in the solar industry all the time. According to The Energy Collective, “The solar power industry’s “innovation engine” has resulted in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in the last decade alone […] After all, solar panel production is just a small facet of an overall industry that demands contributions from installation technicians, salespeople, battery-storage designers and other key players.”
• Political Incentive– The more that we rely on solar energy, the less the United States would have to count on historically unstable countries for provision of fossil fuels. This would enable our country to become a leading global force in the implementation and advancement of clean and renewable energy.
• Utility Independence – Historically, consumers have had to rely entirely on their town or city’s public utilities for the dissemination of power, but with the growth and expansion of solar technology, that relationship shifts. Because consumers are less reliant on their public works, they are able to gain some independence. In some cases, an individual’s solar paneling will produce more energy than the establishment it is attached to can use, which allows them to sell it back to their public utility company and run their meters backwards. For these solar users, their savings are even greater as they are effectively making money off their panels.

Solar energy is always growing and evolving. Today, there are so many ways that you can make your residence more efficient, but potentially one of the most beneficial is to install solar electric panels into the infrastructure of your home or business. It will save on energy costs, reduce your environmental footprint and help contribute to job growth on a national scale. If you are interested in learning more about solar energy in Colorado or solar leases, contact Golden Solar today. Our trained staff of engineers can provide a free on-site consultation, following which, they will help you design and implement your own panels!

Escalating costs of oil and natural gas make developing energy efficiency at a national level relatively difficult. In many homes, people are electing to install exterior solar displays as a way to counterbalance their energy costs. With solar energy, homeowners use less unsustainable resources and lower their carbon footprint. It is important to understand that how solar panels work is directly related to the effectiveness of their installation. First thing’s first, if you are electing to install solar electric panels into the infrastructure of your home, it is best to have a professional handle the installation. This way, you know that it is done right and efficiently the first time. But if you are curious about the process that these professionals go through, rest assured that the installation process for solar paneling is interesting, and relatively straightforward in terms of the step-by-step procedure.

• Base– Ground installation requires a sturdy base that will support the display year round. Professionals start by burying the conduit from the home or residence that will receive the energy. Then, a base is built using cement pillars and lumber that support the panels. If you are opting for roof mounts, How Stuff Works says “Pick out a spot for your solar panel on either the west or east side of the roof, wherever it will receive the most sun.”
• Mount– The next step is putting the paneling in place. Once the platform is created and up to industry standards, the panels themselves are secured to the mount.
• Slope – In order to reduce the impact of inclement weather, most panels are installed at an angle so as to create run-off. In order to accomplish this, the rear legs of the unit must be installed at a different height from the front base. This angle will be determined by the local meteorological data.
• Wiring – The wiring of the panel to the meters and units in your home is a job best left to the professionals. Their training ensures that it is done according to town and city ordinances, and that all the power generated by your display goes to powering your property. It is important that these wires are grounded, run and incorporated into your home properly and safely. This is the final step in the process, following which, your panels should begin generating energy when these wires are officially hooked up.

While the process itself is simple, each step is tedious and requires training and knowledge to accomplish. For more information on solar paneling, technological updates or installation processes, contact Golden Solar. Our trained staff of experts will be able to help you understand the process, design and install your very own solar display. This home upgrade will help you cut back on energy costs and increase your home’s value.