Additional solar resources Get started with solar! Brochure.pdf · possible to start saving money with your new ... The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal of seeing solar energy

Get started with solar!

Learn about solar technologies.For general information about the different solar technologies, visit theEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office of the U.S. Departmentof Energy at www.eere.energy.gov/solar/ or visit the California EnergyCommission’s website at www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov.

Get an energy audit before going solar.Before you start planning the size of your solar installation, evaluate howmuch energy you could save by making your home more energyefficient. Complete an online audit at www.sce.com and use yourcustomer number on your electric bill to request a history of your

electric usage. There are many reasons to go solar; if your electricity bills are low but your natural gas bills arehigh, you may benefit from adding solar and converting to electrical appliances, or installing a solar thermalsystem to heat water.)

Assess the most efficient location for panels.Figure on needing 100 square feet of panels per kilowatt (kW). A typicalhome installation is 2.5 or 3 kW AC, so you would need about 300 squarefeet for panels. You will need unshaded roof or ground space facingSouth, West or East, with the panels angled between 5 and 30 degrees.

Consider the aesthetics.While a state mandate prevents architectural boards and homeownersassociations from restricting the installation of solar panels based solelyon aesthetics, we strongly encourage you to consider your system’svisibility to the neighborhood and visual integration with existingbuildings. Consider installing “building integrated technologies” (such as

thin panels that act as roof tiles) or using framing and mountingtechniques that maximize a system’s visual integration. For moreinformation about the City of Carpinteria’s solar design guidelines, pleasecontact them at (805) 684-5405. You may also refer to Municipal CodeSection - Architectural Review Board 2.36 atmunicipalcodes.lexisnexus.com/carpinteria/.

Talk to a contractor who specializes in solar.Installers will assess your location and suggest the size and type ofsystem that is best for you. We recommend getting bids from at least two

10 steps to getting started

Solar photovoltaics and solar thermal systems are great options for the environmentand potentially for your pocketbook. Rebates and tax credits can help

bring down the initial cost of a system significantly and in many cases make itpossible to start saving money with your new system right away.

11111

22222

33333

44444

Community Environmental Council • (805) 963-0583 • www.FossilFreeBy33.orgCity of Carpinteria • (805) 684-5405 ext 405 or 410 • www.ci.carpinteria.ca.us

Federal initiative: Million Solar RoofsThe U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal of seeing solar energysystems installed on one million roofs in the U.S. by 2010. TheCommunity Environmental Council is facilitating the constructionand installation of at least 750 of these systems by coordinating aMillion Solar Roofs Partnership, which brings together business,government, the energy industry, and community organizations tofurther solar initiatives in our region. The City of Carpinteriaparticipates in the partnership, and this brochure is one of thepartnership’s products. Review other materials -- including a detailedreport on overcoming local barriers to solar installations -- atwww.FossilFreeBy33.org.

Statewide initiative: Go Solar CaliforniaThe state of California has set a goal of creating 3,000 megawatts ofnew, solar-produced electricity by 2017.For a complete list of resources for homes, schools, businesses andgovernment buildings, visit www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov.

Energy efficiency resourcesMost solar installers will agree that, to maximize the benefit of a solarinstallation, you should first trim down the building’s energy use andmake the building as efficient as possible. The City of Carpinteriaand the Community Environmental Council are helping local

residents and businesses become more energy efficient through a partnership between local government agenciesand Southern California Edison. For details visit www.southcoastenergywise.org

Community Environmental CouncilCEC is one of the oldest and most established environmental organizations in southern California, having beenfounded in 1970 as a result of the oil spill off Santa Barbara’s shores. Over the last three decades, CEC haspioneered real-life solutions for the community in the areas of pesticide reduction, organic agriculture, greenbuilding, hazardous waste collection and recycling.

Today CEC is largely focused on eliminating the use of fossil fuels in our region within the next generation.Promoting solar installations is one of several strategies that CEC has outlined to reach this aggressive goal. Forinformation on the campaign or to get involved, visit www.FossilFreeBy33.org.

Additional solar resources

Community Environmental Council • (805) 963-0583 • www.FossilFreeBy33.orgCity of Carpinteria • (805) 684-5405 ext 405 or 410 • www.ci.carpinteria.ca.us

Sun

Firs

t Ene

rgy

Syst

ems

Chris

ta B

acks

on-C

rane

Printed on recycled paper. Updated: 6/1/07

55555

established local contractors with proven trackrecords. Some things to look for: local affiliations andmemberships (such as the Santa Barbara ContractorsAssociation and Better Business Bureau), properlicensing (go to www.cslb.ca.gov/ to check on aspecific contractor) and certification from the NorthAmerican Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.Domestic hot water systems need to be certified bythe Solar Rating and Certification Corporation(SRCC) – the national ratings lab for all hot watersystems.

Reserve your incentives.The program administrator will provide you or yourinstaller with an incentive application form. After theprogram administrator receives your completedapplication, it will reserve funds based on the size ofyour solar project. These funds will be reserved forperiods of time indicated in each program, by whichtime you must provide adequate proof of progresstowards installing your system. The administrator willrequire you to provide documentation to show thatyou are moving forward with the project.

Install the solar system and get your permits.Photovoltaic systems and hot water systems require abuilding permit, which would be handled by yourcontractor. Systems that are mounted on the groundrather than the roof may require a land use permit

and may need to be approved by the county or city.The Community Development Director may requirereview by the Architectural Review Board.

Claim your state rebate.After the building permit has been signed off, claimyour reserved rebate. Getting your check can take upto three months, however many installers will handlethis application process for you and float the rebate,automatically deducting the rebate from your final bill.

Complete interconnection with the utility.Once you’ve received signoff on the building permit,the utility interconnection process can be finalized.Within five to ten business days after the utilitycompany receives a completed application, you getpermission to operate your solar system. Your solarelectric installer will handle this process.

Apply for your tax credits.Tax incentives change from year to year. Under currenttax code, when you file your federal income tax returnyou will receive a tax credit of 30 percent of your out-of-pocket, after-rebate costs for any solar systeminstalled in 2006 or 2007. The tax credit is capped at$2,000 for homeowners, but businesses (includinghome-based businesses) can take the full 30 percent.You are also eligible for an exemption on your stateproperty tax.

66666

88888

99999

California Solar InitiativeAs of January 1, 2007, the California EnergyCommission’s New Solar Homes Partnershipwill focus on solar photovoltaic (PV) systemsfor new home construction. Information isavailable at www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/nshp.The California Public Utilities Commision(CPUC) will provide incentives for all otherresidential and non-residential customersunder the California Solar Initiative. The Stateprogram currently funds only solar PV(electric) systems. It does not provide rebatesfor solar hot water systems.

How much are State incentives?Starting in January 2007, PV rebates given through theCalifornia Solar Initiative will change from the currentcapacity-based payments to performance-based incentivesthat reward properly installed and maintained solar systems.The incentives (described in Table A) will be determinedaccording to the system size, as follows:

The incentive payment levels will automatically be reducedover the duration of the California Solar Initiative programin 10 steps, based on the volume of megawatts of confirmedreservations issued within each utility service territory. Onaverage, the California Solar Initiative incentives areprojected to decline at a rate of 7 percent each year followingthe start of implementation in 2007. The incentives willgradually phase out over the 10 steps.

Federal tax creditThe federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides incentivesfor homeowners and businesses to install solar by providinga federal tax credit. Between January 2006 and December2007, homeowners can receive a 30% tax credit, capped at$2,000, for installing photovoltaic or solar domestic waterheating projects. Businesses can receive a 30% tax credit onphotovoltaic, solar thermal, concentrating solar power, andsolar hybrid lighting projects with no cap on the tax credit.

77777

Type

Residential

Commercial

Incentive

30%

30%

Cap

$2,000

none

Incentive Period

Jan 2006 - Dec 2007

Jan 2006 - Dec 2007Credit reduces to

10% in 2008

Table B. Federal Tax Credit

Type of CSIIncentive

PerformanceBased Incentive

(PBI)

ExpectedPerformance Based

Buydown (EPBB)

Size Category

>100 kW

<100 kW

Payment Structure

Payments based on$/kWh producedover 5-year term

Lump sum up-front,based on $/watt

calculation

Eligible Customersand Incentives

Residential/Commercial($0.39/kWh)

Government/Nonprofit($0.50/kWh)

Residential/Commercial(up to $2.50)

Government/Nonprofit(up to $3.25/watt)

Table A: California RebatesCalifornia Solar Initiative (CSI) Program Incentive Structure

Eligible Technologies

Photovoltaics only;solar water heatingto be determined

Photovoltaics only;solar water heatingto be determined

Estimating the payback periodYou will often hear the word “payback period” in relation tosolar power. This is the length of time it takes to pay for yoursolar system through your energy bill savings. Calculate it withthe following formula:

Payback =System cost / (monthly energy bill savings x 12)

For example, if your system cost $20,000 and it saves $200off your electricity bill each month:

Payback =$20,000 / ($200 a month x 12) = 8.3 years

This is an oversimplified calculation and does not includefinancing costs or escalating electricity costs from your utility,or other important considerations. A more completecalculation can be performed atwww.consumerenergycenter.org/renewables/estimator.

Solar loansSanta Barbara County Federal Credit Union provides a solarfinancing option to its members through its no hassle solarloan program. The program provides a home equity line ofcredit up to $15,000 at an APR currently as low as 7.00% (asof June 2007, and subject to change.) To become a memberof the credit union, you must be an employee (or a relative ofan employee) of a business or organization that is amembership qualified employer. Any business can apply formembership at www.sbcreditunion.com.

For PV systems greater than or equal to 100 kilowattsin size, incentives will be paid monthly based on theactual energy produced for a period of five years. Thisincentive path is called Performance Based Incentives(PBI). Systems of any size may elect to opt into the PBIprogram.

Incentives for all systems less than 100 kilowatts will bepaid a one-time, up-front incentive based on expectedsystem performance, calculated based on equipmentratings and installation factors, such as geographiclocation, tilt, orientation and shading. This type ofincentive is called Expected Performance-BasedBuydown. See Table A for incentive rates.

Financing your solar installation

•

•

Finding a solar installer

Above the Waterline(specializes in marine systems)(805) 455-8444abovethewaterline.netAdvanced Solar Electric(818) 889-9033advancedsolarelectric.comCalifornia Solar(805) 522-2747californiasolar.comCalifornia Solar ElectricCompany(805) 640-7903californiasolarelectric.comCooperative CommunityEnergy Corporation(805) 636-6086ccenergy.comDeventec(805) 544-6786deventec.com

Dexter’s Solar RadiantEnergy Services(805) 884-5188Mac’s Solar(805) 682-3386

Pacific Solar Works(805) 350-0202

REC Solar(805) 528-9705recsolar.comR&M Technologies(805) 563-2434rmtec.netSolar 101(805) 969-1301solar101.com

The Solar Energy Company(805) 962-8898thesolarenergycompany.com

Installers can provide you with complete informationabout current costs and the details of installation.

We suggest you talk to at least two installers.

Solar Power Systems(805) 346-1766solarpower-sys.comSolforce(805) 695-0015solforce.com

SunRay Solar Electric(805) 689-1479sunraysb.comURS Corporation(specialize in large systems)(805) 964-6010urscorp.com

City of Carpinteriadoes not promote orendorse any of these

retailers and the Cityshall not be held

responsible for theactions of any such

contractor or retailer.

Design reviewIn the City of Carpintiera, projectsthat could be subject to designreview tend to be those that havethe potential for visual or historicsignificant impacts, ie:

The system is proposed on asite with a historicallysignificant structure.

The system is proposed in aSpecial Design District, withplacement and design that maycreate potentially significantvisual impacts.

Design Review has beentriggered for some other aspectof a larger project, whichincludes the solar energysystem.