Submitted by Michael Brown
Today, getting a solar power system for the home is just about as easy as purchasing a book on Amazon, and is more affordable than ever before. Sungevity, the California-based company that’s behind the national campaign to get solar on the White House, has “virtually” arrived in (Pick one – Chaffee, Lake, Summit and Saguache, Conejos & Alamosa County ) to roll-out its one-of-a-kind online solar home solution.
The online approach is an ideal way for people who are thinking about – but never wanted to be hassled with – the planning of a solar home solution. Sungevity makes it as easy as a click-of-the-mouse to secure the best lease for solar energy in the market. In three easy steps, homeowners can receive a firm “iQuote,” see what the solar panels will look like on their roof using satellite and aerial imagery, sign a contract using electronic signatures and schedule an installation – all paid for with a no-money-down lease.
By installing solar energy with a lease, Sungevity estimates that most homeowners can save 15 percent off their electricity bills from day one and have a new residential solar panel system on their roofs, and qualified buyers for 0 down, giving owners the satisfaction of using clean energy and saving money to boot. Local contractor Eco Depot USA has partnered with Sungevity to perform the installation.
“The time is right to bring the simple, pain-free approach to getting a solar solution for your home,” said Eco Depot USA Founder, Curtis Scheib. “The online approach is an ideal way for people who are thinking about – but never wanted to be hassled with – the planning of a solar home solution. Sungevity and Eco Depot USA make it as easy as a click-of-the-mouse to secure the best lease for solar energy in the market.”
Sungevity processes all the paperwork and takes all the hassle out of going solar, with an operating lease that includes a performance guarantee for the system plus complete maintenance including cleaning and insurance.
Sungevity has designed a unique online sales process to make it easy and affordable for homeowners to go solar. Sungevity’s Solar Lease offer gives customers savings from the start. For most the electricity bill savings start immediately and increase over time. Sungevity has an easy online “iQuote” process, which enables Sungevity to furnish customers with a firm proposal to use solar power with no capital cost within 24 hours. More Information or info@ecodepotusa.com. You can call Eco Depot USA at 719-539-6000 or your dedicated solar consultant at Sungevity at 510.496.5552
I live on the Front Range, and just had a solar system installed using the leasing program. This is the way to go, and makes solar possible for so many more people. Anyone who has considered solar in the past, should go for it now! I might also suggest this program for the new high school….
Julie, I’ve either engineered or built 400 installations here in Connecticut, but I feel uneasy about the projects that were done by leases. What will happen when your lease expires (in CT the lease runs seven years)? Will you be able to afford to buy the system? I don’t feel good about urging people to lease. Four years from now when our lease-projects finish term, some of the families here will face a foreclosure-type situation, and will have no choice but to have the systems taken off. Imagine paying for a car for seven years and then having it repossessed by the dealer. The lease-giver is betting that your system will have high re-sale value even if it is used. I have a friend in Southern Colorado who was visiting here last week. She says that area is poor. Are you sure your positive enthusiasm is a good idea for those readers?
Absolutely! When our lease expires (20 years), we have paid for the system, and will transfer ownership to our name. We can also buy the system outright at any point, if we so desire. The combination of monthly cost savings, producing clean energy and added value to our home, again, make it the right thing to do.
Julie….You mention that after 20 years the title is automatically transferred to you. This is “illegal” per the conditions required for an operating lease, which a solar lease must be if you forfeited your federal tax credit. You must have a buyout for Fair Market Value at the end of 20 years. I would double check with your lessor to make sure they are collecting money for you in an ecrow account for the buyout. If not, you might be in for a rude awakening. However, in 20 years, you can argue what truly is FMV. But currently, these leases are being securitized to 3rd parties. I fund a lease program and I look forward to recycling a lot of solar panels in 10 to 20 years.
There is no upfront cost to sign up for the Lease or you can prepay with a discount so that you have no monthly payments over 20 years.
After the 20 years, you can tell us to remove the unit for free, extend the lease for another 5 years, upgrade to a new system, or purchase at the fair market value.
I am sorry that some of the families in Connecticutt face a foreclosure situation, Thomas. I work with people in many different situations and can say that everyone I helped go solar with us felt comfortable and were really excited about lowering their electricity costs and saving money.
Eric
Sungevity Solar
510.496.5552