Taking the solar plunge

Free yourself from dirty energy. That's the idea behind the Sierra Club's program aimed at helping America go solar.

In Southern California, homeowners who install solar panels on their homes with partner company Sungevity will receive a $1,000 gift card -- and the company will contribute $1,000 to the Sierra Club.

Angeles Chapter volunteer Carmen Paz Stanuikynas, left, is having solar panels put atop the roof of her Duarte home. We asked her about the process.

Learn more about the Sungevity solar program.  Go solar before Oct. 31st, you get $1,000 and Sungevity will contribute $1,000 to Sierra Club.

Q: What made you decide to install solar panels? Everyone says they want to go solar, but few really get down to acting on that good thought. What made you make the call?

A: I have been thinking about getting solar panels because my summer energy bills are sky high. For the last year or two, I have been researching costs, rebates, benefits, etc., of going solar. When the Sierra Club offered such a good deal for them and for me, I was ready to make the call.

Q: How did the process start?

A: I answered an e-mail from the Club and took an online survey about my usage and energy costs. The survey took only about 10 minutes. By the next day, I had been conctacted by the Sungevity representative. He was very personable and helpful. Within a couple of weeks, we had hammered out an agreement.

Q: What is the installation like?

A: Having the panels installed is exactly like any other home improvement/construction project. The project manager had told me it would take about three or four days, that they will take care of everything, and all I had to do was sit there and enjoy the benefits.

Q: What will the impact be on your utility bill?

A:  The Sungevity people have taken care of all the paperwork, such as getting permits from city hall, notifying the electric company and getting a new meter installed prior to the the installation of the panels, scheduling the inspectors' visits and processing the rebates. Since my solar panels are not operational yet, I can only hope that the promised savings will indeed cut down on the total cost of using electricity.

Q: What are your projected savings over time?
 
A: I put down enough money to bring my monthly lease payment to what I currently pay to the utility company. We calculated the pay back at 10 to 12 years. With a 30-year lease, the savings may be a long way off. However Sungevity will do the maintenance and monitoring of the system's perfomance, so I might enjoy lower-priced electricity than traditionally sourced power. The panels are said to last about 30 to 40 years, and if they are damaged in any way, Sungevity will repair or replace as needed.

Q: Any advice for anyone considering making the call?

A: The cost-effectiveness for homeowners may be for houses or families bigger than mine. However, the overall cost to the environment and society is greatly reduced by my actions, even if only a little. That was a concern for me: Help the environment as well as myself.

Photos, from top:
Carmen Paz Stanuikynas Credit: Mary Forgione
Workers put solar panels in place atop Carmen Paz Stanuikynas' home. Credit: Jennifer Robinson