The most recent bill from the electric company had a credit – it was the first month since the November install that production was ahead of demand.

In our sugarhouse, we have a reverse osmosis machine that extracts pure H2O from maple sap. Normally we’d have to boil 43 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. With the RO, which runs on electricity, we only have to boil 10-12 gallons of concentrate to make 1 gallon of syrup. It does not effect the flavor of the syrup except that it spends less time boiling in the evaporator and is less likely to pick up subtle tones of caramelization. It does mean less time cutting and stacking wood through the summer and less time in the sugarhouse so we can be cleaned up and home for dinner. As the electricity comes from the sun, it means lower cost and a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Every year we submit samples to the Vermont Farm Show and we come back with blue ribbons so I can say objectively our maple syrup is excellent. This year’s crop won’t be judged until January ’14 but I expect it will do well. In addition to maple flavor and smoke, it also has distinct aroma of vanilla and fresh butter or buttercream.  If you pour a shot glass and heat it up in the microwave for 8 seconds, it will really open up the best characteristics of the maple syrup.

Best regards,
James

Chuck and Lisa P

One day Mike Symmes from Real Goods Solar came to our door introduced himself and began to explain how installing solar panels on our home could greatly augment out utility usage. He also showed us his own graphs since he also uses Real Goods Solar. But what made it even more appealing was his knowledge and the available programs available through (HERO). This is too good to be true!! But it is and it does work. We both were so impressed I told some friends associates at work and some of our neighbors that they too needed to talk with Mike and realize the savings potential. We are absolutely happy and satisfied with Real Goods Solar and such an outstanding professional job during installation. Please keep up the good work.

However, the purchase and installation of solar power was made difficult and complex by salesmen who were highly motivated to sell, but understood little regarding the facts and economics of solar power. As a scientist, this was especially frustrating.

We were delighted to meet with Brian Van Heel of Real Goods Solar who could answer, in plain language, all of our questions regarding the latest technology, products, and economics based on the current and future power market in southern California. I am confident that we’ve identified the right system for us and excited about the prospect of reducing our energy footprint (and simultaneously our power bill).

MindDrive, which works with at-risk youth in the urban areas of Kansas City, promotes experiential learning as a viable alternative and/or complement to traditional academics and has been using electric car design as one of their topics. Students have built several electric vehicles, but their latest project is a ’67 Karmann Ghia that has been converted to an electric model, which will eventually be put into production as a kit. But before the kits hit the market, MindDrive is using the Project Karmann Ghia as an awareness-raising vehicle for the importance of experiential learning in education, and they’re using social media to provide the fuel. Watch the video below to see how you can help fuel their mission and electric vehicle to Washington D.C. through social media.

Here’s a look at the Ferdinand GT3 RS driving through the streets of Vienna.

Isn’t she a beauty?

“”We do not know how this is possible and can only postulate on it,” says Rumpho, who says that the phenomenon of stealing is known as kleptoplasty.” – New Scientist.

“On the 40th anniversary of the famous ‘Blue Marble’ photograph taken of Earth from space, Planetary Collective presents a short film documenting astronauts’ life-changing stories of seeing the Earth from the outside – a perspective-altering experience often described as the Overview Effect.

The Overview Effect, first described by author Frank White in 1987, is an experience that transforms astronauts’ perspective of the planet and mankind’s place upon it. Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

‘Overview’ is a short film that explores this phenomenon through interviews with five astronauts who have experienced the Overview Effect. The film also features insights from commentators and thinkers on the wider implications and importance of this understanding for society, and our relationship to the environment.”

If you’d like more information about CONTINUUM and how you can support and/or pre-order the film, check out continuumthemovie.com.

“Meet Earl, a revolutionary tablet engineered for the most extreme of outdoor situations. Built for survival, Earl works where today’s smart phones and tablets cannot. Style meets efficiency with Earl’s intuitive design, fusing Android 4.1 together with an energy sipping E-Ink screen and the latest in GPS, weather sensor, and radio communication technology. With Earl at your side, stay in control of your journey no matter where it takes you.”

Preorder your very own Earl and help their crowdfunding project!

Let me be provocative for a moment. Do you know how much of a return on your investment you would receive if you installed solar on your home or business right now? Do you know enough to even estimate the amount of money you’d save over 25-30 years? Would you guess that solar energy is actually a financial investment with recent returns more solid than stocks and bonds? Do you know that solar energy works in colder climates and on cloudy days? Did you know that nearly any solar installation company will gladly provide you these numbers for free? Probably not. Not many Americans can begin to answer these questions. And who can blame them?

We, as an industry, are still young. We’re not the behemoth of major corporations with seemingly unlimited budgets to pay for lobbying and well-placed television commercials. We reach out to a media who has no idea what solar energy really is. We burn with such passion to help our country, and yet many nights feel like we are strangers in our own homes. You can’t explain the entirety of the benefits of solar energy in 140 characters. It’s both a great and terrible feeling to know what you can give people if only they knew what you could give. It’s unrequited love in the form of a solar panel, and we have thousands upon thousands of them waiting to find a good home.

We’re not at war with the other energy companies, either. People will still need oil for a very long time (probably longer than our actual supply will last). No energy employee from fossil fuel plants will end up on Skid Row because of solar any time soon. What about utility companies? Utilities are actually required by the state governments to purchase renewable energy, and most of them have employees that are themselves dedicated to the renewable energy sector. They are not our enemies, either. Banks? Banks are in the business of lending–they would love for solar modules to be included in home appraisals. The real estate market? Solar panels on a home sells that home much easier and (say it with me) “not our enemy.” We simply have no natural predators, and for that, we’re thankful.

What we do face is a nation who just doesn’t understand us. We’re right here, and there’s not been a better time to go solar than today. The panels pay for themselves typically about halfway through their life cycle, and the rest is yours to keep. There is a 30% federal tax credit for anyone who installs solar on a home or business. Many states have similar tax incentives to add to that. You can get paid to send your excess energy back to the grid. You can also sell solar credits to utility companies. And if you own a business, there’s a good chance you can depreciate the entire installation in one year. Did you know you’ll see, on average, a more steady return from “going solar” than you would on stocks and bonds (at least historically speaking)? It’s okay; most people don’t know that.

So here we sit as an industry with such a powerful solution for our country – both as a whole and to the people individually. We are, as a nation, being quickly passed up by other countries. Research countries like Germany and what they are doing with solar energy – it’s amazing. But we here in the U.S. can’t afford to tell everyone what they need to know. We instead have to rely on people finding us. We try, don’t get me wrong, but we just don’t have the financial size and subsequent influence to achieve the success solar energy deserves. The solar industry is young, lacking the means to get the word out in the way that giants of other industries are able to do.

Yet each installation site still drips with the exhilaration and sweat of The Cavern Club in 1961, right after a little-known band named The Beatles just finished playing to a room of about 100 people. Solar energy is the early rock and roll of our generation. We’re the rock and roll stars of our time, hell-bent on changing the World. This time, though, it really works. We, as an industry, can see what is ahead. We’ll be here waiting. And when you say “Oh man, I wish I knew about this sooner,” we won’t judge. We’ll love and support you just the same. It was Marty McFly in Back to the Future who said: “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it.” See you soon, America.

We started out with candles and kerosene lamps. Later graduated to lighting fashioned from automobile bulbs that we alligator-clamped onto our truck battery that we recharged on our weekly town trips. The truck-battery also powered both the household car-radio/tape-deck and the rechargeable-battery charger, for flashlights and more.

In 1982, we elevated to 24/7 electricity when neighbor Ross Burkhardt (Burkhardt Turbines) installed his first proto-type micro-hydro turbine by the year-round creek next to our home. An ingenious, micro-waterwheel inside a large stainless-steel salad bowl! In 1983, we entered the solar-age when we bought our first solar panels from Real Goods – which, in 1978, sold the first solar panels ever sold in USA. We now have 2 trackers of panels and a battery-bank as we’re still ‘off the grid’.

Now that we also share a house in town, we contacted Real Goods Solar to see if we could afford to put a solar-array on the roof — based on system design, its eligibility for the incentives programs, and electricity-bill savings going forward. We met with Mike, a seasoned solar consultant, for the initial site-eval and were happy to hear that the initial estimates were encouraging. Mike has been very helpful in patiently answering our many questions, with no ‘sales-job’ pressure at all. We anticipate that the estimates will likely be confirmed at our upcoming site-survey as our roof install-location faces due south with little to no shading. So far so good!

We’re grateful for this opportunity to reduce our lifetime carbon-dioxide legacy, as well as for succeeding occupants of the house. An added reward for us will be knowing that if our daughter and son in-law want to take over the house after we ride into the sunset, our solar system will be covering their electricity needs on into their golden years.

The company that Andy works for went solar in 2007, and he observed the appreciable savings the company was enjoying. After saving some money, we took the plunge in 2012. This wasn’t without some concern: where he works, the panels were installed on the ground. This was the ROOF of our HOME! We were very nervous over potential damage either visual or structural. From day one, the crew was neat, professional, and friendly. Every day we’d come home from work and would be amazed with the progress. All the conduits and panels were placed exactly as agreed and expected. The staff in the office was very courteous and easy to work with and made the entire process simple and pain free.

We’ve now been producing solar electricity for five months and are so happy seeing the bills essentially “gone” and our children love looking at the monitoring software seeing not only how much money we are saving but the benefits to the environment as well. I have the feeling many future science projects coming out of our household will be all about solar…save money, help the environment, and intellectually stimulate the kids too!

I started our family winery in 1994. We built all the structures at the vineyard with the same due care, diligence, and pride. As our business grew, our electricity bills escalated disproportionately to the point of becoming a strangle on further growth. Furthermore, we look at the land that we farm and live on as a gift to be cared for and sustained.

Solar Power would be a great solution for getting our electrical costs under OUR control while doing something beneficial for the environment. I interviewed four solar companies, was unimpressed, and chose to walk away from the solar idea. A few months later, driving through Napa, a pick-up truck bearing the Real Goods Solar logo pulled up alongside me. It was neat, clean, and carefully loaded with Sun-Power Panels. I called them up the next day; the rest was a quality experience. They performed everything they said they would do, in many ways exceeding my expectations. Today, we proudly show off our panels to our friends and customers at our winery.

–Fred Schweiger

We’re awaiting our solar installation, but in the meantime we are still saving about $150 a month in gas a month. And we can’t wait to start recouping nearly all of our energy expenditures when the panels go in!

I reside in a local community in Clark and with the ideal property conditions to obtain energy from solar panels on my roof and with the anticipation of rising electricity prices in the coming years the answer for me was a “no brainer”. It will cost me nothing and I can “loan” my roof out in exchange for less costly electricity. Anticipated higher electric costs from the local utility to offset the costs that they incurred for Irene and Sandy has made it easier to consider the application of solar.

I am hoping to have my system up and running by the fall of 2013 and to start realizing the lower electrical costs immediately.

Based on the location of our house and condition of the roof and electrical panel, it was determined that
we qualified for solar installation. I am glad that I selected Real Goods Solar for this project and am looking forward to many years of energy savings in the future.

When we bought our home 10 years ago it was really run down! It was indescribably dirty, it had 50 year old windows with no screens, it had no heat source, it had no oven, etc. We wanted to fix up our home as soon as possible but there’s that whole money thing. My husband and I are both laborers. Since money doesn’t grown on trees—unfortunately—we had to start with fixing one thing at a time. First we painted the inside, then we bought a furnace, next came new double-pane windows, etc. Now, almost 10 years later we’ve done all the “necessary” improvements needed to make this a livable and comfortable home. That’s when we started thinking about what we’d LIKE to do verses what we NEEDED to do.

Many years ago I took an “appropriate technology” class at Humboldt State. I’m not scientifically inclined but this class got my mind going! Solar sounded exciting, appropriate and resourceful. It makes sense! When I heard an N.P.R. radio segment about zero-down installation it made me think about solar realistically for our home. Two weeks later when we decided to get a new roof it made me double, triple, quadruple think about solar for our home. I did some phone calls. I did some research. I did some debating with my husband. I did some math……………….. One month later we signed the contract and now I’m looking forward to September when the system is up and running—-thanks to Real Goods, PG&E and the sun!

Sincerely, Dave B.

Just read in the local paper that San Diego Gas & Electric is appearing before the PUC asking for a rate increase, an increase of 8% . I am so happy that I soon will have a solar system – and – by the way, my home is 100% electric.

We anticipated that one of the tradeoffs to the advantages of living in the country was an increase in our utilities, but we did not expect that we would be nearly tripling our electric and heating bills! As an employee at Penny Newman Grain Company in Fresno, California, I was aware that our company was installing a large bank of solar panels at our facility. I was put in contact with a representative from Real Goods Solar, Seth. He led me through the process, designed an attractive and effective system, and followed through to ensure I would receive a solar panel system that will not only reduce, but effectively eliminate my electric bill! The best part is that I will own the system outright in less than 4 years with all panels and parts covered under warranty for the next 25 years! How could I go wrong? I am very happy with my experience, and am excited to have my system installed!!

We have read some of your stories, and look forward to more. Do hope RGS has, or will create a forum for their solar system customers so that we might all stay connected and continue to share our ongoing RGS journeys.

I am always eager to save electricity generated from sources affecting our environment and generating electricity using renewable sources preferably solar. My passion for saving electricity and using solar energy started from my school days after knowing the importance of saving electricity and going green. I have electric bike and would like to make a solar charger for it.

Good luck to you if you are reading this and if you are yet to decide to move forward.

Thank you!

With a family of 6 in our household, including toddlers and infants, keeping the house cool in the summer, and keeping all of the laundry and dishes done uses a lot of electricity. We typically find ourselves being billed in the upper tiers of electricity usage, even in the winters. We are really looking forward to having our Real Goods system installed soon!

After seeing what we can save each year and what the projected cost of electricity would be in the future, we realized that it was time to make this move. We are very much excited on the savings we will realize each year and once our system is installed, we have many friends and relatives that have expressed a true interest.

Thank you Real Goods Solar for opening our eyes.

Photo’s to follow once our system is installed..

What made us finally decide to switch to solar is the long term cost of not going solar. We have already switched all of our lights to LED lights, have high efficiency new appliances and do not use the air conditioner excessively. Despite all of these efforts our electric bill always seems to increase every month even with minimal usage. SDG&E keeps raising their rates and even when we are the most efficient and do not use a lot of electricity, our electric bill is usually several hundred dollars a month. We finally had enough and went solar!

We wrote our contract yesterday and now we feel proud to join the growing community of conscious responsible people.

Thanks Ron!

We now have a 1000 sq-ft of raised beds for vegetables, a rice patty; bees, layer chickens, and we raise over 90 meat birds a year to feed ourselves and a few other good friends.

Sustainable energy has been one of our goals, and now we are in the starting gate of getting that done this spring. Thanks RealGoods! With gratitude– Tim King & Markey Read

We have chosen to increase the efficiency of our home by improving the insulation and closing the gaps in walls and windows. We are beginning new habits of minimizing our usage of power of any kind in our house. We can not control what our neighbors do, but, but we can control ourselves.

Adding solar collection to our house is an effective way to reduce pollution in some other community and be more responsible for the power that we consume. We control a pathway to independence and restoring earth by making this installation.

Anthony

Wayne, NJ

I have tried to save energy at home and work, I bought an electric car and the next step was to move to solar power to augment the conventional power. Once I went through the evaluation process, I felt I could have done this earlier. The fact that the cost has come down and the great incentives from Real Goods Solar for the month of March, makes this the best time to sign up take advantage of the “March Madness”

I evaluated proposals from multiple vendors and finally went with Real Goods Solar as they made the process very simple. They wanted me to go Solar rather than just trying to make revenue from themselves. Their Solar consultant Hamid Jahromi was patient and answered all the questions I had. If he didn’t have an answer, he didn’t make up an answer, he went back to someone who had the answer and came back with the answer.

When we started the process of going solar, we met with several well-recommended solar providers, including Real Goods. When it came time to make a decision on which provider to go with, we did the math on all of the proposals we had received. What we found was shocking. From the amount of kWh we’d receive, to the annual savings, and offset percentages – the numbers in every single proposal had been significantly inflated. All of the providers had overpromised. All of them, that is, except Real Goods. The numbers in Real Goods proposal were 100% accurate. They were honest with us from day one, and have since continued to increase our confidence in them every step of the way. They have made the process of going solar an incredibly easy one. We wholeheartedly recommend Real Goods Solar.

When my husband and I bought our house, we thought the roof would be well-suited for solar panels. I remembered Real Goods, and when I went to their website I was happy to see that they continue to be a leader in solar.

We met with Solar Power Consultant Ryan Pickering, whose knowledge, preparedness and enthusiasm solidified our confidence in choosing Real Goods for our solar panel system. We signed up with Ryan, and it was straightforward and efficient. We especially appreciated that most of the documents could be executed digitally – yet another way in which Real Goods Solar sets a standard for environmental responsibility.

I think this system will be an appropriate addition to my geothermal system. Going green never looked better.

Last March, I began a lease on a BMW Active E, an all electric prototype car. I’m finding this electric car to be amazing – it’s quiet, smooth, vibration-free, sporty and very fun to drive. I’m also saving $250 a month in gasoline expense; however, my electric bill increased by $50-75 per month as I moved into a higher rate tier. In a few months, my wife will be purchasing a Tesla Model S – so all of our cars will be powered by electricity.

Now that I’m expecting my electricity use to increase, I started to look again at solar options. To my surprise, Real Goods is able to install a solar system for much less than I expected. With the pre-pay option, I can make a single payment that will eliminate, or nearly eliminate, all of my electric bills for the next 20 years! With the expected increases in electric rates from the utility company, I may save as much as 65-75%. Outstanding!!

We just signed our contract this afternoon (we’re going with the pre-pay lease option), and are very excited about going solar. We can’t wait to see our electricity bill once the system is up and running. Although we just began the whole ‘solar’ journey, we are confident that we’ve made the right decision and for sure will recommend Real Goods Solar to friends and family.

My husband spoke to a trusted friend about Real Goods Solar and told him about the different options offered. We became very interested and immediately made an appointment with Mike. He was very professional and knowledgeable about the company and the products available for us. He explained everything and gave us many different options that would work for us.

We could not be happier with the decision we’ve made to finally go solar.

A couple things converged to convince us to take the leap. Solar technology has gotten so much better recently, and the plans that solar companies offer now make it much more financially attractive.

Then a more practical event pushed us over the edge: we bought a jacuzzi. Suddenly our electric costs went way up. So the stars were aligned – clean energy remains crucial, costs of going solar are way down, and our electrical consumption was going up. The Real Goods Solar rep was very well informed and seemed genuinely concerned about our particular case.

As we sit in our living room now, we look forward to the installation of the panels on the roof above. The idea of harvesting the sun changes the feeling of the home in a very unique and powerful way.

With everything guaranteed for 20 years, I am glad I waited until this program was offered.

This year we’re giving away a 3-year lease for a smart electric drive (also known as the Smart ForTwo or the smart ED) plus a 1.5 kW solar electric system installed on the winner’s roof to charge it with.

	A 3-Year Smart Electric Drive Lease
	With 68 miles per charge, smart’s electric drive is ideal for urban commuting and errands. It’s compact, easy to park, and can take you around town all day on a single charge. Plus, regenerative braking technology turns your stops into longer battery life.

	A 1.5 kW Home Solar Panel System
	We’ll also install a 1.5 kW solar panel system on your roof free of charge. That’s enough to keep your smart electric drive powered up without paying the utility company. And it’s easy to increase the system size if you decide you want solar for the rest of your house later.

Enter the Smart Electric Sweepstakes today for your chance to win this unique and life-changing prize that proves living sustainably doesn’t mean forfeiting the comforts of modern life. The sweepstakes is open to residents of CA, CO, CT, MA, NJ, and VT age 21+, and runs through September 30, 2013 at 6:00pm PDT.

Dana Hall

Solar has been something we have wanted to do for a while, but the upfront cost made it impossible for us to even play with the idea. When Real Goods was given to us at high recommendation, we were hesitant and believed it was too good to be true.

We set up an initial appointment to see if it was even true to do solar while keeping within our budget. Turns out we could.

My husband and I are continuously recommending Real Goods to all people we know who wish to go with solar but can’t because of budget constraints. Not only did they work with us to utilize our roof in the most efficient way, but they never made us feel pressured as we made our final decision.

Thanks to John our sales associate who explained everything to us so well.

Real Goods Solar did a great job in the face of competition. I worked with 10 different companies, the worst of which were Verengo (Sun Run) and SolarCity

We are very excited to work with Real Goods since they have been around for many years and have a stellar reputation.

We decided to go solar when we found out that we don’t need a huge amount of money up front to make it happen. We are really excited about the possibility of creating our own power, not having to be so dependent on the big power company and decreasing our energy bill.

At first, we looked into PPA’s (power purchase agreements), as this does not have an upfront cost. The problem with the PPA, is that we would have been locked into a 20-year commitment to purchase power that WE are generating. Leasing is also an option but again this didn’t seem the best choice for us as an investment. My wife and I then looked into the purchase options and the first company, the company that our neighbor used, had an outrageous purchase price. We then were referred to RGS by a friend of ours who is in the solar business, in Massachusetts. RGS sent us a proposal and it was very reasonable purchase. In fact when you put more thought into it, people spend $25,000, $30,000 on their cars and there isn’t any return on investment. Purchasing solar is less than that and there is a break-even point and profit point, so clearly from a numbers stand point, it’s an excellent decision.

Now numbers aside, what a great feeling to having knowing that you are generating purely clean, renewable energy, and really reducing our carbon footprint and even our neighbor’s carbon footprint.

So far we have had an excellent experience with RGS and I hope that the excellent customer service continues during the install phase and for years into the future.

(Looks like I can only upload one photo at a time so I will have to submit two of them separately)

Of the three ingredients in the environmental movement’s “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra, “reduce” is most often overlooked. “Reuse” is celebrated by a culture of artists who transform would-be trash into sculptures, mosaics or birdhouses, and by a niche market of products that extend other goods’ lives (for example, a plastic bag drier and a toilet lid sink). “Recycle” is reinforced with public service announcements, bins, collection centers – even its own logo. But the idea of “reduce” in a capitalist, consumer goods-based economy struggles to find mainstream support.

Consumables – When Less is More

Consumables (or “soft goods”) are everywhere. You can’t avoid the inundation, but there are steps you can take to identify the best choices to reduce the impact of your shopping.

• Buying locally-produced goods whenever possible means less fuel and food preservatives are used in transportation and more local jobs are being sustained
• Buying in bulk means more goods for each dollar spent and less disposable packaging materials used
• Using a reusable shopping bag for your groceries means less plastic grocery bag waste floating on the breeze and washing up on beaches, and more control over your own waste footprint

Some companies like Pangea Organics offer 100% post-consumer recycled, biodegradable packaging. Buying from companies like this will immediately reduce your personal waste while encouraging the use of zero-waste packaging throughout the industry.

Non-Consumables – When More is Less

What about non-consumables (or “durable goods”), like that set of patio furniture you’d like for summer barbeques, new sheets for the kids’ beds or a new vacuum cleaner? The barrage of advertising we encounter almost every day often blurs the line between what we want and what we need, and can tempt us to buy things we didn’t even know existed just hours ago.

Part of this is human nature – in many cultures, a person’s possessions directly influence their social standing, whether those possessions are sports cars or chickens. It’s important, though sometimes difficult, to try to look at our personal consumption objectively and ask ourselves:

• Why do I want to purchase this item?
• How do I intend to use it to create welfare for myself or others?
• What do I plan to do with it once its utility is exhausted?

When it is time to make a purchase of larger, durable goods, oftentimes more is less. The old saying “you get what you pay for” usually holds true, especially for big ticket items. Manufacturers that adhere to stricter environmental standards or that have patented technologies and production methods generally have higher operating costs. When you buy from a company like this, you’re usually not paying a higher price for the name and reputation of the company. You’re paying for the responsible way their goods are produced, either because of environmental stewardship or because the item is well-made and will last you decades, not years. A little more money up front usually means less hassle, repairs, and waste in the future, and less stress on the planet.

So if you’re going to buy that set of patio furniture, is it really worth saving $150 on a cheaper plastic set that could begin cracking and breaking down after just a few years instead of going with a 100% recycled, 100% recyclable Poly-Wood or Forest Stewardship Council-certified set with higher quality standards and a longer warranty?

Clutter Consumption

Everyone accumulates possessions over time and the longer you’re settled somewhere, the more stuff you acquire. It’s a product of human nature, and accelerated by the era and society we live in, and it’s usually not worried about until moving day takes much longer than expected because of all that stuff you forgot about!

Well, the Earth is certainly aware of what you’re accumulating because most goods eventually outlive their usefulness and must be discarded, and it’s what these goods are made of and how we choose to dispose of them that have the final say on their impact on the planet.

So remember to follow the three Rs, and remember what order they appear in:

1. Reduce the amount of goods you bring into your home
2. Reuse those goods whenever possible
3. And when the time does come to get rid of things, recycle anything you can

And the next time you come across some of your unnecessary clutter, let it serve as a reminder to consider why we buy what we buy. If we begin screening our consumption habits by asking questions like “Why do I need this?”, “Where and how was it produced?” and “What happens when I no longer need it?” and answering honestly, the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra becomes easier than ever to integrate with our own lives.

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Clean Your Plate

• A government study found that America wastes 27% of the food available for consumption
• An EPA study found that Americans generate 30 million tons of food waste each year and 98% is not composted
• Food and yard waste compose 23% of all U.S. waste and can easily be turned into compost
• Food waste that ends up in landfills is far more likely to be cut off from oxygen and produce methane, a greenhouse gas far more damaging than carbon dioxide

Source: New York Times
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The expression also applies to one of the hottest trends in the automotive industry – electric vehicles, or EVs. Their popularity is booming, and for many behind the trend it’s as much (or more) about protecting the climate and environment as it is about saving money.

Electric vehicles are better for the environment because they don’t emit pollutants like standard combustion engines do when burning gasoline. Instead, an EV’s electric motor is powered by a battery. It creates no emissions and can be recharged over and over again.

But that electric motor is only as clean as the electricity that charged its battery. According to the EPA, less than 9% of the United States’ electricity comes from the kind of clean, renewable sources (wind, hydro, geothermal, solar, and biomass) that would truly make your EV driving pollution-free.

Of these renewable sources, solar electricity is the most accessible and affordable way to charge your EV at home. Solar panels are durable, self-sufficient, and can generate power anywhere the sun shines. At home, solar electricity costs less than utility power, especially over time as utility rates rise. So not only can you charge your EV with PV – you can power your whole house with it and reduce your utility bills, too.

Maybe the thought of acquiring a new EV and a home solar system to get the most out of it (or, more to the point, put the least into it) is giving you pause. Pulling the trigger on both investments could be pricey. But it doesn’t have to be. Both save you big bucks in the long run – electricity is much cheaper than gasoline, and electricity from the sun on your roof is cheaper than from the utility. And homeowners in some areas can get solar installed for $0 down with Real Goods Solar.

Of course, you don’t have to go EV and PV at the same time. But what if you could do both – and be a true smart energy hero – for free? Enter the Real Goods Solar Smart Electric Sweepstakes for a chance to win a 3-year electric drive lease from Smart, plus a 1.5 kW solar electric system to power it!

Of course, we don’t all grow to enjoy everything we disliked as children. But the more you come to know about honeybees’ lot in life, the more you have to respect them. And if you truly admire these hyper-specialized little creatures (and don’t have serious allergies or a phobia of bees), making an investment in the business of bees can be a rewarding, eco-friendly, and even profitable hobby.

Honey from the Local Bee Colony to the Local Economy

One of the most obvious benefits of beekeeping is the honey harvest. Honey is a healthy alternative to cane sugar, and honey produced locally contains trace amounts of local pollen that can boost your immunity to pollen allergies in the same way a flu shot works. Consuming your own bees’ honey is also a satisfying reward for the work you put in raising them, and has all the benefits associated with the locavore movement.

Annual honey yield varies with weather, types and abundance of surrounding plants, and the overall quality of your beekeeping operation, but one colony can easily produce 75-100 pounds of honey in a year.

Another great reason to keep bees is pollination. Honeybees pollinate almost 100 different fruits and vegetables. So whether you’re interested in sustaining your own garden, a local farm, or just the flowers in the neighborhood, keeping a colony of bees is the most natural, direct way to do it.

Save the Honeybees from Colony Collapse Disorder!

In 2006, honeybee populations began falling precipitously in the U.S. and Europe, spawning the term “colony collapse disorder.” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bee colonies in the United States have been declining by an average of over 30% each year since 2006 while falling by only 1.5% each of the previous five years. The exact causes of colony collapse disorder are not fully understood, but it is suspected that pesticides, mites, pathogens, and malnutrition all play a role.

Honeybees are hurting, and need committed caretakers to raise healthy colonies that can produce honey and pollinate the fruits and vegetable we love to eat.

Siting Your Honeybee Colony

Residential beekeeping is outlawed in very few places, but sometimes hive limit restrictions exist. Be sure to find out whether any local ordinances conflict with your plans to start beekeeping. Bees will gather nectar and pollen from flowers well over a mile from their colony. Site your colony in that range and provide a nearby standing water source. That should keep the colony happy, though your neighbors could be a different story. But taking some simple steps can go a long way toward demonstrating that you’re a responsible beekeeper who respects your neighbors’ concerns.

Forcing your bees to take an elevated, steep descent into their hive by positioning a tall fence or shrubs around it will keep them flying above human head level. This also has the benefit of preventing strong winds from disturbing the colony. Orient the hive entrance away from neighbors’ homes if possible.

Swarms are likely to happen at some point, and being prepared for them will demonstrate that you know what you’re doing. When new queen bees are born, they will fight to the death and the survivor becomes the hive’s new queen, while the mother queen and thousands (but not all) of her minions will fly away in search of a new hive. This is the swarm, and you can prepare yourself for it by having a new hive ready for it. Before leaving the hive, the swarm gorges itself on honey, and bees that are full of honey rarely sting.

Being honest and upfront with your immediate neighbors about your plans to start beekeeping is the best way to go. Most people understand the benefits of bees. If they don’t, calmly explaining them and the precautions you’ll be taking should mitigate their concerns. Avoid being sneaky about it and remember that the promise of a jar of fresh, homemade honey to skeptical neighbors often goes a long way.

Learn More About Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a wonderful symbiosis where the beekeeper benefits with a harvest of honey and other hive products (such as wax and pollen) in exchange for providing a safe haven for a bee colony. With the alarming spike in colony collapse disorder, bees need our help more than ever. Those interested in starting a beekeeping operation and discovering the benefits of beekeeping for themselves can do so for $200 – $500. There is no shortage of additional information available online (like the American Beekeepers Federation), in bookstores and in public libraries. Beekeeping books are also available at the Real Goods Store.

Electricity without Solar? Yuk.

A neighbor had solar installed less than a year ago and convinced us to look into it again. After researching companies we talked to two. One was Real Goods Solar. We were impressed that they had been in business for well over 2 decades, so we felt they wouldn’t disappear on us like our roofer!

Our representative, Dave K., (not sure of spelling) the skydiver, was extremely well informed, entertaining and ever so patient with us. His knowledge and passion for solar was inspiring. He never pushed and let us mull the whole process over. After his visit, we decided to check out other options like changing out our heating/air conditioning units, insulation, etc. After speaking to an old time resident of El Cajon with his own heating unit business, he flat out said solar was the best investment. That sold us on our decision..

When Dave checked back in with us after patiently leaving us alone for the 3 weeks while we did more research, we were ready to move ahead. The company had already come out to measure, check for electrical connections before we got cold feet, so we were ready to move forward.

We appreciate the professionalism of Real Goods Solar and are now looking forward to the installation and lower electric bills.

Lucy Rothlisberger

When I found out that my home was now qualified for the HERO Program I had no idea what companies were out that I could use for my panel project. I spoke to the people at HERO and they gave me their website that listen all of the authorized solar panel contractors. There were 47 of them. So I started by sending out an email to all 47 contractors at the same time, the goal was for all of them to see that they had to compete for my business. I make several simple request including have an itemized list of what I would be purchasing, the cost of the items, the cost of labor, and any administration cost they had. Now that might seem silly, yet I know very little about solar panel systems and I wanted to learn. This is a sizable investment of my money and I need to know that I have the right company giving me the right equipment. If you don’t know you ask. Out of all 47 companies some did not take the time to give me a bid. One company only sent an email that said for the money I would get a “1.3 kw system”, that was it. No one except for Real Goods Solar took the time to itemize everything. I knew the manufacturer of the solar panels, their watts, the inverter, the cost of labor, I even knew their admin cost. Their bid was extremely easy to understand. Their price was the best, as I asked in my request, the biggest bang for the buck. Now I still was not done with the bid. I asked Ken from Real Good Solar to redo the bid and this time give me a prepaid lease. I had heard of the prepaid lease, I knew there was something to it and so I had Ken explain it to me so that I could understand it. It turned out that it is the best deal for me since I am a disabled veteran and I no longer file tax returns so there is no federal tax credit I can use. I let the leasing company use the tax credits and in return I get a system that is twice as powerful for the same money. Now I will not have an electric bill and the production for the solar panel system is guaranteed for the next 20 years.

Ken was the salesman for Real Goods Solar and I am very pleased with him. I had some contractors that for a lack of better words just beat on me. Some of the contractors sent salesmen that only knew how to apply extreme pressure to get you to sign a contract. Ken was just the opposite. He made a great presentation without pressure. He took the time to make sure I understood what I was buying., After his presentation I told him that I had other contractors who were showing up and by Friday I would call the contractor who got the bid. Ken never applied any pressure, I think he knew that his system was the best for the money, When Ken showed up with all of the paperwork he was respectful, he took his time to explain everything so that I understood what I was signing.

The next phase of my project has to do with the inspection of my roof, the engineering study to layout the location of each solar panel. When the roof inspection and measurements were done the inspector for Real Goods Solar told me of a little problem on my roof. He explained that this problem would not effect the installing of the solar panel system yet it might be worth me getting the problem looked at. It turned out that when my home was built the builder did not make all of the rafters at the same height across the roof. I had one part of my roof where it was raised. Now today it is not a problem yet it would cause me to have a major repair to my roof in the future. By pointing out this small problem now Real Goods Solar save me thousands in future repairs. It cost me $300 to do the repair today. That is a service that I did not expect and the money I will save you really can not put a price on it. I was still not done with what I was asking Real Goods Solar to do for me. I also wanted to install a solar powered attic vent, I wanted to replace the passive attic. I wanted this done right before they installed my solar panel system. I gave them the model and manufacture of the attic vent and asked them to include that in their request for my building permit. The idea is to save money by not having to pay for two building permits. So they did, they included it in the layout with the solar panels along with the solar powered attic vent on the request for the building permit. Building permits are several hundred dollars and by including all of the information along with the name of the roofing contractor who is going to install it they save me that additional money.

When the engineering study was done it was emailed to me. I had several questions and I emailed the questions to Real Goods. They responded in one day. I have never had any company ever answer a question in one day until now. ITS GREAT!

So when my neighbors ask me about my solar panels I tell them the entire story. I tell them about the HERO Program, Ken from Real Goods Solar, their entire team, the best prices I got, how they took the time to answer all of my questions without pressure, and most importantly the extra steps that Real Goods Solar took and how it saved me thousands in future roof replacement. These are the extra steps that you do not expect it is great when they do it and most importantly they are happy to do it for you. There was no better company out there for this project.

My Name is John, and a year ago I joined an amazing group…”Homeowners”!!! It’s my first home, and I love it!!! Great location I think, and plenty of room, with a great price. Only thing not great is the E-bill. It’s ole T Edison only cared about creating and not the price lol lol. So I, like most here, embarked on path on going Solar. Long story short and after 5 meetings, many offers, a couple of scams, I settled with Real Goods…….and in the end, I don’t feel I settled, I feel I won. Shout out to Ken for making it happen!!!!

John in Winchester CA

I was invited to a Real Goods Solar party by a friend, Dawn, who had bought solar for one of her homes from Real Goods Solar. I was actually in the process of getting solar for my small ranch in Southern California with another company. But, I went to the solar party by Real Goods Solar and continued to learn more about going solar. I had the solar rep, Michael Symmes come out and found that Real Goods Solar is 100% up front on everything they tell you. He went over going solar in detail to make sure I got it. The other company was not telling me exactly what system I was going to purchase and where I would be percentage wise off the grid.

I am pleased to be a part of the Real Goods Solar network and can’t wait till its completely installed.

Thanks so much Real Goods
Diane

Our electric bill has been growing, no matter what we have done to reduce it. We have all flourescent lights, high effeciency heating and cooling, double pane Low E windows, and lots of insulation. The bill is still sky high.

My brother in law got solar a couple years ago, and has been happy with it. A neighbor bought a system from Real Goods two years ago, and it has delivered as promised. His total bill for last year was less than $200.

I spent a couple hours grilling him, and he told me he had numerous solar companies visit, and had chosen Real Goods. Turns out he is a retired electrical engineer.

Taking his cue, I have signed up for a solar system from Real Goods. They have analyzed the roof and are now doing the plans and permits for the installation. Mike, the sales rep was very patient explaining the procedures, and we look forward to getting it hooked up.

Rick

The additional we are installing should fully eliminate the non-baseline PG&E rate KWh, and hopefully become zero with other power savings we can think of. This is our goal with the additional 5900W system.

Real Goods was one of the solar companies that made a proposal. It turned out that there was not much difference in price between the different solar companies. But there was a large difference in competence and enthusiasm. Matt from Real Goods worked with me to come up with the system that best meets our needs. It took several iterations until I was confident that we had the right solution. It was a pleasure to have Matt guide me through that process.

The new system is being installed as I write this. So very soon it will be online, and I have no doubt that it will work and produce as planned, so that all our electricity needs for the foreseeable future will be covered.

After doing some research, we gravitated toward the use of solar energy to help reduce our electric bill. There is something attractive about the solar as it is a clean way to produce energy without causing any pollution! You are simply harnessing energy from the sun, once you have the system installed! And it was amazing to learn how much energy we get from the sun, while millions of miles away from it.

After getting a few quotes we decided to go with Real Goods Solar. They put together a system for us that we could afford. And their consultant ‘Josh Lorey’ was very courteous and helpful in answering our questions. Real Goods Solar also assigned a team of personnel to our project and each one of them was very helpful as we move forward thru this process. Even though our system is not installed yet, we are anxiously waiting to have it fully installed sometime in March and start getting the rewards of clean solar energy while considerably lowering our electricity bill!

But just a few weeks ago everything changed. That’s when a young man representing Real Goods Solar knocked at our door and made a brief presentation that simply sounded, “too good to be true!” Turns out he WAS telling the truth and the truth was excellent news for us, our neighbors and the environment…..solar energy for the average family was now not only affordable but FREE!

Our custom designed system is being installed later this month; no out-of-pocket costs, just a reduced energy bill and a modest payment to Real Goods Solar each month that equals less than our original electric bill. What could be better than that?!

What else can we do? When it came to purchasing a new car, I chose a hybrid, and Laurie also has an energy efficient vehicle. But still, so much of what impacts global warming is electricity…and the use of coal to produce it!!

This is how we figure it….if we can use solar instead of coal produced electricity, we significantly decrease our carbon footprint. It will be a few years before the use of solar panels will equal money in our pocket (approximately 5 years). However, we believe that thinking long term is the only way we will get out of the global warming disaster that we are in. We feel blessed and lucky to be able to afford this and we are grateful for the incentives that exist which make it affordable to us.

We also hope to cause a ripple effect and that others see the panels and the wisdom in this clean way to impact global warming . Hopefully, this will help our whole community. Wouldn’t it be great if Holyoke, MA went down in history as a town that had a minimal carbon footprint because of our harnessing of the sun? We would happily talk to others about investing in solar as a viable and great resource for now and for the future.

No one argues that we are putting huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, the arguments spring from what people believe the impact will be and how much to believe scientific computer models. I have a slightly different view, CO2 in the atmosphere is known to do at least 2 things:

- Carbon Dioxide traps heat, a phenomena that has simply to do with the absorption of heat by CO2 gas and was predicted about a 100 years ago. This does not need a computer model to say that something will happen when we increase the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere.

- Carbon Dioxide in water makes carbonic acid, we are changing the ph of our oceans is another concern. The sea life in our oceans is very delicately balanced, so changing the ph will have some impact, probably dire.

The impacts of global warming and changing of the chemistry of our oceans will have dramatic impacts on where mankind can live and what we will have as food sources. So even if you only think the probability of these outcomes is a small chance, making investments to combat this and still have a good return on investment only make sense.

My response is to ask what can I do that makes the largest impact for the dollars invested.

We started with simple things like converting to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Then we installed a wood stove to decrease our use of non-renewable energy (oil). We then installed a geothermal heat pump which in tandem with our wood stove provides >95% of our heat and hot water. The next target was our old car, that was coming up on some serious maintenance, we replaced the 21 mpg car with a Toyota plug in Prius where we get >50 mpg so now I use approximately 60% less gasoline. My wife’s car will be next.

I had looked at solar electric many years ago and was very discouraged by the high cost and long pay back period, over 20 years payback with some questionable accounting. I was excited when a co-worker told me that he was getting solar panels installed and the costs had decreased and the incentives increased so that now the system would pay back my investment in about 8 years and after that it is pure profit. Where else can you get that certain a performance on an investment?

I am not deluded into thinking these actions by themselves will save our planet, but I’m hoping to lead by example and have been happy to hear others ask about what I’ve done and consider similar changes in their own lives. We have a long way to go and we need to all take some responsibility in finding solutions so that we are not ashamed of what we have done to our children’s world and future.

When we built the house, there was no practical way to hold down one expense, the electrical bill. (Well, of course, we installed efficient appliances and used them in non-wasteful ways. We also put up solar panels to heat our water, but that system was not effective and we had to discontinue it after about five years. But at that time, solar photovoltaic cells were too expensive for people in our income category.)

Now, the equation has changed. For a relatively modest investment, we are able to put up a solar system that will cover almost all, if not all, of our electric bills. The math for this works. It will pay for itself in no more than ten years, and bring big continued savings after that. Meanwhile, it adds value to our house, so even if we don’t last long enough to take advantage of all the energy savings, it makes perfect sense.

We’re at retirement age (although we’ll probably never retire from the fun and spiritually rewarding jobs that we take on). so now, more than ever, the best financial investments we can make are the ones that will let us to continue living in comfort at low cost. We already have the low-maintenance, energy-efficient house we moved into 30 years ago, and now we will also be protecting ourselves from electric bills, which would otherwise continue to rise. And we feel really good about using the sun, rather than coal or nuclear energy. We’re doing something good for the environment while saving money. There’s no down side to this investment.

Installation of our solar panels is scheduled to begin this week. We are eager, and excited.

Yours Dana Taplin

P.s. Looking forward to the install.
pps 8.82 kilowatt system, 2-3 years getting a plug in car.

I have been looking at solar systems for years and have gotten referrals from people in the fields.

I chose Real Goods and  Sun Power because they were the only company to fully explain their system, did exhaustive analysis of my house, were fair with their offer, and I believe are a company who will be here for the long term. That is significantly important when making a 20 year commitment.

Dr. Lewis Morrison

Founder and chairman of the Jewish Environmental Network

So when the time came to draw up the plans for the remodel solar was on top of the list of environmental considerations. After some analysis and plenty debate we decided to install a PV Solar system compared to a Hot Water Solar system. The PV system was favorable since we also decided to install a Electric Heat-Pump Waterheater. Between basic electric consumption and the added heat-pump it made sense to install a PV system. We look forward to generate our own renewable electricity and go off the grid (btw, many thanks to ‘the grid’ to support Residential Solar installations through feed-in and load balancing – couldn’t do it without those).

In selecting a Solar System provider we met with at least 5 different vendors. What impressed us about Real Good Solar was the quality and expertise during the system design phase. We analyzed the cost/benefit of different panel types based on their efficiency and cost, and got expert advice from our Rep regarding the appropriate choice of inverters to maximize the net production from our panels. Our Real Good Solar Rep was also very knowledgeable about the zoning rules and available rebate schemes in Palo Alto. The system is being installed this January and we can’t wait to move back into our house and enjoy what we know will be a Real Good Solar system.

Lars

With so much more space and all of the amenities in our back yard our electricity usage skyrocketed. We needed a way to help to control our expenses while still being able to enjoy our home. After quite a bit of research, we decided to have our solar system installed by Real Goods Solar. Our new ground mounted system will be installed in March 2013…just in time for the expensive summer season. We are looking forward to seeing the lower electric bills. We can now control our electric expenses and continue to live the life we intended when we purchased the new home.

We’re excited about getting the panels put on, not exactly happy that they’ll be in the front of the house but happy that it’ll be saving us money.

The Real Goods Solar sales representative answered all of my solar related questions and was extremely patient with me and my wife. He took his time and I never had the feeling of being rushed into something that was really not for me. Since his visit a couple of months ago my local power company has already anounced a proposed 2% increase in electric rates. I’m sure my wife and I made a wise choice in going solar.

Installing solar system has been in our mind for a while but with the busy work schedules and 2 small kids we didn’t have time to do research and make it an action item. One day we received our PG&E bill and it reached historical high since we moved into the house, we then decided that it’s time to see how feasible it is to install solar system.

We did some searching online and set up meetings with representatives from various solar companies. Along the way we got to know different packages with different options here and there. Our representative Matt from Real Goods gave us a very thorough presentation and answered all our questions in detail. He wasn’t pushy at all which made us feel comfortable. At the end, although the package from Real Goods was not the most competitive one financially, we still decided to go with Real Goods.

Now the panels were completed and they look very beautiful on the roof. We are looking forward to seeing the meter going backwards!

The idea of renewable energy has always appealed to me, but whenever crunching the numbers, the cost of going green did not seem to make sense considering our long-term homestead horizon. Then one day I heard about Power Purchase Agreements the concept of which was appealing to me and also addressing the long terms concerns in that I can’t see why any successive owner of our home wouldn’t be interested in paying less for electricity.

As I see it my risk factors are that price of electricity will go down or that the sun will stop shining in Napa. Sounds like a bet I am willing to take. Can’t wait for my future gadgets to be powered by the sun.

Two years ago we invested in a solar hot water system that was installed on one of the roofs. The hot water system worked out so well that we decided it was time to look into installing solar panels to generate electricity.

We found out that Real Goods Solar had an office in our town and asked them to put together a proposal for us. They were able to get us one within a week and we decided to go forward with the project. We hope to have a fully operational 21st century energy efficient home by May.

I spoke with Mohr Power, the original solar system installer, Solar City and Real Goods Solar about my idea. My home’s location, combined with the smaller size of the system installation desired failed to generate much interest from Solar City and Mohr Power. Mike Symmes from Real Goods Solar proved to be interested. We discussed a number of different configurations that met my general project scope with the existing conditions and fit within a reasonable payback budget.

With the back of our house facing southwest with few obstructions, I knew we had the potential to install solar, but I was still concerned with how the panels would affect the appearance of our home, and the prices quoted by other companies were out of reach. We were impressed with the very knowledgeable salesperson who explained the product, options and process very clearly. The panels are very unobtrusive, and the prepaid power purchase structure gave us a very attractive price for a guaranteed amount of power each year. We wanted to do business with a company that was a true believer in the solar movement, and had ridden the ups and downs over the long haul. The free energy audit, our planned package of energy efficiency measures, and the 7 kilowatt PV system installed by Real Goods will substantially reduce our household’s impact on the environment while saving us thousands of dollars a year for the next two decades and beyond.

In conclusion, we would recommend Real Goods Solar. They have been easy to deal with and offer an outstanding product for a good value.

In a few days the system will get installed. And once it is online, I expect it to offset all our electricity cost, so that we only pay the net connection charges to PG&E.

2013 is already ushering in some good news for those interested in home solar in Rhode Island.

Previously available only to commercial and affordable housing solar PV projects, grant money from the state’s Renewable Energy Fund (REF) is now available for Rhode Island home solar installations as well.

Real Goods Solar Rhode Island sales rep Ben Swanson calls the newly-allocated funds the “broadest and most inclusive incentive program Rhode Island has offered in many years,” and says, “the economics have never been better for homeowners.”

Homeowners wishing to capitalize on the REF solar grant must schedule or complete a home energy audit before applying. Then there’s the catch – to be eligible for the grant, applications must be submitted in groups of between 3 and 20. This wrinkle makes it difficult for homeowners to acquire this incentive independently, but licensed Rhode Island solar companies like Real Goods Solar can pool their customers to qualify them for the funds.

The confounding nature of applying for this and other Rhode Island solar incentives is one reason among many that going solar with us is simpler, safer, and smarter than attempting to do it yourself. We apply for and process all your solar rebates for you!

As with most solar incentives, the REF grant money will be exhausted soon, and the group application stipulation makes this even more time-sensitive.

We are happy with our choice of going solar and relying on Real Good Solar to professionally handle our installation. Looking forward to the actual installation and the end of our sole reliance on the local electric company

We have two sets of friends who have gone solar,and both recommended Real Goods. Since both men are engineers, and one’s wife is a lawyer, we knew the research had already been well done. So when we were invited by one of them to a “Going Solar Party” in our neighborhood a few months ago, we went already interested and requested a proposal.

Our Real Goods representative, Robert Ford, was knowledgeable and answered all our questions without pressure, and gave us time to make our decision on which financing plan would be best for us.

We were impressed that we could get involved with $0 down and save about $35-40 a month immediately, so we signed the contract and are eagerly awaiting construction.

Jim & Becky
Lakewood, Colorado

I contacted them and ended up meeting with Dave Kingery from RGS to get an idea of what could be done. He patiently and enthusiastically explained the various options and considerations that I should factor into a home system. He was straightforward and knowledgeable, and at no point did I feel like he was trying to put on a hard sell. He also talked about his background in solar and his current pursuit of designing an off-grid home for himself.

Three days later he came back with a system recommendation that was conservative, but could be easily expanded in the future (at the same $/kw). It was a solution that made sense for me, and was clearly not designed to sell the biggest system they could get away with. Once I agreed to move forward, I immediately received followup information by email and by phone from Megan Keene, who will act as project coordinator. I’ve since had a site inspection from one of their engineers, Sam, to finalize all the details, and everything went smoothly.

I couldn’t be happier with the enthusiasm, professionalism, and downright friendliness from everyone at Real Goods Solar. I feel like I’m in reliable hands from an organization that clearly cares about what it does, and I’d recommend them highly to anyone looking to go down this path.

The system installation has not occurred to date and is planned to occur during the spring of this year. The system design was recently completed and the permitting process is currently underway. Based on my dealings to date with RGS, I’m sure the installation will also go smoothly. We are very excited about the installation and look forward to reducing our electricity cost.