Direct Energy Solar

May 2014

The Mountains have always been interested in solar energy, but years ago, when they looked into going solar the technology wasnt there. Then when it was, the costs were way too high. Last year, when the Pennsylvania utility rate caps came off and they saw their electricity rate increase 32%, the Mountains looked again. They moved quickly when they learned about the Pennsylvania state rebate program to take advantage of the grant before the rebate amount declined. Together with the Solar Renewable Energy Credits and the now cap-free Federal tax credit, they figure their solar investment will payback within 3 - 4 years. Brian found Direct Energy Solar on a site listing solar companies, and he was impressed by its track record and large number of home installations. The company website blew me away. It explained everything and even had a calculator with all the incentives, said Brian. I got four estimates and it came down to price and responsiveness, and Direct Energy Solar was the one. With Direct Energy Solar everything, even the paperwork, was included in the price; other companies had extras I had to pay for. And if I had questions, Direct Energy Solar got back to me right away; others, when I asked a question, didnt get back to me for days. Brian looks at his system performance monitor every day, as does his neighbor, Steve, who also used Direct Energy Solar to install a system on his home. We call each other every day to see how much energy we each produced, explains Brian. Now I can afford to keep some of our luxuries because we got solar. It is definitely going to make it less painful to use our hot tub in the winter. The Mountains first electric bill with solar showed zero usage and included only an $8.45 service charge; and even better, with their investment in solar, they are now insulated from all future utility rate increases. Here we are generating our own electricity and now who cares how high the electric rates go up, say Brian. http://bit.ly/1IDmXzy

Hummelstown, PA

May 2014

When the Sheffields first considered getting solar panels 15 years ago: "it was a way to be environmentally conscious and to keep the power company from taking advantage of us," said David. "But the cost of panels was prohibitive at the time." David kept tabs on the costs of residential solar panels over the years, and last year, when the Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program came into being, David made his move. "The incentives are very good right now. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Grant covered $22,500 of my system; and with the SRECs and Federal Tax Credits, my system (which provides almost 100% of my electrical power), will pay for itself in only five years." David found Direct Energy Solar through a neighbor who had just contracted with Direct Energy Solar to install a solar panel system on his home. "After checking out Direct Energy Solars impressive website and going through their solar calculator to get an estimate, it was a no-brainer", said David. "I met with Direct Energy Solar and I was very impressed by their knowledge and by the fact that they handle everything all the paperwork and permits." "My last electricity bill was $8.75. I didnt expect to see my electricity costs drop so quickly! My neighbors are wide-eyed when they hear about my electric bill. After only seven weeks of being solar, we had a 58kWh surplus. And with the sunny weather were having, it will only get better!" "I tell people that if theyre going to make the decision to go solar, they should do it now," said David. "The Pennsylvania grant money wont be there forever. Nows the time to do it, and to start reaping the savings. The sooner you do it, the better off youll be."

Carlisle, PA

Apr 2014

For the Wilsons it was the investment potential that first sold them on going solar, the green aspects came second. When Amy and John were looking for an investment opportunity, John heard a piece on NPR about solar in Germany. It was the spark that got us thinking about investing in something for us, said John. Initially, we thought solar wasnt viable financially, but Amy took it as a challenge and found all the available incentives through online research. We crunched the numbers and realized it would work. Amy adds, You sink the money upfront and get monthly payments just like bonds, but you are not in a position to lose the money. Once the Wilsons made the decision to go solar, they still had another hurdle to overcome. The family home is in a heavily wooded area and the initial evaluation of their site solar potential was not favorable. John, an engineer, got out his calculator and Google Maps and identified that the shading issue was actually concentrated in two small areas. Direct Energy Solar confirmed Johns analysis. Amy found a cost effective and environmental conscious way to remove the trees in the areas and their dream of going solar became a reality. Direct Energy Solar stood out from the other installers. Others were cagey about what it costs and we needed to understand what the financial terms were, said John. The Direct Energy Solar calculator shows you immediately. You dont have to wait for a sales call to get hard numbers. With Direct Energy Solar we received a premium experience all around. Their response to our questions was immediate and personal, we liked that they handled everything and they use microinverters. The install went a lot faster than we expected said John. This project has made us greener because we are generating a chunk of our energy ourselves. It is a lot of fun to look at all the data on our performance monitor. You can almost see the sun rising, said Amy. When Johns mom asked me if we were going to put our solar panels on the back of our home, I told her I want it on the front so everyone can see it.

Woodbridge, VA

Sep 2013

Avrum and Sheila first looked into solar panels when Avrum started to think about retirement. ???We were looking for ways to manage our future living costs. Electricity costs are a big budget item, and the prices fluctuate a lot. Solar panels basically lock in your electricity rates for decades, because you???re making your own power at a fixed cost,??? said Avrum. Sheila saw other, longer-lasting benefits: ???We have two children, and hopefully soon, some grandchildren and we want to feel good about the world we???re leaving behind for them,??? said Sheila. ???We recycle and turn off appliances when we???re not using them and such, but we wanted to do something that made a big difference. When I see those solar panels on our roof, I feel we???ve made a big statement to our kids about the importance of doing your part for the planet and the next generation.??? Avrum???s biggest surprise was discovering that his monthly energy savings more than covered the cost to service the home equity loan he took out to finance their system. ???Our solar panels were cash-flow positive from day one,??? said Avrum. ???It???s like we???re getting our electricity for free!??? http://bit.ly/1IDledJ

Baltimore, MD

Jul 2013

When Rhonda was about 10 years old, she read an article in Ranger Rick magazine about cool things to look forward to in the future. One of them was solar energy. And so was born a desire for solar panels that was finally fulfilled when Direct Energy Solar put panels on her home last October. "I remember nagging my parents about getting solar panels, said Rhonda. But at the time, it was very expensive. And, there were not a lot of sunny days in Michigan, where I grew up. Years passed, and Rhonda became an electrical engineer, and more enamored of solar than ever, especially when she learned how simply and elegantly it all worked. But with the high costs, panels still remained out of reach. Finally, a few months ago, Rhonda saw that her wait was over: prices had come down, there were tax breaks (Federal rebates and generous Virginia grants) and the payback was good. I told my husband that I wanted solar panels as my Christmas, anniversary and birthday presents. It was what I wanted. The Eldridges did a web search for solar installers and had six companies come to their home for site visits and to provide estimates. We chose Direct Energy Solar for two reasons, said Rhonda. One was that they were the only ones who used microinverters, which are more efficient in creating energy, and the other was that they were straightforward and honest they didnt oversell or undersell. It was very comfortable dealing with them. The Eldridges were very impressed with the installation process. Direct Energy Solar really had it together, said Rhonda. They were very professional and they clearly knew what they were doing. There were no issues. And, they were very nice people. Rhondas husband, Noel, is equally enthusiastic about being solar, but for different reasons. Hes less tree-hugging than I am, said Rhonda. Hes much more into the data and the statistics. He checks the performance monitor every day. He has sent the link to all his friends. Apparently, everyone needs to know how much power the Eldridges system is producing! Rhonda is just happy to have a solar home, finally. http://bit.ly/1DgDnHA

Vienna, VA

Oct 2012

I first became interested in installing solar panels three years ago when I toured a home in Takoma Park that was powered by them, says Rochelle. It was amazing to see an electric meter running backward, selling power back to the power company. At that time, the cost of the panels was prohibitive for Rochelle and her family due to fewer incentives offered by local and federal governments, so they shelved the idea but kept hoping for changes in technology that would reduce the costs. In the meantime, Rochelles daughter became involved with Power Shift, a student based climate activist group. Rochelle and her husband began hosting young people from around the country who came to Capitol Hill on a yearly basis to make their case for bold, comprehensive, and immediate federal climate action. These dedicated, motivated students willing to travel long distances and sleep on the floor, made Rochelle even more motivated to make important changes in their energy consumption. Its great having a big house to invite these kids to, but it really made me uncomfortably aware of my carbon stamp. When Rochelle learned more about the tax incentives available, solar started looking possible. Rochelle met with three different solar companies. Direct Energy Solar quickly became the obvious choice due to their professionalism, their excellent and current knowledge of the field, and their commitment to service, not just the sale. They were able to patiently and thoroughly answer all of our questions, making technical concepts very clear. Their evaluation of our roof was more thorough and logical than anyone elses, but their flexibility when it came to meeting our specific needs was the tipping point for us. It was also very important for us to choose a company that was just as committed to the environment as I was. Another reason we chose Direct Energy Solar is that they are the largest aggregator of SRECs in the area and could therefore give us the best payback. Further, Rochelle says, Direct Energy Solar is unparalleled at making this experience smooth and headache free. They responded to all my questions immediately, filled out all the paperwork and permitting, scheduled the installation and showed up when they said they would. The installation was done quickly and professionally. The installers were committed to the company and to what they were doing for the environment. All in all it was a very enjoyable experience. Going solar makes me feel good. It has made me even more aware of the direct impact I can make by turning off the computer every night and hanging out my laundry. Now I can actually see the difference Im making just by looking at the cool computer model of my system. There is too much bad news when it comes to our planet and it can get me down, but getting solar panels make me feel like I am making a bigger difference, and if I can get all my neighbors to get them too, then my example will have even greater reach. What are you waiting for? http://bit.ly/1IDm3mN

Silver Spring, MD

Aug 2012

Wayne looked into getting solar panels five or 10 years ago but found it to be cost-prohibitive. Then, he says, he heard a commercial on the radio that was a turning point in his decision to go solar. It was not only a matter of dollars. Wayne very much supports the collective effort of using energy efficiently and furthering independence from foreign oil. Ultimately, it's free money and free energy, he believes. "If a lot of us did this, what a big difference we all could make." "This was my project," Wayne says. "I had to sell my wife a bit on the idea. She had some aesthetic concerns, and she was also concerned about the cost. I convinced her we could make it back in the long run. To me, solar panels are a complete no-brainer." A solar company's radio ad piqued Wayne's interest, but when he contacted them, the representative was skeptical that the company could make solar work for his house. "Then I approached Direct Energy Solar," he says. "When they came out and looked at my roof they assured me we could do it. They met with both my wife and me at a convenient time and answered all of our questions." Direct Energy Solar uses Enphase microinverters in all their systems which enables greater design flexibility and often results in bigger and more efficient solar systems in the same available roof space. "I really appreciated how helpful and available my salesperson was. He was very patient and knowledgeable, and then he handed the baton to my project lead. I like the turnkey approach soup to nuts. Busy people really appreciate it." Wayne started making solar energy in August, and his expectation is that he will make $4,000 a year. "I plan to use a spreadsheet to track my production and follow up on my electricity savings and SRECs," he says. "Every time I pull into my driveway and see my solar panels, I am proud." http://bit.ly/1DgCG0K

Woburn, MA

Jun 2011

Veterinarians Julie Holland and Gary Kubala take care of cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, pocket pets, reptiles and birds in the 100-year-old barn they purchased for their practice. While they briefly looked into solar when they first purchased the building, it wasnt until Julies father Don Lindsey heard about the state solar grant program that they realized solar power was an affordable option. They quickly appointed Don their solar project manager. Don started with a four-page list of the states approved solar installers and selected five at random to contact for more information. He checked out the companies with the Better Business Bureau and made a spreadsheet to capture all of the proposal details to share with Gary and Julie. The folks we worked with at Direct Energy Solar were very professional. They didnt run down any other company, they just sold their company as a better situation for us, says Don. If you have a good product, you just sell it on the merits. Several companies mentioned the shadow on our roof created by the power lines and how it would cut down the energy production, continues Don. Direct Energy Solar uses microinverters, so when the shadow went across a panel it was the only one that was affected in the solar array. They also had a better warranty and offered U.S.-made panels, which was important to us. Initially, the system we went with was not the least expensive system, but you do get what you pay for, says Don. Out of the blue, Direct Energy Solars incentives department let us know about a possible USDA grant that we might be eligible for. They handled the application for us and helped us get an extra $20,000 to offset the cost of our system. Don was particularly appreciative of the installation teams efforts, noting that the July weather gave the barn a hot tin roof. The installers did a great job. They did not disturb anybody and we were able to keep the vet hospital open the whole time they were here, says Don. They knew what they were doing, they came up and did it, and then they were done. The hospital, whose system is easily visible as cars drive by, has become a destination for others in the community interested in solar. We think it is good stewardship to use as much renewable energy as possible, says Julie. Clients that come into the vet hospital ask about the system frequently and we show them the savings and talk to them about the benefits of solar energy. http://bit.ly/1DgCqyT

Littlestown, PA

Aug 2008

Carolyn and Cheryl are so green, their live-work home was named Philadelphia's first LEED Gold-Certified within the city limits, in the Fishtown neighborhood. "We try to live as green a lifestyle as possible," Carolyn says. "It was only sensible to add solar to optimize our energy conservation." The challenge was finding a place to put their solar panels. "We couldn't put panels on the roof, because it's a living space, a green roof technically, that earns us storm water credit," says Cheryl. Both women researched homes using panels with a vertical orientation in Europe and at the Solar Decathlon. "Direct Energy Solar was the only company we could trust to do the work," Carolyn says. "Direct Energy Solar's in-house engineers use Enphase microinverters the only way to go with this type of install. Two other companies came out, but weren't sure how to handle the situation. They clearly didn't have the capabilities to do the job." Panel location was not the only challenge. Cheryl and Carolyn live above a well-known bakery that could not risk disruption during the installation. "Direct Energy Solar coordinated with the bakery so it could remain open the whole time," the two are pleased to say. "It was a big production," Cheryl added, "and it was the only construction I've ever done that went smoothly once it started. Everyone who came from Direct Energy Solar was very professional. They were on-time and they always called in advance." At the end of the day, their solar panels are generating about 80% of the electricity usage in the couple's home. They report paying anywhere from $0 to $42, the highest monthly bill they've seen ($110 was the record low before). "It's cool to see how much energy we are using and then how much solar we are producing to offset that," Cheryl says. "Carolyn loves to run upstairs to look at the Enphase box to see what we have produced." "I log in and look at it online every day," Carolyn admits. "It's like a game how to make more money. I keep trying to reduce the kilowatts so that, in the end, we are paying nothing for everything. The investment has already paid for itself and it has been less than two years." "One block away there is another Direct Energy Solar home," Carolyn says. "You started a trend. They get better sunlight in the summer and we get better sunlight in the winter. I track them online, too." They both say they like it so much, they are now planning to add solar panels to their hearing aid office an "energy hog" they can't bear after getting accustomed to such a high home energy savings. Direct Energy Solar is installing the project. http://bit.ly/1DU7DYS

Philadelphia, PA