Solar Events, News & Solar Classes
The following classes, news and events are offered so you can learn more about solar energy systems.
2012 Solar Classes & Events
Free Horizon Solar Classes in Silicon Valley
Wondering how solar energy systems work and what they cost?
Horizon Energy Systems staff, Craig Rush offers solar energy informational classes designed to educate interested persons about residential solar energy (photovoltaics or PV, solar pool heating and solar hot water). All classes are free and open to the public. Check out the following classes to see how solar energy may benefit you. Generally these classes cover the following topics:
• Solar PV installation issues - mounting options to prevent roof leaks for various roof types, wind loading, aesthetics, wiring, PV system design, newer technologies such as microinverters, permitting fees and issues, etc.
• Solar technologies - crystalline and thin film, Horizon Energy installs both.
• How billing works with solar power. This is called net energy metering by the utility - time-of-use rates "banking" solar credits at retail rates, true up bill at year end, rate schedules compared, historical utility electric rates.
• PV performance issues - including impact of shade, panel tilts, summer vs. winter output, efficiency, loss factors, reliability, degradation, etc.
• Economic benefits to the homeowner - system payback, life cycle savings, increase in home value, PV system appreciation/depreciation, cash flow of loan payments to finance solar power compared to utility bill, return on investment, etc.
• Environmental benefits
• Utility Rebates, Federal income tax credits.
• Costs and benefits.
• PV system sizing issues.
• Solar pool heating - including plastic vs. metal solar panels, sizing, costs, etc.
• System operation and maintenance issues - solar panel cleaning, monitoring, longevity of components.
• Plenty of time allocated to Q & A
NOTE: pre-registration with instructor for all solar classes is required.
Menlo Park Chamber Solar Classes with Craig Rush
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce
1100 Merrill St. Menlo Park, CA 94025 (Menlo Train Station)
Tue. 9/18 - 6-730pm
Wed. 10/24 - 6-730pm
RSVP with Craig Rush: Craig@gosolarnow.com or 650-245-0892
Monthly Solar Classes with Craig Rush
Fremont Chamber of Commerce (Map)
39488 Stevenson Place, Ste. 100
Fremont, CA 94539
Thursday, Nov. 1 5-7pm
Thursday, Dec. 6 5-7pm
SunPower Video
View a fun video about SunPower Solar products
Google Solar Video Presentation
Horizon Energy employee and customer speak at a Google Tech Talk on solar power August 3, 2007.
View the hour long talk.
2010 & 2011: Sierra Club Commercial Solar Permit Fee Studies Expanded to Northern and Southern California
In Oct. 2010, the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter) published a report that compares what all 51 municipalities in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties in California charge for a permit to install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on commercial roofs. This report is based on a survey that Kurt Newick conducted in the summer of 2010.
In late 2010 and 2011, the Sierra Club (multiple chapters) published many reports focusing on commercial and residential PV permit fees for all municipalities in the following counties: Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, Orange, Placer, Sacramento, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Solano, Sonoma, Ventura and Yolo that compares what each municipality in these counties charge for a commercial PV permit and some of the studies include info on residential PV permit fees too.
All these reports (with recommendations on PV permit fee calculation methodologies for cost recovery) are available at: www.SolarPermitFees.org.
View web page of over 100 news articles on the Sierra Club solar permit fee campaign.
June 2009: Residential Solar Permit Fee Study Extended to Southern California
In June 2009, the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter partnering with Angeles Chapter) published a report that compares what 250 municipalities in Southern California charge for a permit to install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on residential roofs. This report is based on a survey that Sierra Club volunteers conducted between 2/1/09 and 4/13/09. Municipalities in the following counties were surveyed: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The purpose of the report and related campaign is to persuade municipalities to reduce PV permit fee levels to $324 or less and issue PV permits promptly (same day is ideal).
Read: a Sierra Club report (1 MB pdf) of residential solar permit fees in Southern California.
Read: a Sierra Club news release announcing the Southern California PV permit report and media campaign.
Sierra Club Launches Campaign to Encourage Cities in Silicon Valley to Lower Solar Permit Fees for Non-residential Systems. View news release
Peninsula solar permit fees vary widely, By Julia Scott, San Mateo County Times
Posted: 05/17/2009 03:46:21 PM PDT, Updated: 05/18/2009 06:42:48 AM PDT
View article
Too many cities are overcharging for solar energy installation
Mercury News Editorial Posted: 05/03/2009 08:00:00 PM PDT
View article
Cities’ charges for solar ripped
PERMITS CALLED TOO COSTLY FOR CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES
By Paul Rogers, Mercury News, posted: 04/27/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT
View article
Reducing Local Barriers to the Installation of Solar Power Systems
Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter web site:
http://lomaprietaglobalwarming.sierraclub.org/solar.php
Solar Information
Photovoltaic Permit Standards Document
This 4 page document was updated in July 2010 to include a new standard wiring diagram, from the Solar American Board of Codes and Standards Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems. This guideline was originally approved in November 2008 by the Tri Chapter Uniform Code Committee of the International Code Council (an organization of building officials) and established a uniform set of residential photovoltaic permit submittal standards. It is up to each solar installer and local jurisdiction to use this. This guideline will promote uniformity of solar photovoltaic plans in our region and help expedite permit issuance, (same day, over the counter) reducing costs and helping to insure that PV permit submittals are complete and accurate.
Permit Standards.pdf
Is Solar Energy Right for Me?
by Craig Rush
San Mateo Daily Journal
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=110913&eddate=05/28/2009
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