Check out solar power

<p>Just like you probably have, I bring reusable shopping bags to Petaluma Market or Whole Foods. I also walk or carpool whenever possible.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>We have taken simple steps to make our home environmentally friendly. Compared with a standard home, our home uses less energy, water and natural resources. We have energy-efficient appliances, properly sealed, double-paned windows and water-saving toilets and faucets. We recently replaced our light bulbs with energy-saving incandescent lights. I can say confidently, that we care about our carbon footprint and we are doing our best to take steps toward “going green.” </p><p>The biggest call to action though, was when our PG&E bill arrived last month. I gasped at what I considered an incredibly high electric bill — higher than the previous year, which was higher than the bill the year before that. We discovered that PG&E has raised electric rates 6.7 percent per year over the past 30 years! This was enough for us to get into action and seriously consider installing solar panels on our home. We could see that switching to solar would help insulate us from those ever-increasing electric rates.</p><p>With our current economic recession and the green movement, more people are taking a closer look at ways to save money and save energy. Solar is no longer reserved for heating swimming pools. Solar power is easy to have installed, and easier on the pocketbook than you could possibly imagine. Solar can provide you and the environment with outstanding long-term benefits. </p><p>Since solar power is fairly new to us, we checked out Sunlogicsolar.com and contacted John Kneuppel for a one-on-one consultation.</p><p>Did you know that within three to five years the energy input to manufacture a solar-power system can be recovered and the system is guaranteed to produce power for 25 years? Did you know both state and federal governments offer significant rebates and credits for solar-power systems? </p><p>Solar is more affordable than ever. The average net cost for a solar system starts at $10,000. With the rebates and incentives, you can save about 40 percent on installation. What about the return on investment? When we talked to John Kneuppel, he told us that our financial return could vary based upon how much energy we use. This is because PG&E charges different rates based upon how much electricity is used. This is called the tiered-rate schedule. Rates vary from .11 cents per-kilowatt-hour to .49 cents per-kilowatt-hour, and the more you use, the more you are charged. </p><p>Large electrical users will have more financial benefits (relief) if they invest in solar, as it offsets the more expensive electricity of the second and third tiers.</p><p>The city of Petaluma was easy to work with in obtaining our solar permits. In fact, the city's energy goals are: “To develop a program to provide innovative, low-interest financing for energy efficiency and renewable-energy projects. For example, allow property owners to pay for energy-efficiency improvements and solar system installation through long-term assessments on individual property tax bills.”</p><p>This is precisely what can be done. You can finance solar through voluntary assessment repaid through your property taxes. Most solar companies will provide you the details.</p><p>Once you've decided on a solar company, you will find that you have two large rebates coming. The first is the state's, which is “first-come, first-served,” because the funds are limited. This particular rebate should encourage you to get going green sooner rather than later.</p><p>The second rebate is the federal credit, which comes in the form of a tax credit on your federal income tax. This can be more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed.</p><p>Our solar system, mounted on poles, was installed and up-and-running in less than one week! We are, of course, very eager to see the results of our investment on our next PG&E bill. And what's really a lot of fun is to turn our computer on and watch as it now monitors our usage and our solar intake hour-by-hour. John Kneuppel installed a system for his parents and their electric bill from PG&E last month was $3.</p><p>There are many things we can all do to “go green.” However, with solar panels you see immediate, first-hand results. We all use electricity and we all pay for it. But one of the true joys you have after you've installed a solar system is to actually see your PG&E meter's hands turning backwards!</p><p>(Peg King is with Coldwell Banker. She can be reached at 769-4328)</p>