The following class schedules and events and are provided to assist you in learning about solar energy systems.
Classes & Presentations
Is Solar Electricity or Solar Hot Water right for you?
• Wonding how it works and what it costs?
• Hear about rebates, tax credits and benefits.
• Learn about mature state of the art crystalline solar electric and inverter technologies.
Check out the following classes to learn how solar power may benefit you!
Solar Electric & Solar Hot Water Presentation
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Solar Electricity
1:15-2:45 p.m.
Solar Hot Water 2:45-3:15
FREE and Open to the Public.
Saratoga Library
13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
Corner of Fruitvale and Saratoga Avenue
Kurt Newick presents information on environmental benefits, system sizing, how to select a solar contractor and an overview of system installation issues. Also presented will be solar financial aspects including life cycle payback, home value increase, solar rebates and tax credits and return on investment.
Kurt, or another technical expert on Solar Hot Water, will provide an overview of solar thermal systems and information on the new solar hot water rebate program for PG&E customers, which started in May 2010.
For detailed information on Solar related education presentations by PG&E go to www.pge.com/solareducation
You may reach Kurt at Kurt@gosolarnow.com or at 408-761-2029.
Electric Vehicle Rally at Palo Alto High School
Saturday, September 25, 2010
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
FREE and Open to the Public.
Meet Craig Rush at the Horizon Energy Systems booth and learn how solar energy and electric vehicles can benefit you.
Dispel the myth of the solar powered vehicle.
How many solar panels do you need to charge your new electric car?
Why everyones' second car should be electric.
Learn about EV's and take a ride in one.
Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Electric Vehicle club. http://www.eaasv.org/rally.html/
Contact Craig Rush at Craig@gosolarnow.com or at 650-245-0892
Solar Electric & Solar Hot Water Presentation
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
FREE and Open to the Public.
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce
1100 Merrill Street (at the Caltrain Station)
6:30-8:30 pm
Learn about solar electric, solar pool heating and solar hot water applications for your home. Craig Rush will cover all aspects of solar energy and how it reduces your PGE bill. Discussion will include technical, and financial aspects of solar, including the billing cycle. There will be plenty of time to answer all your solar questions. RSVP encouraged but not required.
Contact Craig Rush at Craig@gosolarnow.com or at 650-245-0892
Solar Electric & Solar Hot Water Presentation
Thursday, November 11, 2010
FREE and Open to the Public.
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce
1100 Merrill Street (at the Caltrain Station)
6:30-8:30 pm
Learn about solar electric, solar pool heating and solar hot water applications for your home. Craig Rush will cover all aspects of solar energy and how it reduces your PGE bill. Discussion will include technical, and financial aspects of solar, including the billing cycle. There will be plenty of time to answer all your solar questions. RSVP encouraged but not required.
Contact Craig Rush at Craig@gosolarnow.com or at 650-245-0892
Kurt Newick Google Video Presentation
Kurt was a guest speaker at a Google Tech Talk on solar power August 3, 2007. View the hour long talk.
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
News Media Coverage of Sierra Club Solar Permit Fee Study in Northern California
View news coverage of the results of the Solar Permit Fee study
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
City socks it to solar users - Cost of commercial permit among highest in county
by Daniel DeBolt May 1, 2009 - Mountain View Voice
http://www.mv-voice.com/story.php?story_id=5072
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
Sunshine: $0; Permit for Solar Panels: $25,000
Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter Study Shows Permit Fees Vary
by Carl Mills for the The Loma Prietan - May/June 2009
http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/TheLomaPrietan.asp?q=2009050101
Reducing Local Barriers to the Installation of Solar Power Systems
Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter web site:
http://lomaprietaglobalwarming.sierraclub.org/solar.php
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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