Solar Sweeps into Danielsville

To Sebastian Di Giovanna of Lehigh Township, Northampton County, Pa., saving money on his electric bill through the green opportunity of solar has helped his wallet and the earth, too.

Before going solar, Di Giovanna’s electric bill in the summer months hovered around $250, sometimes more. During winter months, he paid close to $400 a month. A bill of $158 stood as the lowest he’d seen in the past.

Di Giovanna’s recently installed 12.48 KW solar project on his house roof consists of 48 solar modules stretching between his back and garage rooftops.

When asked about his electric bills after moving forward with solar, he mentioned that his payments for the past few months have already shown a significant decrease. 

“My electric bill has been $0 for two months now,” Di Giovanna said. “It’s been great—really amazing.”

“I have thought about it a lot, and it’s definitely worth it,” he reflected about now knowing he is harnessing the sun’s strongest rays right on top of his home. 

Di Giovanna is grateful to be producing his own energy for the next 20 years with a lease through GP.Energy of Berwyn, Chester County, Pa. instead of paying high costs to his utility company as he did in the past. “To be honest, I don’t think I could go without solar. It has been absolutely wonderful.”

Given his own experience with choosing to put solar on his home, Di Giovanna said he wishes all people had the opportunity to do the same.

“The electric company’s charges kept getting worse and worse, and the costs were increasing; it was awful. But solar really helps to save a lot of money. I would definitely recommend it to others.”

In fact, Di Giovanna has enthusiastically approached friends, family, and neighbors in an attempt to get them to go solar, too, using his changed bills to help them see the benefits. 

“I am going to keep showing others my electric bills to prove to them that it really is worth it,” Di Giovanna concluded about this sun-swept persuasion.

Tiny House to transport around Southeastern Pennsylvania as a green education tool

The Berks Career and Technology Center's West Campus in Leesport, Pa. introduced its Tiny House of green and sustainable technology at the Oley Fair this past weekend.

Students in the HVAC, carpentry, painting and decorating, and electrical occupations handled a large portion of the Tiny House's construction, while students from the graphic imaging, photo imaging technology, and communications media technology programs also contributed.

It took the students all of last school year to build the house, largely thanks to regional business donations of materials and discounts on many of the supplies needed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Protection's Environmental Education Grants Program awarded BCTC a $7,500.00 grant to help with construction costs.

Two solar panels and a wind turbine are a part of the Tiny House, supplying its energy through battery power. Eco-smart windows and doors are also a part of the miniature structure. 

Photograph courtesy of BCTC

Spray foam insulation keeps chilly drafts from seeping through the walls.

A sun tunnel magnifies and streams in natural light to brightly illuminate the space inside the Tiny House when the sun is shining.

HVAC instructor and project coordinator Tim Strunk noted that a combination air conditioner and heater manufactured by Fujitsu, mounted in the Tiny House, uses less power to operate than a common toaster.

In fact, Strunk explained that the project will continue to grow and become more advanced in green technologies as innovations in sustainability and home building hit the market.

He and his fellow instructors—Jeffrey Miller, who heads the carpentry program, and Theodore Semanchick, who leads the electrical occupations program—plan to use the Tiny House as a portable educational tool on wheels.

Pulling the Tiny House on a trailer to bring into school settings around the region will keep this unique approach to education mobile and on the move.

In gratitude of this valuable resource, students of all ages from across this portion of Pennsylvania will be able to learn about the future of green connections and the potential benefit of it in their own lives.

Solar Slides into Elverson.

To John Carney of West Nantmeal Township in Chester County, Pa., having a 17.64 KW solar ground-mount installed in his side yard fulfills a goal he'd been contemplating for years.

"I'm a fan of renewable energy, and our dependence on electric companies is something I'm more than happy to get away from," Carney said. "I work at home, and so as a result of that, I was looking at solar as a way to cut costs because I can't set my thermostat back during the day."

Carney noted that since he doesn't leave the house to go to work every day as many do, what others can do to save money and energy at home during the day isn't necessarily an option for him.

His solar ground-mount consists of two arrays totaling 36 panels each.

With a budget plan for his electric bill, averaging out a year's usage, Carney saw his bills go from $180 to $200 in the past decade. Before he adopted solar to his home, his recent electric bills on the budgeted plan totaled $300 monthly.

Thankfully, he's seen his latest electric bills showing no balance due.

"I couldn't be happier," Carney said about that fact and knowing that he is going from using 23,465 KWH annually to instead producing around that much energy.

"The only downside is having to mow around it, but I'm having it landscaped now," Carney said about the solar arrays not far from his house.

"One co-worker of mine put in his solar energy system out in California because of the high rate of energy, and this was five years ago when I last talked to him about it," he said. "Just the materials alone cost him more than $40,000. The return on investment then was 40 years."

Since costs continually become more affordable as years go on, Carney is grateful for the opportunity to realize better pricing for his own dive into solar with GP.Energy of Berwyn, Pa.

"Now I'm looking at a return on investment of 10 years, which I think makes it the right thing to do," he reflected.

Admitting that solar is underutilized today, Carney said he pictures the future with not only more homeowners but more companies using it as a source of power.

"I think one of the neighbors put it best when she said--that's the neighborhood," Carney added about progressive and energy-intelligent approaches to reshaping how we all go about daily living and using our natural resources with solar smarts in mind. "As it becomes more cost-effective, I think you're going to see more and more people doing it."

A lesser known cure for upset stomachs

Antacids are not the only option for an upset stomach; there is a healthier alternative.  Consider the more natural approach to easing an upset stomach by simply eating three almonds.  

This may be especially convenient if you are traveling, so remember to have a few almonds on-hand.

GP.Energy’s Solar Swings into Swedesboro.

Joining solar to the back roof of his home, with a perfect view of the panels from his swimming pool, has been a smart and worthwhile choice for Gregory Park of Gloucester County, N.J.

Pool parties in the backyard each summer mean solar is often up for discussion as Park and his wife Christine’s guests settle down after hopping out of the water.

“People come over, and they’re constantly asking questions,” Park said. “I am starting to hear my wife repeat what I’m always saying about solar.”

His 12.48 KW system is allowing him to knock down most of his former electric bill significantly, to the point of almost eliminating it.

In the past, Park’s bill peaked at $568, with a low of $202 in the months of less extreme temperatures.

After one of his friends moved forward with solar, Park became curious about what the possibilities might be for his own home because of his high electric bills.

Having propane but using electric for his central air conditioning in summer, in addition to a pool heater and sauna devouring a lot of his annual KWH usage—Park knew solar would be his best bet for alleviating the financial burden while reducing his carbon footprint.

Adding baseboard heating to his basement when his mother-in-law moved in, Park realized that his electric bill would bump upward again. This stood as just one more reason Park saw considerable value in putting solar panels on his roof.

He researched over a period of three years until he finally decided to hire GP.Energy of Berwyn, Pa. as his solar provider.

“To me, I’m kind of proud of it because of what it’s doing for me and the environment, because I live in New Jersey, and my taxes are high,” Park said. “The savings from solar are substantial, at least for me.”

Park admitted that if he ever sells his house, the solar energy system on his roof will be a plus.

“I think it was a good selling a point in getting the panels and putting them on my home,” Park reflected.

“And I’m thrilled because instead of putting money toward electric, I’m putting money basically toward myself and back into my house,” Park said. “It seems like I’m paying myself back.”

Feeling like writing a check for a typical electric bill is throwing money away, Park liked that he’s easing the situation for himself through an environmentally-geared choice.

“If the sun is shining on your house, and it’s in the right direction, south-facing, why not just harness it,” Park suggested. “It’s a good product, and I know it works.”

Latest New Jersey house & assembly bills encourage SREC protection.

A few days ago, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed Senate Bill 1925 and Assembly Bill 2966, pushing forward with changing the state’s solar goals in its RPS, or Renewable Portfolio Standard.

The shifts in this legislation, which passed on June 25, are set up to “increase the amount of SREC [solar renewable energy certificates] that need to be purchased in the short term to absorb the oversupply and maintain a higher build rate,” states Flett Exchange.

This means those who have SRECs to sell will benefit from utility companies being required to buy more per year from those who are producing solar on their properties.

New Jersey’s strong installation market with solar has far exceeded the minimum of what the state mandated in the past few years.

An estimated $3 billion has been invested in New Jersey solar infrastructure by now.

Limiting solar farm development is also a part of the newly signed legislation. This gives a more fair opportunity in solar capacity to smaller producers, like homeowners who want to put panels on their rooftops or in their yards.

To find out more, visit markets.flettexchange.com and www.srectrade.com/blog.

GP.Energy’s solar dives into New Jersey’s PSE&G territory.

While GP.Energy’s residential solar installations in the state of New Jersey have been primarily in Ocean, Gloucester, and Atlantic counties within Atlantic City Electric territory, the alternative energy provider is now breaking its way into Somerset County with Public Service Electric & Gas Company.

PSE&G is headquartered in Newark, Essex County, N.J.

Somerset County is one of its main coverage areas where it brings electricity to thousands upon thousands of families.

GP.Energy’s first installation in the PSE&G territory is a 12.48 KW solar rooftop in Belle Mead, N.J.

That means GP.Energy will finally glean the chance to work alongside PSE&G in collaborating with another New Jersey utility company, bringing solar to more people throughout the coastal state.

For the past 25 years, Grade 1 Lineman John Maroldo has worked with PSE&G and is now enthusiastic to see changes in the industry with solar moving forward more and more in his daily labors out on the road.

Maroldo focuses on setting and replacing utility poles in mainly Burlington and Camden counties but travels to all different parts of the state when his well-honed skill-set is required.

Ever since PSE&G began installing solar panels on utility poles in an effort to push forward in the green movement, Maroldo’s gratitude for the extra hours and plenty of work available to him and his fellow employees has been something he is happy to discuss.

Adding solar panels to utility poles around the different counties where Maroldo works started as a project two years ago and is still expanding through the pilot program.

“It lessens the loads on our nuclear plants,” he noted as one of the most important parts of this utility-driven effort.

When a pole with a solar panel on it is hit in a driving accident, Maroldo is often called out to handle the repair and replacement.

“I love it, actually,” Maroldo beamed about his thoughts on solar and how it is leading today’s world into a smarter, more efficient use of resources for daily living. “I’m really excited about anything that helps out the earth.”

In fact, earlier this year, Maroldo assisted his 16-year-old son Michael in a school science project where they chose to concentrate on solar when the choices were bioenergy topics.

“We own them, and sometimes the panels are in the way, with our work, but I understand the benefits,” he said about the utility poles with solar panels secured to them. “I think it’s great, and I’m 100 percent behind it.”

And with current economic conditions as they are, Maroldo said he finds the overtime hours all the more valuable, while he knows many others are struggling to find and keep stable employment.

In the future, Maroldo said he expects to see around 20 percent of homes with solar panels on their rooftops, and he likes knowing that he is connected to this bigger picture through his own work.

Pennsylvania Needs A Push Into Better Solar Smarts.

NPR's StateImpact, a project giving attention to localized news, released word in early June of Pennsylvania's behind-the-times approach to solar.

Reporter Susan Phillips notes that the market research firm Clean Edge listed Pennsylvania outside of the top 20 states as a leader in clean energy.

Thankfully, State Representative Chris Ross from GP.Energy's own Chester County brought a bill to the table that would require utility companies to bump up the number of SRECs they purchase, with exclusivity to Pennsylvania.

The Corbett Administration is currently against this bill, which is at a standstill in committee. But with Ross' push in this development, the silver lining still has potential.

This article demonstrates just how crucial the SREC market is to the renewable energy industry. It not only helps green businesses to grow but helps consumers to achieve much quicker payback on their solar energy systems.

Eve of Destruction slated for May 27.

Thompson International Speedway's famed family weekend known as the Eve of Destruction is just around the corner, slated for Sunday, May 27 to 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., keeping the weekend quite festive in Windham County, Connecticut.

A Car-Eating Transformer, Dirt Bike Back Flips, a good handful of Demolition Derbies, and Freestyle Street Bikes with wheels whirring fast will be a part of the fun.

And on top of that, Monster Trucks and the much-anticipated Trailer Trash Race will keep even more good times rolling before fireworks end the night.

The whole afternoon, solar consultants from GP.Energy will be at the Eve of Destruction, too. Visit the tent to soak up some solar smarts Sunday and have your questions answered about the possibility of becoming your own energy provider.

GP.Energy will have a raffle at the Eve of Destruction. Win a gas card, speedway tickets, apparel and more. We make Solar Simplified.

Schuylkill County home puts ground-mounted solar panels to yard-sly use.

At GP.Energy, Solar Simplified is our way, and we bring it to you so that you can more easily stir the power of the sun into your life and into the warmth of your home. With our industry-leading $0 down lease, we offer the flexibility and quality to make it a reality for you.

This 11.52 KW ground-mounted solar panel system, perched in a yard in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, had an electric bill that went from $288 to $167, a savings of $121 per month and $1,452 each year.

Their annual usage went from 26,472 KWH to 11,127 KWH, an offset of 58% due to their solar energy production.

Solar is more affordable than ever through our GPEasy approach. With flexible financing, insurance, maintenance, and monitoring on us, you'll have a fresh opportunity to soak up the sun from the comfort of right where you live, dropping your electricity costs in a time when rates are only increasing.

We guarantee an easy, one-stop service that is affordable and reliable for years to come -- that is Solar Simplified!