Comments cwsolar has made

  • second mortgage required?

    Homeowners considering this 'deal' should heed Todd's word's of wisdom. You should also read the fine print,which is where you will likely find that you are giving Solar City a second mortgage on your house.

    A few other issues to consider--
      What happens when you want, or need, to sell your house? Will the new owner want the same deal?

    Who is responsible for moving the panels in order to replace the shingles that were 15 y.o. when you signed up? Did the installers, who are getting paid flat rate,seal the mounting penetrations properly? What provisions were made to facilitate reroofing?

    How will installation details be handled when that 4 KW gets installed on a complicated, multi-slope roofline?

    If poor quality control results in failed systems, even just some, the whole 'city' will suffer. Bad news travels faster than good !

    It has taken 20 years to get over the shyster installed solar hot water systems done in the early 80's. Even ' good corporate citizen's ' can take advantage of naive people wanting to do the right thing. Here in Richmond ,VA we had few shysters, but when the tax credits were obviously set to expire, Reynolds Solar decided to move their large inventory by hiring  'condo salesmen' and with mass mailings, seminars, free cheap camera's and a roll of Reynolds Wrap, they sold solar hot water systems for 8-10 thousand dollars that their own dealers were selling in other markets for $4500.

    Also, for the rest of the solar industry, a little history. Abuse of the 'too good to be sustainable' tax credits of the early 80's led to the perfect excuse for the Reagan administration to let them expire, suddenly, precipitously, and disastrously for the solar industry and the country, it is now apparent !

    There is a huge need for non-profit , educational groups like the American Solar Energy Society--ASES--and their local, state, and regional Chapters, to provide education for the public. I believe experienced solar professionals also will find it in their self interest to be involved with this effort.

    Ken Schaal
    CommonWealth Solar,LLCOn Entrepreneur Lyndon Rive wants to solarize your house for a low, low price posted 1 year, 7 months ago 9 Responses