While a solar thermal system is typically more expensive to purchase and install than a gas or electric system, the payback can be tremendous. At a $2,000 to $4,000 initial investment before incentives, the system can save you about $300 a year and be used for approximately 80% of your energy needs. Moreover, solar thermal heating is highly efficient, dropping your water bill an average of 50 to 80 percent. It is also an environmentally friendly, cost-effective way to heat your pool for the warm months ahead.

Solar expert Paul Shippee says, “When utilizing solar heating, it is like buying all your fuel up-front for the next 20 years. In other words, the front end cost for the equipment is expensive, but after that the fuel is free, as long as the sun shines.”

Flat-plate solar collectors are most frequently used on residential rooftops, and their sleek design and dark colors resemble that of PV panels. Contact CalFinder Solar to work with a qualified installer in your area. To help get you started, here are some of them, from Florida and New York to good ol’ California. (more…)

Following North Bay Biz Magazine’s annual reader’s poll, over 1,000 companies and individuals were nominated for the Green Business Gold Medal. The winner: SolarCraft, a Marin-based, solar energy contractor and retailer.

Certified by CalFinder Solar, SolarCraft is also a Marin County Green Business. Recent notable projects include Jacuzzi Vineyards in Sonoma, Marin Builder’s Association in San Rafael, and Geyserville Fire Station. In business since 1984, the company has been in business for 23 years and has installed over 4,000 solar energy systems in Northern California. (more…)

More and more companies are joining the solar bandwagon as of late, and for good reason. Solar installation companies are a critical component to meeting growing demand for innovative renewable energy solutions.

If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to hire a certified contractor rather than an unreliable installer or even an electrician without experience in the solar arena. Incorrect installation can negatively impact your solar system’s efficiency and ultimately result in damage to your home. It can also pose a safety hazard when heavy equipment is improperly mounted.

Longevity is one sign of success, and if you’re looking for seasoned installers, CalFinder Solar works with numerous companies with over a five-year history in the business. Here are some of them:

Light Energy Systems

Light Energy Systems has been in operation for 28 years. Owner Karen Campbell says the company was one of five in 1998, but one of 500 today. “Everybody’s trying to do it,” Campbell explains, “but that doesn’t mean that everybody can.” Along with the experience, Light Energy Systems in Contra Costa, California offers a one-stop-shop in solar, offering PV, pool heating, domestic hot water, and radiant heating solutions. (more…)