News & Media

Solar programs, co-op illuminate importance of clean energy

April 23, 2015

A group of Southeast residents made headlines last week with a solar energy co-op they formed to save energy and money.

The solar co-op, called RetroFit Baltimore, is a project from Civic Works and Maryland Solar United Neighborhoods.

Created late last year, the co-op has amassed approximately 80 members with an interest in increasing energy-efficiency in their homes.

The group’s current mission is to get more residents involved in the co-op as the weather gets warmer so they can receive a larger group discount from the contractor. The current estimated discount is between 25 to 30%. The larger discount would be beneficial since the initial costs for installation and equipment before incentives are quite high.

According to numbers provided by RetroFit, a 3 kilowatt solar panel system for a smaller rowhome would add up to around $12,000. For a family-home, which requires a 9 kilowatt system, the cost could be over $30,000. Still many find the solar panels cost-effective because of how much they save on energy bills. Also, homeowners make money with a billing method called net metering that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid per kilowatt. But the biggest draw is definitely the group discount.

As a contractor coordinator for Civic Works, Evie Schwartz, guarantees the best possible discount.

“We actually select and screen contractors on behalf of homeowners, and we connect homeowners to those businesses and check on those businesses to make sure they’re providing good service,” she said.

The co-op selected Solar Energy World, an Elkridge-based company, as the installation contractor.

Schwartz said that Retrofit provides an extra energy adviser that explains the process to every homeowner in the program.

The organizers of the co-op also work personally with potential members and some even examine the roofs to see if a solar panel is the best option. The group prides itself on working together, combining their collective knowledge, to interest potential members. Membership applications will be accepted through Earth Day, April 22, 2015.

Schwartz also said that creating local jobs was also a goal of integrating solar energy into the community for Civic Works.

“One thing that’s specific about our work and social mission is the creation of local job opportunities and making sure that as homeowners invest in their houses that they’re also investing in their community,” she said, “The contractors we work with agree to what we call a ‘community work force agreement’ which is to pay family’s sustained wages and to hire under served Baltimore residents.”

Civic Works also has a workforce training program that teaches skills, such as solar panel installation, to workers. The contractors then hire workers from this program.

Read the full article here: http://baltimoreguide.com/solar-programs-co-op-illuminate-importance-of-clean-energy/#sthash.wSJlzR9M.dpuf