Join Bill Walton’s Team and Go Solar!

A future cap & trade program will bring much needed value over time but in the short term there will be costs to bear for our previous mistakes. These costs would be a result from fossil fuel power plants, particularly coal, paying necessary fees on the carbon they emit. These power providers need to retrofit their facilities to reduce their carbon emissions. These major polluters will then try to pass their responsibilities on to rate payers who would then be stuck footing the bill through higher utility rates. According to the Pew Center on Climate Change, 50% of all electricity generated comes from burning coal into the air.

Now one may ask, “Since our dominant form of residential power generation (coal) is harmful to the environment, and will continue to rise in cost with a large increase shortly, and does not provide homeowners with any energy independence; why would Americans not aggressively look to other sources particularly renewable energy?”

The answer is—-we are strangling and suffocating ourselves due to our lack of education and poor decision making.

Residential Solar is part of the correct answer and a major factor in solving some of our most vexing problems. With significant decreases in price, new financing tools, and utility rates increasing 6% per year over the last 20 years, residential Solar is not the luxury that only the rich can afford. It has finally become a financially viable option for many Americans. $0 money down leasing programs is just one new tool that has begun to take shape making solar affordable to most homeowners.

Solar power will not only reduce monthly energy bills, but states are wisely mandated by law to offer net-metering. Each utility has its own net metering policies, but it actually allows customers to sell their excess generated solar energy to the utility. During peak summer months, Solar panels in many cases can generate enough electricity to help homeowners break even on their bill and sell the remaining energy back to the utility. While Solar has always been a great thing for the environment, never has there been a better financial incentive to invest in this technology for your home.

NBA Legend Bill Walton has been a long time advocate for the environment, and Greener Dawn is proud and fortunate to have him as our Green Ambassador:

“As a California native son, and as an NBA player and Broadcaster for the past 36 years, I am privileged to support causes that are important to all of us, like the environmental quality of our lives today and for the future of our families and communities. We are at a turning point for what lies ahead for our children. Solar energy is one of the answers. The future is off the grid, and going Solar is one of the most secure investments available. Going Solar is not only good for the environment, but you can actually sell your extra energy back to the local utility. Do yourself and our environment a favor and go Solar!”

Follow in Bill Walton’s footsteps and “Do yourself and our world a huge favor and go Solar,” with a complimentary Solar evaluation through Greener Dawn. Let our local solar expert assess your home to see if solar makes sense. Our knowledgeable representatives will provide you with a cost benefit value analysis utilizing the federal, state and utility rebates to help you make an informed decision. Think Green. Be smart. It pays in every way.
Be a leader in your neighborhood and Go Solar! www.mygreenerdawn.com

1. Utility rates have increased over 6% per year on average for the past decade. Go Solar and stop paying the utility!

2. Energy bills are often times calculated incorrectly and you have no idea. Go Solar and manage your own monthly energy use!

3. There are dozens of hidden fees associated with buying from electricity from the utility. Go Solar and stop being surprised by each utility bill!

Break away from the utilities by signing up for a free Solar evaluation today.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has recently released a report showing that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is creating jobs, improving the economy, and increasing the foothold of renewable energy in America.

According to the report,The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy through Innovation [pdf], the United States has made great strides towards three huge renewable energy and cleantech industry benchmarks.

1. Cutting the cost of solar power in half by 2015.
2. Cutting the cost of batteries for electric vehicles by 70% by 2015.
3. Doubling U.S. alternative energy capacity and U.S. renewable manufacturing capacity by 2012.

During the unveiling of the report, Vice President stated, “From the beginning, we have been a nation of discovery and innovation — and today we continue in that tradition as Recovery Act investments pave the way for game-changing breakthroughs in transportation, energy, and medical research.”

Read the full story at The White House: Vice President Biden Releases Report on Recovery Act Impact on Innovation

Go to www.mygreenerdawn.com for a free solar evaluation on your home.

While most Americans traditionally think of the stock market as the shrewdest place to invest, they may be taking a much larger risk for those cherished 8-10% returns than need be. Over the past 10 years, the stock market has fluctuated wildly, proving to be a risky investing environment for independent investors as well as experienced advisors. From 8/18/2000 to 8/18/2010, the NASDAQ has had returns of -45%, the S&P -28%, and the DOW -6%. Dividend reinvestment is not factored into these declines. These numbers reflect the percentage decline in returns over the 10 year period. Not Good!

Now folks will argue that the Dow has returned 9% on average over the last 70 years. However, an investing paradigm shift has occurred due to the recent financial meltdown, the increased regulations in the healthcare and financial sectors, and the urgency Americans feel to rid our dependence on overseas oil which funds a large portion of the global terrorist network. Renewable Energy, particularly Solar, has to become a portion of every homeowner portfolio.

Installing a Solar system on your home is one of the most secure, predictable, and dependable investments available today. Over the next 20 years, Solar is projected to have a return well above 10%. Solar is the smart investment- your house will appreciate because of lower operating expenses, and you produce the power for your home.

Utility rates have increased 6% on average per year for the last 2 decades. Some utilities are now proposing 7% rate increases claiming more strict government regulation and higher insurance costs. Depending on the financing tools utilized, this record low interest rate environment allows Solar owners the ability to lock in a low interest Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or solar lease. A cash purchase is a great option utilizing the 30% Federal tax credit as well as state and utility rebates could pay 50% of the system.

You may, or may not, be surprised at how many consumers overpay each month for their utility bills. How many times have you walked outside to view your electrical meter and matched it up against data on your bill? Due to our antiquated electrical grid among many reasons, utility bills can be incorrectly calculated and consumers often times have no idea the inaccuracies. Solar will allow you to track your energy production as well as your financial payback in real time.

Over the past 10 years, Solar has been one of the most predictable and secure investments available. Break away from the grid, lock in your energy rates, and do your part to save the environment. Receive a complimentary Solar evaluation today with America’s Trusted Source for home energy- Greener Dawn. www.mygreenerdawn.com

Environmentalists around the country have a few months to mull over the contents of the energy bill and perhaps lend a hand to creating a more bipartisan bill, hopefully one that will include the Home Star legislation, to get passed by the Senate. However, Democrats have only a short four weeks after their recess to clean up all of their unfinished business. The small business bill, the Bush tax cuts, and the war-funding bill are all on the liberal agenda before campaigns for re-election begin, so we can only hope that energy efficiency is a priority for all members of the Senate.

At this point, all we can do it wait and hope that Home Star, one of the few bills accepted by both parties, makes its way through the Senate within the following months.

Put in place after the Exxon-Valdez disaster, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which forces responsible companies to pay for the damage done by oil spills, is currently capped at $75 million; this legislation looks to increase that cap to $10 billion. How can they fund this? Analyst Whitney Stanco believes that “one possibility would be to raise the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund tax from 8 cents per barrel to 49 cents per barrel, which would raise approximately $18 billion.” Additionally, incentives that would convert trucks to run on natural gas and switch cars to electricity could cost the government $4.1 billion, but it would be possible to fund both this measure and the liability cap by raising taxes on oil and gas.

Republicans launched their own, less drastic energy bill on Friday, so bipartisan for either bill does not look promising. With both bills expected to hit the Senate floor this week, senators do not have much time until their recess on August 6^th. Environmentalists will be on their toes in hopes that something gets done to reform renewable energy, for China could surpass the US in alternative energy if no changes are made to current policy.

The price tag for a typical solar electric system is about $20,000, but with the cost around $10 to $12 per watt, you can spend as much or as little as you want to on solar technologies. Additionally, most states offer tax credits and other financial incentives when a homeowner makes use of solar energy, so the price of installation could easily be cut down by thousands of dollars.

The benefits of solar energy reach far beyond the expenses. While it will take about 5 years for you to start saving money on your energy bills, it’s definitely worth the wait. Solar technologies are a one-time investment, so no maintenance is needed after installation—and with a standard lifespan ranging from 25 to 40 years, that’s a whole lot of energy for a small price. Moreover, and most obviously, solar energy is good for the environment. It’s completely natural and reduces some of the biggest threats to a healthy environment: pollution, greenhouse gasses, and consumption of fossil fuels. Solar energy is the future, and it’s an investment that will help you save both money and our planet.

To find out about other energy efficient upgrades for your home or to find a certified BPI energy auditor in your area, visit Greener Dawn at www.gdenergyaudit.com.

Many hope that Home Star will be added to the Small Business Jobs Bill that is currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee. That vital decision will be made tomorrow. If added, the future looks promising for energy efficiency and construction industries. If it’s not included, then the fate of those industries will be teetering in the Senate for a few more months.

Assuming Home Star is added to the Small Business Jobs Bill, homeowners will be eligible for 13 types of retrofits and rebates. To view a detailed list of these retrofits and a more comprehensive review of the Home Star program, make sure you take a look at Software Advice’s Construction Blog.

The report noted that renewables accounted for 60% of the new energy in Europe and over 50% in the United States. Experts predict that the world, as a whole, will add more capacity to the electricity supply from renewable energy than non-renewable sources within the next two years.

According to the press release, investment in core clean energy (new renewables, biofuels and energy efficiency) decreased by 7% in 2009 to the value of $162 billion; however, there was record investment in wind power, which accounted for 56% of new investment in all sustainable energy.

The report also found that China surpassed the United States as the country with the greatest investment in clean energy. China now produces 40 percent of all solar photo-voltaic products and 77 percent of all solar hot water collectors. However, China isn’t the only country that is increasing its investment in renewable energy. The press release noted that the number of countries implementing energy policies has doubled from 55 in 2005 to more than 100 in 2009—and over half of them are in the developing world.

To view the entire press release, visit UNEP’s website here.