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Learn if a solar energy system on your property is a good investment
We are a nonprofit public service program to help you gain insight and knowledge to understand the financial advantages of installing a solar energy system on your property.
Most of us have never considered or know much about the financial opportunities for turning our roofs into solar electric generators. We never had this technology at our fingertips when the electric grid was formed a century ago. Given the rapid change we are all experiencing now, Solar is a proven solution we all need to know more about and strongly consider.
Much has changed. In the last 10 years solar installation costs have decreased by over 25%. Current federal and local incentives can reduce costs further by up to 60%. So what are you waiting for, sign-up today to see if a solar energy system is viable for you on your property.
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You may be entering our website after visiting one of our many informational kiosks on foot in your neighborhood, turns out we are walking more these days, and we are glad you have joined us here.
Common perceptions of roof top solar is that it is too expensive and likely a poor investment, due to early information about this emerging energy technology. Because of this perception, most us have never investigated it. And for the few who had checked it out on the web, it can get confusing fast. There are a lot of questions to consider when deciding to go solar:
- What are the different utility rules and incentives?
- Can I sell excess power back to the grid?
- How much solar generation can be installed?
- How much does it cost, and how much can be saved?
- How long does a solar panel system last?
- Do I need to re-roof before I install solar panels?
- If I sell my property will I likely get the value of my investment from the sale?
Go to our Solar FAQ page to find answers to many of your questions
Sample Solar Start Assessment Report
To cut through all the research everyone would have to do on their own, Solar Start Block by Block is making it easy for you to get a free third party initial solar assessment of your specific property, customized to your properties solar access potential, then quantifies applicable federal, utility, and city incentives, as well as an initial cost estimate and savings over the life of your system.
Turns out many properties have a great return on investment, while other properties are not financially suitable due to poor solar access, like not ideal roof orientation, or shading from adjoining buildings or trees.
Check out the Neighborhood Solar Potential page to see the number of properties that have great opportunities in your neighborhood. When you sign-up, we will send you a report to the left if your property is financially feasible for solar. If not, we will let you know and direct you to community solar projects or wind projects you may want to subscribe to. We will then follow-up with you via an online survey and put you in touch with applicable programs that can reduce your costs even further and supply you with a list of certified solar contractors.
Why Install a Solar System
A Great Financial Investment
The investment in roof top solar has never been better, significant price reductions in solar equipment, and installation efficiency has reduced the first cost of systems by over 25% in the last 10 years. Then by taking advantage of current federal and local incentives, first costs may be further reduced by as much as 60%.
Solar today is a sensible risk free investment – it just keeps working with the sun. It is absent the volatility of market investments. For the neighborhood properties that have great solar access, a roof top solar system can provide an annualized return on investment of 5 to 10%, while saving tens of thousands of dollars in future energy bills. When you install a solar system today, the first cost locks in your cost of generating a kWh far below current electric rates for the life of your system, and when electric rates go up, which we all know they will, you get further savings, as compared to not installing a system.
If you make investments in a 401k plan or other investment types, why would you NOT consider a Solar investment for you, your family or your business?
Be Self Sufficient
Prior to the industrial revolution, families would grow their own food, cut their own wood, and use a lot of human and animal labor to support themselves. Life then was not as comfortable or convenient as today. But they did not need to rely on others, they were in control.
Today, a roof top solar system, can keep you in control of your comfort and convenience in our modern age, without most of the global warming impacts. Power your electric car - two thirds cheaper to fuel/maintain than a gas internal combustion engine. Maintain comfortable heating, cooling, lighting, and digital systems. You are in control, letting the sun work for you, for your investment in it.
We all in Minnesota spend 13 billion dollars in fuel from outside our state to power our energy needs per year. That is equal to $2,300 per person. Every additional solar rooftop system reduces our need to import energy. It also creates local jobs to install and maintain solar systems. Improve our local economy by installing solar and keep some of the 13 billion dollars in your own pocket.
Significantly Reduce in Your Carbon Emissions
Over 98% of climate scientists agree that the cause of our CURRNET global warming is primarily due to human activity, not natural causes. Burning carbon we extract below earths surface has sent that carbon to our atmosphere, increasing the density of carbon in the atmosphere, which becomes a blanket that traps heat and increases Earth’s temperature.
Recent polls identify that around 7 Americans out of 10 believe the scientific community, but they also say they don’t know much they can do as an individual to stop it. Roof top solar technology has become affordable and is at our fingertips, allowing you and your family to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution.
A little-known fact:
The sun’s radiation striking our planet for one hour delivers all the energy humans currently use in one year.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (raspberry line) has increased along with human emissions (blue line) since the start of the Industrial Revolution in 1750.
Emissions rose slowly to about 5 billion tons a year in the mid-20th century before skyrocketing to more than 35 billion tons per year by the end of the century.
About Solar Start Block by Block
My name is Tom McDougall, I am an Engineer and Architectural designer, and have spent most of my carrier reducing the energy consumption of our built environment. About two years ago, my wife Nancy and I decided to install 135 solar panels on 4 properties we own in the Twin Cities. After our last installation the installer on the top of the roof asked, “Where to next Tom”. Unfortunately, I had to tell him that I had run out of south facing roofs.
So it got us thinking…
Solar panels are an amazing investment for us, and as I would walk, bike, and run around the neighborhood, I noticed that most folks had not taken advantage of this opportunity.
To cut through all the research everyone would have to do on their own, Solar Start Block by Block was hatched to help neighbors see what type of role solar generation could play on their block, along with the solar viability of their roofs - and to hopefully start the adoption of a proven renewable energy source sooner rather than later in our neighborhoods.
How is the Program Funded
Currently the program is in a startup phase and is self funded. Our future business plan will seek funding through donations, and private and public grants in order to hire student interns that have interest in the clean energy industry. Our goal is to provide individual Solar Start Assessments to property owners for free.
So it’s Time to Start Something New - Try Solar Start Today and Change what is happening on your Block.
