The benefits of having home solar power are numerous. The most obvious one is generating your own electricity, which means you will have some degree of control over your electricity instead of being completely dependent on a local utility.
The price of electricity from utilities tends to rise steadily. In the US for the year 1950, electricity cost about 1.5 cents to 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. A recent average estimate for the same cost this year is about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour.
In 1970, retail electricity for California residences had an average cost of about 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. Today it is approximately 32 cents. Having the ability to generate some of your own electricity means potentially paying significantly less to power your home. Also, homes that add solar power can experience an increase in value.
The renewable energy non-profit organization, GRID Alternatives, recently announced it will be providing free home solar and energy upgrades for some residents of South LA.
GRID Alternatives staff answered some questions for CleanTechnica.
For the 140 homeowners, how many kW of solar panels can they get for free?
We base system size on the homeowner’s yearly usage and roof size. We can install up to 5 kW per home.
Who is eligible for the solar panels?
With the South LA Eco-lab program, households of 4 cannot make over $120k per year (see chart below for additional details) to qualify. Homeowners must live in the property and the property must be in the grant project area.
* for 7 or more household members, contact us
Project area zip codes: 90037, 90044, 90062, 90043, 90002, 90047, 90011
What energy upgrades are available, and are they free or low cost?
- Free solar systems and free installation
- Free cool roofs are available for 84 projects
- Free service panel upgrades for all project participants
What kind of fruit trees were given away and how many?
TreePeople gives away peach, apple, and avocado and other varieties of fruit trees. We will invite them to attend more events in the future.
Are the people who live in the community and nearby where you hosted your event generally interested in solar power and energy upgrades?
Yes. They are interested in education first, they want to learn how the systems work and how they are funded and know that it’s truly free. They are interested in the savings that accompany solar as well as contributing clean energy and clean air to their neighborhoods.
For the homeowners who get their free solar panels, does that help spread the word about the benefits of solar power to their extended family and neighbors, etc.?
Yes. Referrals are our number one source for acquiring new clients to go solar with GRID. Clients become advocates for clean energy in their communities, telling their neighbors about the benefits of free solar with GRID Alternatives.
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