Web site of the month: Solar Estimate

Established in 2000 as FindSolar, Solar Estimate has helped more than a million people learn about solar energy and provided more than 26,000 new business opportunity notices to Solar Pros across the country.

If going solar is the answer to energy independence, why does it bring up so many questions? And more importantly, where does a homeowner or small business owner find the answer to those questions? Solar Estimate, a nine-year-old organization funded by the California Energy Commission, is a good place to start looking.

Solar Estimate is a free public service that consolidates and organizes the information consumers need to help them choose the right solar technology for their circumstances. The Web site provides consumers with user-friendly tools to make preliminary evaluations of solar energy options and to help find qualified professionals who can design, install and service solar energy systems.

Visitors can get an explanation of those tools by selecting "How it Works," a small navigation button located just below the larger "Find a Solar Pro" button. "How it Works" is a logical starting point for users, which makes the link's size and placement something of a misstep on an otherwise well-organized site.

Choosing a system

To determine what type of solar energy system is right for specific location and building needs, the next stop is My Solar Estimator. Using the visitor's zip code and power provider, this "quick calculator" gives a solar rating for each of four solar applications: photovoltaics, hot water, space heating and cooling or spa or pool heating.

Enter additional information, such as the monthly electric bill or the number of people in the household, to get the return on investment, payback period and even how many tons of greenhouse gas emissions an installation could save. The results page explains the assumptions used to get the estimate, and offers suggestions to reduce the size of the system for increased savings.

Hiring a professional

If the Solar Estimator indicates that installing a solar energy system is a good investment, visitors can go to Find a Solar Pro to search for a contractor. The database offers several options for searching. Visitors can use their zip code, enter a company name if they know of one or look for a contractor in a major city or state. The page also has a field for manufacturers and distributors of a variety of systems.

Solar Estimate pre-screens and profiles the solar pros in its database, but the system relies on self-certification. Contractor claims may be verified through third-party services such as ContractorCheck, local and state licensing agencies, and customer references. The Web site also provides links to help consumers do their own contractor research.

Educating consumers

The more prospective buyers know about solar technology, the more likely they are to get the system they need. And since a satisfied customer is the best advocate, Solar Estimate offers plenty of resources to further consumers' solar education.

Important stuff is a consumer's primer on the basics of efficiency, installation and financing. An extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions covers topics ranging from technical to economic to environmental. A searchable database allows visitors to look for answers with a keyword, by state or by category.

Solar case studies, videos and market information top the list of resources and links. Visitors will also find solar power guides, links to training and workshops, state associations, news and job sites and more information about incentives and energy efficiency.

Help for utilities

Power providers often have as many questions about solar energy as their customers do, so Solar Estimate is a valuable resource for utilities, too.

Those just launching a solar program can use the solar estimator to determine the best type of system to promote in their territory. Once a program is underway, a Solar Estimate link on the utility Web site can be a useful tool for consumer outreach. And customer service representatives will no doubt appreciate having current information about state and Federal incentives as close as their computer.

Use Find a Solar Pro to build a vendor network, as the city of Palo Alto did when it revamped its solar hot water program. Utilities should consider setting up their own screening or certification criteria, but the database can provide a list of potential partners. Local contractors who are already partnered with utilities can gain wider exposure by joining the Solar Estimate network.

Resources

Solar Estimate

California Energy Commission

My Solar Estimator

Find a Solar Pro

ContractorCheck

Resources (cont.)

Important stuff

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources and links

Related articles

Energy Services Bulletin, November 2008
Past lessons shape new Palo Alto solar hot water program

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