Capitol Hill Community Capitalizing on Low Solar Prices, Going Solar Together
Neighbors in Capitol Hill and Ward 6 are going solar together in an effort to take advantage of a group discount organized by DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN). By going solar as a group, participants in the bulk purchase program save 30% off the cost of going solar. They are also building community in the process.
By going through the process together, homeowners bring down the costs for installers as they are working with a closely located group rather than scattered residents. DC SUN provides unbiased technical support and guides the group through the entire process. DC SUN also issue a Request for Proposals on behalf of the group to solicit competitive bids from area installers.
Homeowners participating in the bulk purchase form a selection committee to review the bids and select a single company install systems on all of the homes. Each participant owns their own system and will sign their own contract with the company.
The Ward 6 selection committee selected Maryland-based Solair System, to complete all of the installations for this round. The committee deliberated for nearly three hours, reviewing bids from seven highly competitive companies in the area.
Solair Systems is a green energy contractor headquartered in Rockville, Maryland that specializes in solar photovoltaic systems, but also offers hybrid energy solutions.
“We’re excited to get involved in the local D.C. community,” says Thomas Luginbill of Solair Systems, “We’ve developed a reputation for quality, comprehensive service in Maryland, and we look forward to maintaining that reputation as we continue to bring clean, affordable energy to homeowners and businesses across the metropolitan area.”
Anya Schoolman, President of DC SUN, says the bulk purchase is a win-win solution for encouraging solar in the District:
“Going solar as part of a group has the advantage of making the solarization process much easier to navigate. Participants can rely on the expertise of the group and save money. This is our third bulk purchase in DC this year and we have been blown away by all of the interest among homeowners.”
The Capitol Hill/Ward 6 group is still open for more people to join! To sign up, start your own neighborhood bulk purchase or to join one of the others already underway, go to www.dcsun.org. DC SUN relies on local community volunteers to lead the local organizing aspects of the group-buy process.
DC SUN is also working with community members in Petworth, Mt, Pleasant, and Wards 3, 5, and 7. The group is available to help anyone organize a bulk purchase for their neighborhood.
For more information, contact: anya@dcsun.org.
About DC SUN
DC SUN is a diverse and growing group of families, businesses and neighborhood leaders working to make rooftop solar power convenient and affordable for everybody in DC. We’re a volunteer organization that’s not affiliated with any specific product or company and we seek to grow DC’s solar market. In addition to facilitating this solar bulk purchase, we are working on a number of other initiatives outlined on our website.