Ward 1 Goes Solar in a Big Way
A group of over 30 neighbors in Mt. Pleasant and Ward 1 are going solar together, saving over 30% off the cost of their solar systems. The group of neighbors, organized by DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN), has come together as a way to help more homeowners save money and go solar.
Based on the same principal as buying in bulk at Costco, the bulk purchase allows a group of neighbors to go solar together and save on the total cost of installation. DC SUN, a coalition of neighborhood solar coops, provided technical support, guided the group through the process, and issued a Request for Proposals from local installers once 20 people had signed up for the bulk purchase.
The group created a Selection Committee composed of participants in the bulk purchase. The Committee reviewed bids provided by nine local installers and selected a single company, Standard Energy Solutions, to complete all of the installations. It was a tough selection process for the Committee, however, as the bids were extremely competitive and highly professional. This is the second neighborhood bulk purchase organized by DC SUN and each time the organization has been incredibly impressed with the results of the bids.
Standard Energy Solutions, a division of Standard Solar, Inc., offers simple and dependable energy efficiency and solar solutions for residential customers. Tony Clifford, Standard Solar and Standard Energy Solutions CEO and DC resident, is thrilled to be working with the Ward 1 Solar Bulk Purchase group:
“We are very excited to have been selected as the installer for the Ward 1 Neighborhood Bulk Purchase program. Our team is are looking forward to helping more than 30 homeowners in the neighborhood go solar.”
While the group selected a single contractor to install systems on all of the homes, each participant owns their own system and will sign their own contract with Standard Energy Solutions.
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 because you can rely on the expertise of the group. Plus, the pay back for many of these systems is a little over one year!”
The Ward 1 Group buy 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 is also working with community members in Petworth, Capitol Hill, and Wards 3, 5, and 7. The group is available to help anyone organize a bulk purchase for their neighborhood.
For more information, contact: Solarcoop@yahoo.com.
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 100% 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.
About Standard Energy Solutions
Standard Energy Solutions, a Standard Solar company, provides home energy solutions; exceeding the highest standards in all aspects of home solar, energy efficiency and energy management implementation. The company’s team of experts helps customers reduce energy costs by delivering solutions that empower them to have greater comfort in their homes and control over their own energy production and usage. Offering a vast array of products and services to ensure the most cutting-edge energy solutions, Standard Energy Solutions is committed to providing customers with a complete turnkey solution including engineering, installation, financing and system maintenance solutions. For more information, www.standardenergysolutions.com.
