San Diego Leads the Solar Revolution

This blog features various solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) installations in San Diego County which utilize the thin-film cells made by United Solar Ovonic, LLC more commonly known as Uni-Solar.

California follows Japan and Germany in the amount of PV installations worldwide. There are several reasons for this. Obviously, it's pretty sunny here year-round and that sure helps. Incentives for solar and wind installations were passed by the California legislature in the late 90s that stimulated renewable energy investment. These incentives along with California's zest for new ideas and technologies contributed to clean energy growth. Yet perhaps the biggest reason is what I call the "backlash factor." Electricity rates of the big three publicly-held utilities--Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric--took major hikes in 2000 due to poorly written deregulation legislation that gave way to the "energy crisis" manipulated by Enron with Duke Energy, El Paso Corp., Dynegy and Reliant Energy in the fray. It didn't take long for California residents to become the most efficient users of electricity in the country. Did this translate to lower energy rates? No, of course not. But most Californians are coping and the heavier consumers are turning to solar as a possible solution.

As a senior Uni-Solar sales consultant in San Diego, I have first-hand experience with the versatility and reliability of Uni-Solar PV. Whether framed modules, PV laminates for metal roofs or solar shingles, my customers have all realized the carefree dependability of Uni-Solar cells; have significantly decreased their energy bills; and have reduced their share of greenhouse gas emissions by using the clean, renewable energy we all receive from the sun.

A basic glossary of terms can be found on this blog but additional information can be found at www.uni-solar.com. More than anything, this blog intends to stimulate today's electricity ratepayer--that's all of us--into thinking about and utilizing the sun's energy; our cleanest, safest and most reliable power source.

Uni-Solar offers turnkey installations in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties. We also offer complete grid-tied kits of either framed modules, laminates or shingles that the handy homeowner can install himself or contract with a certified solar installer in his area. Inquiries for turnkey installations or kits should be directed to dbrands@cox.net.

The first installation featured on this blog will appear the week of June 20. It will contain a description of the system, customer reasons for purchasing it and several pictures. I will also add a Basic Glossary of terms common to residential PV systems. Please visit again.