(877) 20-SOLAR Introduces Solar Power to Burbank with 0 Out-Of-Pocket Costs

         The leading Burbank solar energy company, Solar Center, is pleased to announce that their new (877) 20-SOLAR subsidiary is now offering zero down solar energy systems in Burbank. (877) 20-SOLAR is dedicated to serving every aspect of the Burbank solar energy market.
         Solar Center offers leasing options, with an extremely small upfront payment, that's usually around $1,000 but sometimes as low as zero, that allows homeowners to start saving money immediately. Homeowners can also purchase a system and earn an extremely attractive return, typically around 20% per year on the investment. Typical payback periods for solar systems today are approximately 6-8 years, although with leases the paybacks can be instant. As the solar industry has grown and matured over the last decade, the cost of putting solar panels on homes has decreased significantly. There's never been a better time to switch over to renewable clean energy than now and to Go Solar.
         Solar Center is one of a select group of Burbank solar power distributors who can offer the highest efficiency solar panels on the market, those manufactured by SunPower. With SunPower, the Solar Center can tailor a solar panel installation to specific needs and lifestyles, so customers get maximum Burbank solar energy performance without a maximum investment. Also, the provided experienced service and craftsmanship meets the highest standards set by the AAMA (The American Architectural Manufacturers Association).

Solar Market Needs Investors

       According to Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the cost to install solar panels is declining as the solar panel prices have dropped 41% last year compared to 2011. This, in turn, has helped United States solar installations grow 75% in 2012, from the amount of 1,855 megawatts in 2011 to 3,300 megawatts. Because of this steady growth in the solar market, researchers believe that by 2016, solar installations will continue to progress to an estimating amount of 9,000 megawatts.
      However, because there is a lack of investments in the solar market field, these solar projects will never be built or obtained. Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts that the industry will need $3.1 billion of equity investment in 2013, compared to $1.8 billion in 2012. Also, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is committed to helping expand the number of investors in solar projects as the opportunity of investing in such projects would yield much profit and it will enhance sustainability in society today.
      Large investors are able to choose between two strategies in terms of investing in these solar projects. The commonly used method would include making investments in large, utility scale projects. For example, recently, there have been residential solar developers creating funds for investors to take stakes in a large number of residential and small commercial solar projects. The other strategy is to have homeowners, whom don't have the upfront capital to purchase solar systems (which estimates the cost up to $15,000 or more), given the option to pay nothing down for solar equipment.
    EDF continues to plan an effort to reach out to potential solar investors to make the environmental case for investing in solar and other renewable projects. After all, investing in solar energy helps spur economic development, create American jobs, allow for energy independence and lessen our carbon footprint.

A Closer Look into SolarCity

      SolarCity has gone public during a rough time in 2012, where they were forced to close 47% above its $8-a share initial public offering price because investors were being initially unreceptive. The original offering price SolarCity had in mind was estimating between $13 and $15, causing it to raise $141 million. However, since they were forced to lower their share prices, they raised $92 million.
      Besides Enphase Energy (ENPH) opening public in March, SolarCity is actually the first clean technology company to get involved publicly while the stock market, in reference to solar energy, has been failing (due to the Chinese leading because of its low prices). Enphase Energy, a company which makes products to help improve solar efficiency, has had its stock price lowered by half. BrightSource Energy, another solar company planning to go public in April, had cancelled its initial public offering price.
      Recently, SolarCity has been able to make a comeback and raise their stock price from $8 to $19. The reason for this was released in an interview by Fortune Magazine; SolarCity comments "our business is totally different. We're an energy company. We install solar systems for free, and we sell the electricity at a lower rate than you can buy it from the utility. So given the option of paying more for dirty power or paying less for clean power, what would you take?"
     SolarCity has previously commented that they install solar systems for free but this option is only available as long as you reside in the 14-state territory where their locations operate. They also took consideration in deciding what states to hold their operational locations in by looking at the current price of electricity, observing how much sun the market receives, and looking at the state's tax incentives. For example, in Arizona, there is cheap electricity but they obtain an incredible amount of sun. In Oregon, there isn't a great amount of sun but Oregon has a strong state incentive, whereas they want to see residents adopt clean energy.
     SolarCity also operates in marketing their products in Home Depot. While potential customers walk into Home Depot to purchase products, solar consultants explains that they can get a free solar system and pay less for electricity. They only pay Home Depot per customer they sign up.
     There seems to be some great potential in SolarCity because they indeed have a different business model. Who wouldn't love to indulge in a free solar system, where you're able to pay less for electricity? Now, if only they opened their locations in many areas in the East Coast.

South Korea envisions solar clad bridge in the future

The near future is coming; countries all over the world are finding ways to produce energy in an infinite amount like a endless cycle of energy that can never diminish. Natural gas will soon be the end of days while people will turn their shoulders towards a new approach, followed by large sums of investors, following a new market trend that will soon go towards wind, solar, and hydrogen powered technology that will change the world. Seems like South Korea is a step ahead, envisioning a solar powered bridge stretching across the famous Han River, powered by solar panels all over it, juicing up malls, museums, libraries, and other public recreational structures. Walking through the Brooklyn Bridge, in my opinion, felt amusing with the amazing view of New York but seeing this makes me think, America needs to catch up with their technology.