Offsetting energy usage with a solar electric system for your home is one of the most significant actions that a homeowner can take to cut air pollution and green house gases, while helping to preserve energy resources for future generations.

Owning a solar home with energy efficient features allows homeowners the luxury of producing clean renewable energy, while realizing significant savings on their utility bills, being able to predict utility costs and protects against future rising electricity costs.

REC Solar, a company specializing in grid-tied solar electric design and installation, is on a mission to help consumers gain energy independence, by bringing solar to the mainstream. By offering the latest technology, state of the art equipment, and affordable financing opportunities for all commercial and residential customers, REC solar is on the forefront of the solar energy movement.

“Solar technology has really improved, to the extent that it makes sense for consumers to go solar on a practical scale,” says Ryan Work, REC Solar Area Sales Manager.  “We can now generate solar electricity at a per unit cost that is less then what the utility companies are charging.”

Helping to revolutionize the solar industry, are some unique financing programs that are helping to make solar more affordable to residential and commercial consumers. Comprehensive statewide solar programs such as New Solar Homes Partnerships (NSHP) provides financial incentives and other support to home builders, encouraging the construction of new, energy efficient solar homes that save homeowners money on their electricity bills and protect the environment.

Property Assessed Clean Energy or “ PACE” programs, commonly referred to as AB 811, allow local government entities to offer sustainable energy project loans to eligible property owners. Through the creation of financing districts, property owners can finance renewable onsite generation installations and energy efficiency improvements through a voluntary assessment on their property tax bills. The assessment district approach adds a powerful new option to the clean energy finance landscape.

Another alternative that allows consumers to go solar without the large upfront cost is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which is a legal contract between an electricity generator and a power purchaser. The power purchaser purchases energy from the electricity generator. Such agreements play a key role in the financing of independently owned electricity generating assets.

“The PPA has been a big revolution,” Work says. “Instead of purchasing and owning the equipment, consumers purchase the solar electricity that the system produces. We are under a PPA with our utility companies. Now, we are just changing the PPA to a power source that uses a good, clean, environmentally friendly renewable source.”

While there are great financial programs, as well as state and federal tax incentives, finding a solar company that can maneuver through these, somewhat complex, programs with confidence and accuracy can sometimes be an objectionable task.  Choosing a solar provider that handles every aspect from start to finish can really give a consumer the peace of mind to know that everything is going to be done correctly.

With the photovoltaic industry’s U.S. growth of 38% in 2009 (according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association), prospects are high for the new year as well. From alternative financing models and support to new technologies, this is a good time to invest in solar energy and contribute to the nation’s clean energy goals.

Candice Conti is a field marketing specialist with REC Solar. REC Solar specializes in grid-tied solar electric design and installation, offering affordable solar solutions for all residential and commercial customers. For more information visit their web site at www.recsolar.com.