On Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m., Morrow Memorial Methodist Church's GreenFaith program will host a Solar Screening Event to introduce the 2012 Residential Solar Campaign. The campaign offers New Jersey homeowners the chance to have a solar array installed on their home for free and purchase the solar power at a discount to standard utility prices. The system is installed, maintained, monitored, and insured by the program at no cost or risk to the homeowner. It is a way to protect the environment and save money on electric bills.

The Morrow website explains it in detail:

Why go solar? The average US citizen makes his or her greatest negative impacts on the environment by using fossil fuels. Renewable energy is vital in the fight against climate change. GreenFaith has long supported the use of renewable energy and is now playing an important role in attracting the first renewable energy provider into New Jersey.

How it works: Here are the six steps you’ll take to “go solar” through the Campaign.

Step 1:  We assess your roof’s solar capacity. Using satellite photos, and physical measurements we assess your home’s roof size, orientation and shading to determine whether it qualifies for the program. 

Step 2:  We analyze your annual electricity usage. You provide a copy of your most recent electricity bill.  We need the entire bill, not just the payment page.

Step 3:  The program funder conducts a standard utility credit check. Before installing the system on your home, confirmation is required that you own your home, you’re current on your electric bill, there are no liens or judgments on your home which could jeopardize the solar equipment, and your credit score is 680-700 or higher. This check is similar to a Standard Utility Credit Check you complete before a utility turns on your residential utility service. 

Step 4:  Site Visit and Enrollment. AP Solar staff conducts a site visit to inspect your roof and to confirm that it qualifies for the program. The AP Solar representative will provide an overview of the program and help you enroll, locking in funding for the solar array on your home.  At this point, we request a $250 deposit - which is 100% refunded at the time your system is installed or you withdraw from the program - so that we can commit engineering resources to your system.

Step 5:  Final System Design and Contract. AP Solar’s engineering team conducts a comprehensive analysis of your roof and produces the final plans for the solar array.  Following the completion of all plans, you’ll meet with your AP Solar representative to review the system in detail, get your questions answered, and execute your contract.

Step 6:  Permitting, construction, inspections and commissioning. AP Solar secures the necessary permits, oversees construction, and coordinates the inspections required for solar projects, Then – the switch is flipped (literally!) and your home starts using solar power! From the time you sign your initial agreement, your home will be solar-powered in roughly four months.

For more information about the event or to RSVP, email Dave Gilbert at tigerdave1@comcast.net.