Classic Central Davis Home Becomes a (Solar) Energy Producer
Nancy Bramberg and Richard Curley live in a neat 1950s vintage home on a quiet street in Central Davis. They’re well settled to our community and didn’t need to make any big changes to continue their idyllic Davis life. But, in 2017, Nancy and Richard…
VCE adds solar customers, dividends
The Valley Clean Energy board of directors a pair of decisions in June to fulfill two promises to its customers. The board voted unanimously to begin including Net Energy Metered solar customers in VCE service starting in January 2020, and additionally voted to launch a…
Solar panels at Davis Community, and other churches, providing lots of electricity
A recently installed array of solar panels on the roof at Davis Community Church is now providing about three-quarters of the electricity used by the congregation, which has a one-block campus across the street from Central Park in downtown Davis. Several other local congregations are…
Plant Nerd and Fish Guy Update Home with Solar, Solar Water Heating
Chris and Christy Dewees have owned their house in Village Homes since it was originally built in 1977. The house came equipped with energy efficient features such as passive solar cooling, extra insulation, dual-paned windows, and solar water heating panels. As the home aged, its…
City of Davis Adopts Solar Standard for All New Commericial Buildings
The City of Davis announced May 20 that it is now requiring solar photovoltaics on all new non-residential buildings and any proposed high-rise, multi-family dwellings. The ordinance to amend city code also includes electric vehicle charging for new development. The Davis City Council passed a…
Want to Add Solar Panels to Your New Home? Five Considerations
Editor’s Note: Solar tax credits begin to sunset at the end of 2019. To take advantage of the full 30% credit deducted from your tax owed, get your system by December 31, 2019. Before adding solar to your recently purchased home, here are five considerations:…
Per Capita Davis: Some good news for a change
Spring has sprung and its time for some good news for a change on the climate front. First, maybe a new approach will help solve the issue of where to locate solar panels. Some people (fewer now) complain that they are unsightly and don’t want…
The Sun Is Setting on the 30% Solar Tax Credit
The solar tax credit has been with us since 2005. In its current form, it provides a 30% tax credit for the installation of a solar system to generate electricity or for a solar hot water system. This allows a homeowner to directly subtract 30%…
Solar “Power Pioneer” Proves Payback Period Has Decreased Dramatically
It’s not surprising that Sue Fields decided to put solar panels on her roof in 2010 — a relatively early time in the movement – she’s an environmental engineer after all. Sue freely admits she didn’t research all of the installers in the area or…
Solar water heating systems: Cost-effective and carbon reducing
Solar water heating (SWH) systems heat water using energy from the sun in rooftop collectors that generally loop into a solar water storage tank. This additional storage tank adds hot water storage capacity and reduces household energy usage. Monthly savings compared to a typical natural…
Per Capita Davis: There are some positive signs for renewables
My inbox gets filled with articles and information that’s interesting and important, but which doesn’t rise to the level of a 900-word column. Here are three of those items. But will they vote? Back in May, the Conservative Energy Network sponsored a poll conducted by…
Rooftop Solar: Partial Fixes for Partial Shade
Tis my delight, alone in summer shade / To pipe a simple song for thinking hearts. — William Wordsworth Wordsworth may have appreciated shade on a summer day, but solar panels do not. Most people know that solar panels produce little on a cloudy day….
Per Capita Davis: A few positive signposts
Hopefully we haven’t leapfrogged from winter into summer, and we’ll get to enjoy spring weather for a while. Spring always brings with it a burst of life energy as dormant trees begin to leaf out, the hills and fields are covered with an intensely beautiful…
Electric vehicles reach a tipping point
Auto writers and forecasters including mainstream business publications like The Economist and Business Insider believe we’re fast approaching a tipping point in the adoption of electric vehicles. Author Malcolm Gladwell popularized the term tipping point in his 2000 book by the same name. According to…
Driving on Sunshine EV/PV Home Tour
Sunday April 15 2018 1pm to 4pm
Davis Recognized as Solar Energy National Leader
Crossposted from the Davis Enterprise By Special to The Enterprise From page A7 | May 03, 2017 SolSmart, a program funded by he U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, has recognized Davis with a Gold Award. Davis will be identified as a solar energy national leader…
Per Capita Davis: Good news for local solar power
April 19, 2017 By John Mott-Smith Crossposted the Davis Enterprise page A10 This column is primarily about rooftop solar in Yolo County, but before we get to that, there have been at least two interesting announcements from the tech world recently in terms of the future…
Davis Centennial: Happy 100th Birthday, Davis!
The City of Davis has lots to be proud of this year: First off we turn 100 years young. To celebrate the Davis Centennial, the City is engaging in a series of events from a slideshow presentation of historical photos at the Varsity Theater to…
Davis Unitarians Befriended Cool Davis from the Beginning
April 3, 2017 By Lynne Nittler The Unitarians Universalist (UU) Church of Davis befriended Cool Davis when it first formed in 2010, and we’ve stayed good friends ever since! Cool Davis’s relationship with UU is a natural fit because UU principles support the Cool Davis…
Former Davis Mayor Living the PV/EV Dream
NEWS FLASH: Rooftop solar permits were pulled for 502 Davis residences in 2016! Check out our latest newsletter and read all about it! Crossposted from the Davis Enterprise From page A9 | February 08, 2017 By Carla Arango When Joe and Janet Krovoza open their…
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Covers the bases for sure...remember 30% tax credit ends this year, ratchets down to 26% next year. This is a direct deduction from taxes as a percentage of system cost, so you have to owe taxes to start with. Quickest turn around is Nov Dec install and subsequent tax break the following year. Installer will help you with this, but you have to file tax form 5695. #gosolardavis
How to … Choose a solar energy company
Solar energy is our number one source of renewable energy, which is why so many are turning toward solar power in order to save money, protect the environment and become less dependent on utility comp...5 hours ago
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Save the Date: EVs @ the Market Saturday September 21 2019 9am-2pm DAVIS
Save the Date: EVs @ the Market - Cool Davis
Are you "electric vehicle curious"? Has your family missed this event in years past? Now is your chance to get engaged!
www.cooldavis.org