Sun Spots
Solar energy is a feel-good thing. The idea seems so simple- the sun is a huge ball of energy, let’s harness it with technology so user-friendly they use the word “passive” in the name. The only thing is, unless your house already has this technology installed, it takes a little bit of work and capital to make the passive thing happen. And if you don’t own a home, or have the capital…well, you get where this is going.
Enter some outside the box solar thinkers from, of all unlikely places, Minnesota, to bring a new level of accessibility to residential alternative energy use.
freEner-g (“free energy”) is a company in the Twin Lakes area that offers a first-of-its-kind opportunity, solar leasing. This means that homes and small businesses can take advantage of all the benefits of clean, sun-generated electricity for a monthly fee. As the company states on their web site, “freEner-g will custom design a solar system for your home or small business and will install, maintain & support it throughout the term of your lease. With freEner-g’s leasing program, you avoid the significant up-front cost of owning, eliminate the responsibility of maintaining and retain flexibility of choosing solar if you move.”
The freEner-g site also provides a handy-dandy comparison chart of what the investment looks like to lease solar through their company or purchase it on your own. Even including government rebates and tax credits, the difference is staggering. Not to mention the comforting knowledge that all is not lost if you need to move or discontinue use for any reason, and they’ll be no need for precarious maintenance trips to the roof.
This seems like a great concept to me…anyone know of companies in other areas of the country doing something similar?
P.S. Watch a candid video interview with a founder of freEner-g and a GenGreenLife.com Ambassador!