SOLAR TODAY May 4, 2012
SolarCity in March unveiled a home-loan program designed to reduce or eliminate the up-front costs of energy-efficiency upgrades nationwide. The company offers a comprehensive home-energy evaluation to diagnose the cause of high utility bills and energy loss, and a range of upgrades to reduce energy costs and improve indoor air quality.
SolarCity introduced energy-efficiency services in 2010 and has launched more than 5,000 efficiency projects in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Texas (out of 33,000 energy projects across the country). The energy-efficiency service now moves Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.
A proprietary software package performs billions of calculations during each home evaluation to produce a comprehensive overview of upgrade options, including air infiltration, insulation, heating/cooling and duct leakage. The loan program is underwritten by Admirals Bank of Boston. Packages include a one-year “save Now, Pay later” option, or a three- or 10-year “Pay As You Go” option.