Frustrated with rising utility costs? Consider making an investment like the one that John and Lynn Lazzaro did, and you too could start seeing monthly utility bills as low as $0.
Greenspring Energy
The Lazzaro family worked with Timonium- based Greenspring Energy to have a tankless hot water and solar electric system installed on their Sparks, Maryland home just over a year ago. Since then, they have taken advantage of clean, renewable and sustainable energy from the sun’s rays to power their seven-year-old home.
“We brought Greenspring Energy in to do a home energy audit as a first step, which helped us identify ways that we could improve our energy efficiency as a family,” Lynn Lazzaro said. “We spent a lot of time calculating the cost of a solar system versus the benefits it would provide long-term. So far, we are finding those estimates to be very positive and very accurate.
So accurate, in fact, that the family is currently working with Greenspring Energy to expand their solar energy package. A Kohler generator as well as high efficiency LED lighting will soon be added to the Lazzaros' home to maximize the efficiency of their solar systems.
Federal Tax Credits
The Lazzaros have taken advantage of federal tax credits, Maryland state grants and their local renewable energy credit program, which reimburses homeowners $250 to $300 for every 1000 kWh of clean solar energy generated by their system. These savings, coupled with the fact that the family has reduced their utility costs by approximately $2,400 annually, have confirmed the effectiveness of solar energy and projected a phenomenal return on investment. Lazzaro estimates that her family’s solar purchase will pay for itself within just five to six years at today’s energy costs. The payback period will decrease if energy costs continue to rise.
“This is a great investment and one that we made for the benefit of our family,” she said. “Our system is providing 110 percent of what we needed to reduce our utility costs and also live in a way that is environmentally friendly.”
The Process
To start, the Lazzaros interviewed six solar energy companies and requested cost estimates from the three that were most impressive, including Greenspring Energy. Of high importance to them was to partner with a company that uses the highest quality American products, that was professional and experienced, and that would make the process simple for them. They were immediately impressed with Greenspring Energy’s presentation and their clear understanding of how to customize a solar energy plan to produce the fastest and most efficient return on investment for their customers.
“Greenspring Energy’s cost was not the highest or the lowest; it was the middle of the road estimate. But of everyone we talked to, no one was more knowledgeable, and we went into this knowing that we had selected the right company to meet our needs,” Lazzaro said.