| San Francisco is the city where going green is | | | | Until the rest of the country catches up with the |
| developing into a lifestyle and is fast becoming a | | | | enlightened policies of the San Francisco and the |
| world leader in the use of solar power and is | | | | Bay Area, then the practical way to get solar |
| involved in a number of political and policy moves | | | | power for the rest of us is to look into the wide |
| to promote the development of green | | | | range of solar power kits available. This will allow |
| technology. Together the Bay Area and San | | | | you to build your own solar panels at a fraction of |
| Francisco has come up with an innovative way of | | | | retail, with these kits you will be able to make a |
| promoting the future of solar power for homes. | | | | start on your own solar system by constructing |
| Throughout the area solar panels are visible on | | | | your first solar panel for around $100. The kits will |
| thousands of rooftops, supplying power to some | | | | show you how to design, construct, install and |
| major landmarks and soon the famous Alcatraz | | | | hook up you solar panels, to give you a viable |
| Island will join the exclusive group. | | | | source of energy with all the advantages that it |
| As of this month homeowners can get loans | | | | offers by way of cheap power. |
| from the city to cover the cost of installing solar | | | | Although it may be a while before such grants |
| power systems in their homes, repayments are | | | | are available to the rest of us, we can all claim |
| made easy because the city facilitates the | | | | Alternative Energy rebates on any property |
| repayments through increased property taxes. | | | | owner that installs alternative energy systems in |
| This removes the single biggest deterrent for | | | | their property, which will offset some of the cost |
| most homeowners that of the up-front costs of | | | | of installation. |
| retail installation of solar power systems, which | | | | These kits also offer the small entrepreneur an |
| can be considerable at current rates of around | | | | opportunity to grow their own Green Business by |
| $20,000 for the average home. | | | | using the knowledge they get through the |
| These loans range from a minimum of $5,000 to | | | | instruction manuals and videos in the kits, and the |
| a maximum of $50,000 or 10% of the homes | | | | practical experience gained through the |
| value whichever is less. The payback period is up | | | | construction of their own solar energy system. |
| to 20 years and the loan is tied to the property | | | | The increased public awareness and interest in |
| and not to the individual so when the house is sold | | | | using solar power in their homes, will surely lead to |
| the balance of the loan is passed on to the new | | | | an increase in the demand for Green businesses |
| owner. Pressure should now be put on other cities | | | | to install solar systems, and follow the lead set by |
| and States to follow this Green trend as San | | | | San Francisco with its innovative way of |
| Francisco demonstrates the future for solar | | | | promoting the future of solar power for homes. |
| power for homes. | | | | |