Harvard Residents Lead the Way in Solarizing Mass

July 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Harvard, MA -- Less than a month after the announcement of the Solarize Mass integrator in Harvard, the first town residents have committed to participate in this unique program.  During the June 23rd Solar 201 meeting, attendees enthusiastically supported an aggressive goal of installing more than 300 kilowatts (kW) to reach the ‘Tier 4’ pricing target. Prior to the Solarize Mass program, Harvard had about 36 kW of residential solar power installed.  In the first three weeks of the Solarize Mass program, town residents have already committed to 25 kW – moving everyone toward the next Tier of lower pricing.


Tom Williams of Harvard was the first person to sign up for a free solar site evaluation and the first person to commit to a solar installation.  “I looked at solar two years ago. The payback for a cash purchase was 12-13 years. With the Solarize Mass Harvard deal, and the SRECs, the economics are almost too good.”  Kristen Ferguson of New England Breeze Solar, the selected solar integrator for Harvard, agrees, “A solar electric system that can provide 25-100% of a home’s current electrical usage can pay for itself in the first 4-8 years.”


Harvard town residents are eligible for special ‘bulk’ pricing through the Solarize Mass pilot program. Solarize Mass participants who commit to a solar installation by September 30, 2011 will receive discounts of 8-33% off of normal installation prices.  A hard working Solarize Mass Harvard committee is spearheading efforts to deliver the message to every household in town.  Neighbors and friends are spreading the word in a true grass roots marketing campaign. Each new sign up brings everyone closer to an even lower installed cost.  The first ten people to sign up receive a complimentary copy of "The Low Carbon Diet" book.

After her free site solar evaluation, Laura Chalifoux says, “We've wanted to do this for years, so I think it's going to be a no-brainer for us, and a great investment in our house. This is such a wonderful program -- many, many thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to bring solar to Harvard!"