My Quest to Go Solar

Now or Never producer, Sarah Bacon, set out to investigate solar to reduce electric bills at her mom’s house on Block Island, Rhode Island, which has rates 3-4 times the national average. Because of these astronomical rates, over 10 percent of residences on the island have switched to renewable energy, most of which is solar.

We talked with Jamie Paquette of SolarOne on how solar works, which steps one needs to take to switch to solar and the tax rebates involved. Then Entech Engineering, a Block Island-based renewable energy consulting and installation company run by brothers John and Chris Warfel, paid a visit to the house and walked Sarah around the property and through the process.

Finally, we ran the numbers.

Photo: Energy Education Foundation

Music: Jefferson Airplane, Lennon and McCartney