Solar Works is a full-service, licensed solar contractor specializing in photovoltaic (PV) systems for homes, communities, non-profits and businesses in the Sonoma County area.

We provide energy efficient solutions that conserve natural resources and promote individual and community self-reliance.

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Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Links and Resources

Design Considerations for Builders and Architects (and interested homeowners)
Planning on installing a solar electric (aka photovoltaic or PV) system on your client's new building? Read our publication, “Design Considerations for Builders and Architects” for information that will help make the installation go smoothly, keep cost to a minimum, and optimize performance.

Local Resources

Solar Sebastopol: Solar Sebastopol is a local, first-of-its-kind program to encourage more solar energy on residential, business, and public properties in Sebastopol. Solar Sebastopol's goal was to install 1 megawatt of solar electric installations within the city limits, equivalent to PV systems on about 500 average-size homes.

General Information on Solar Energy

American Solar Energy Society (ASES) www.ases.org
California Solar Energy Industries Assoc. (CALSEIA) www.calseia.org
California Energy Commission (CEC) www.consumerenergycenter.org
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST) www.crest.org
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) www.fsec.ucf.edu
North Carolina Solar Center (NCSC) www.ncsc.ncsu.edu
Northern California Solar Energy Assoc. (NCSEA) www.norcalsolar.org
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) www.seia.org
This Renewable House www.calenergy.org

Solar Electric (photovoltaic) Information & Manufacturers

Look at a PV Systems Intro from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Read up on PV Technical Details from Sandia National Labs.
SMA America manufactures grid-tied inverters.
Uni-Rac manufactures PV module racks.
Visit Sanyo Solar's main page, or go directly their products page to view their photovoltaic cells and amorphous solar cells.
Learn more about solar panels we'll install on your roof and the technology in general by visting Sunpower's web site.

Financial Incentives

CEC Emerging Renewables Program www.consumerenergycenter.org/erprebate
National Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy www.dsireusa.org
Pacific Gas & Electric E-Net Program www.pge.com/gen
Public Utility Commission Self Generation Program www.pge.com/selfgen
For Schools, Government, and Non-Profits: www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/NEWS_RELEASE/59156.htm

Solar Financing Options

Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) www.egia.com
CEC Resources www.consumerenergycenter.org/erprebate/financing.html
Fannie Mae Energy Efficient Mortgage www.homepath.com

Clean Energy Calculators

EPA Clean Energy Power Profiler www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/powerprofiler.htm

Passive Solar Design Information

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council www.sbicouncil.org

Solar Energy News

Californesia Solar Center www.californiasolarcenter.org
Renewable Energy Access (news and consumer advocacy) www.renewableenergyaccs.com


Fuel Cell Technology

American Hydrogen Association www.clean-air.org
US Dept of Energy - Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Program www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells


Energy Efficiency Resources

Alliance to Save Energy www.ase.org
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy www.aceee.org
California Home Energy Efficiency Rating System (CHEERS)www.cheers.org
Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) www.efficientwindows.org
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse: US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program www.energystar.gov
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium www.geoexchange.org
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory www.HomeEnergySaver.lbl.gov
Lightsite www.lightsite.net
PG&E Conservation & Rebate Site www.pge.com/res/rebates
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) www.rmi.org
Southface Energy Institute www.southface.org

Publications/Magazines

Chelsea Green Publishing offers a whole section on renewable energy publications.
Home Power www.homepower.com
Home Energy Magazine www.homeenergy.org
Heede, Richard. Homemade Money. Snowmass, CO: Brick House Publishing, 1995.
Wilson, Alex, J. Thorne, J. Morrill. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings. American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, 1999, Washington, DC