Solar for Businesses, Non-Profits & Communities

Solar is Strategic

You can’t directly control your revenues, but you can directly control your costs. And now, you have even more control over your electricity expenses.

Reduce Your Taxes

Install in 2008 and save big on taxes:

• Take a 50% bonus depreciation (effectively giving you 60% depreciation in 2008).

• Or use Section 179's increased expensing limit for 100% deduction of solar assets in 2008.

• Plus, take a 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit for systems interconnected by 12/31/08.

Take full advantage of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

Savvy Organizations Are Going Solar Now

• The California Solar Initiative (CSI) offers businesses a rebate of up to $1.55/watt, while non-profits and municipals get rebates of up to $2.30/watt. Rebates cover between 15% to 25% of your system costs. CSI rebates are scheduled to continually decrease, making solar more expensive to install in the future.

• Businesses get a 30% Federal Tax Credit for PV solar systems. Unless Congress approves an extension, the 30% credit is set to expire at the end of 2008: systems must be interconnected by 12/31/08.

• Businesses can depreciate solar PV systems on a special 5-year accelerated schedule (or take a 50% bonus depreciation, or use Section 179's for 100% expensing in 2008).

• Your solar system does not increase the tax basis of your property (CA RTC, Section 73).

Read more reasons for Going Solar Now.

Solar Case Studies

Find out how Solar Works has met the unique challenges presented by a variety of organizations.

Communities:

Bodega Bay Fire Protection District

Ives Community Pool

Sebastopol City Hall

Businesses:

Hahn Auto

Bamboo Sourcery

Non-Profits:

Food For Thought Foodbank

More About Solar Works as a Business

Just the facts: our one-page Coporate Profile.

Vigil Light Apartments for Seniors, Santa Rosa - March 2008: Vigil Light is a low-income apartment complex for seniors. Solar Works closely worked with Vigil Light to determine the optimum solar design for their newly upgraded and more efficient electrical system. During the rebate application process, Solar Works advocated on behalf of Vigil Light for a change in their PG&E rate schedule; the new schedule cut their electrical bill in half and resulted in a $7,000 reimbursement from the utility.

Sebastopol City Hall – July 2007: This 10.6 kW system is expected to provide 97% of City Hall’s electricity needs. To meet space limitations, Solar Works selected high-watt-density, high-efficiency panels. To handle the “foam roof” mounting, Solar Works relied on its 22 years of installation and roofing expertise—one reason it has never had a leak. City Hall is Solar Works' fourth installation for the City of Sebastopol.

Sebastopol Union School District, Sebastopol - Oct. 2006: This 6.0 kW installation on a challenging foam-covered roof presented an opportunity to demonstrate our expertise at designing and installing an innovative mounting system.

Woodland Star Charter School, Sonoma – June 2006: This 30 kW installation on a shade structure was installed as part of the Solar Schools Project. Solar Works secured and financed a $6.40 per watt rebate, and worked with the school for over two years to complete the project, overcoming many challenges. Students now use the system as part of their energy curriculum.

Food For Thought – AIDS Food Bank, Forestville – May 2005: This 30 kW installation has freed up nearly $11,000 a year that now directly serves client needs, rather than paying PG&E bills. Cost was an important factor and Solar Works worked with the client for two years to pull the project together. Our flexibility with the financial aspects was a key factor in making this project possible.

Ives Pool, Sebastopol – May 2004: This 17.5 kW system was the result of extensive research into the best use of funds to cut costs at the city-owned facility. Solar Works and the city-designated engineer worked together to determine the best method of reducing total energy usage. The outcome was a multifaceted approach that included installing more efficient equipment and a PV system.

Sebastopol Fire House, Sebastopol - May 2003: This 10 kW system was nearly cancelled due to an under-built roof. We removed the heavy concrete tiles under the panels and replaced them with composition shingles. The result was a lighter weight roof, even with the addition of panels. Note the elegance of the pyramid panel layout.

Sebastopol Public Works Building, Sebastopol - April 2003: This 10 kW installation on a metal roof also helps keep the building cooler in the summer. A three-phase system with a difficult interface required a creative solution, due to an antiquated electric panel.

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