Solar Panel Conference Scheduled For Wednesday

It’s not unusual any more to see an array of solar panels on Livingston and West Orange roofs, and it raises the question for many homeowners, “Is solar energy cost-effective and appropriate for my home and situation?”

To answer that question, on April 25 at 8 p.m. in the Senior Community Center, the League of Women Voters of Livingston, Livingston Green Team and West Orange Energy Commission are collaborating to offer a program that will address homeowner’s questions about installing solar energy systems. Billed as a “practical, decision-making guide for homeowners,” the program will deal with both financial and installation questions that homeowners ask when weighing the possibility of a solar installation.

Speakers include Bureau of Public Utility Commissioner Joe Fiordaliso and Ronald Reisman, Renewable Energy Program Manager for New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, who will discuss the status of solar energy in New Jersey today and what incentives and financial options the state offers for considering solar as an alternative energy source. Pamela Frank of Sun Farm Network will talk about the physical requirements of a solar installation, what kind of house is a good candidate for solar, and why most houses in NJ aren't good candidates.

The evening will also include a panel of local homeowners who will describe the decision-making process that they used, either to install a solar energy system or to decide against installing solar.

“Payback time, purchase vs. lease, site considerations and what to look for when choosing an installer---these are some of the topics the program will cover,” explains Arlene Johnson, co-chair of the Green Team and co-chair of the program.  “The program’s intention is to give residents the information they need to evaluate the benefits of solar power as part of an overall energy-efficient home.”

As a follow-up to the April 25th informational program, there will be an Energy Eco-Fair on June 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Senior Community Center at which a number of exhibitors will demonstrate their products and services. At the Eco-Fair, residents will be able to get information and ask questions about a number of energy- efficient approaches for the home, including solar and wind systems, insulation, energy audits, energy-efficient lighting, and energy-efficient design. 

According to Renee Resky, co-chair of the Eco-Fair, “The April 25 program and the subsequent Eco-Fair in June will provide residents with lots of useful information, not only on the practicalities of residential solar energy but also on making their homes more energy-efficient.”