The day before yesterday, I was delivered two Warriors T-shirts and two souvenir basketballs for tonight’s game with the NETS at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. I’d like someone to use the free tickets, so, anyone local, who wants them, call me. I’m in the phone book. I hate to see these box suite tickets go to waste. I tried to give them to an Oakland friend, but he wasn’t interested. I didn’t think about anyone around me until this morning. Anyway, here they are for the asking.
The reason I got them is because Mark Danenhower, of The Solar Company, was selected as the solar installer for the Warriors practice facility and he has invited his former customers to a free game to celebrate. It is a huge contract and no one is more deserving than Mark.
Mark was a building contractor and solar was a newish enterprise in 2003. He took the classes, signed up with the state, and got started. It was a tough change. Solar was expensive. I got bids from two other installers. Neither one got up on my roof and measured it and checked to see where the roof trusses were located, like Mark did. They did everything on paper. Since I had five brothers, a son, and a nephew in the construction trades, I knew instantly I was in good hands with Mark.
I asked him how many installations he had done and he could have told me any number. It was under five. I checked out everything, his insurance, the vendors he bought his panels from, I got ratings on the panels. He checked out tops on everything. I had faith in him and he used me many times for a reference after that.
I can attest to the fact that solar pays for itself. The price of PG&E continues to rise, but my electricity is practically free. My installation took place late in 2004, my first bill was late in 2005. PG&E charges approximately 6.00 a month to read my meter. And, as I’ve purchased new electrical devices, electronics, mostly, and a hot tub, etc. my use has gone up. My bill for a year, including meter fees was 178.41 in 2005. It was 141.38 in 2008. It was 178.81 in 2010, my highest bill so far.
I did a video for our local Public Access Television Station entitled, “I Am My Own Power Company” , and I believe the statistics that show we could cut our carbon footprint in half if just 5% of buildings used solar. I’m so proud of the fact our new jail being built in Calaveras County includes solar. I prodded the new Mark Twain St. Joseph’s hospital to include solar when it was built several years ago. What a wasted opportunity. They did not. We have one solar winery in county and many homes. If our local government would require all government buildings to use solar, what a difference it could make in our taxes.
Mark Danenhower only does solar now. He is available at 877.607.6527. I don’t often promote businesses; I’ve certainly trashed a few in this blog. But, I’m proud to endorse TheSolarCom.com.
Que Sera, Sera... Whatever Will Be, Will Be... 