About Real Goods Solar

Since 1978, Real Goods has led the sustainable living market through sales, education, and installation of solar and other renewable energy products. As the original and most experienced solar installer we are ideally positioned to install solar on your home or business.

About Real Goods Solar

Company Annoucements

We've been busy bringing solar energy to a community near you! Here is the latest company "buzz"!

Real Goods Solar Receives Top Award from Sharp Solar

article_SharpAward At a recent Sharp Solar conference held in Long Beach, CA, Real Goods Solar received their prestigious Top Contractor Sales Customer of the Year for 2009. Presented once a year at the Sharp Dealers meeting, this award honors excellence and leadership in the solar industry.

“Sharp is delighted to honor Real Goods as Sharp’s 2009 Top Contractor Sales Customer of the Year. Real Goods is making tremendous strides in helping its customers meet their sustainability and clean energy goals," said Ron Kenedi, Vice President of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group.

San Francisco Affordable Housing Powers on Solar Energy

Mayor Newsom, Government Officials, Residents, Solar Installers and Local Community to Celebrate at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

This Ribbon Cutting will mark the commissioning of the solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed at several affordable housing sites in San Francisco and celebrate bringing solar power, green jobs, and financial relief to residents and owners. Media representatives are invited to join state, local and federal officials as the new green power in San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood is turned on.

Paradise Found

Real Goods Outfits 100% Solar Caribbean Resort

article_tiamo Mike and Petagay Hartman, owners of the Caribbean's only full-service, 100% solar-powered resort, came to South Andros, Andros Island in the Bahamas soon after they met on Valentine's Day, 1995. They fell in love with the pristine environment, and it was only natural that the Tiamo Resort grew from their desire to preserve and share their experience.

While planning and building Tiamo, Mike and Petagay took great care to have the least possible impact on the island's ecosystem, which sits at the third largest barrier reef in the world. The resort gets all of its power from a PV system that has a daily electricity-generating capacity of more than 120,000 watt-hours and a battery storage facility totaling 4,075 amp hours.

Real Goods Founder Receives Green Pioneer Award

Recognition for Commitment to the Renewable Energy Industry

John Schaeffer has received the 2007 Green Power Pioneer Award from the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) for helping bring renewable energy products to a much wider mainstream market. The annual national award recognizes individual renewable energy leaders that have demonstrated leadership by working to build the market for green power.

Real Goods Helps Solarize Dwell Playhouse for a Good Cause

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Imagine what joy kids (and grownups, too) could have in a solar-powered playhouse. Thanks to Real Goods, Dwell magazine and a team of goodhearted folks, some lucky children are about to find out.

Invited by Dwell magazine to design an eco/sustainable play/climbing house, California Architect Jonathan Davis contacted Real Goods President and Founder John Schaeffer to see if Real Goods wanted to get in on the fun. The result is that Real Goods designed a 12V solar system that shades the playhouse and also charges the battery system that powers LED lighting throughout the house. Real Goods also donated four 232aH batteries and system components to the project.

Inner-City Kids Get Down with Solar at the SLI

50 Disadvantaged Kids Discover Solar at Earth Day for Kids

article_innercitykids On Earth Day 2006 some powerful learning took place at the Solar Living Institute (SLI) in Hopland, California. Seeds of hope and change were planted as 50 inner-city kids from San Francisco’s Bret Harte School took a cost-free field trip to SLI’s lush, 12-acre campus 95 miles north of the city. Eighty percent of the kids had never even been north of the Golden Gate Bridge before.