REAL GOODS CASE STUDY - Richmond, CA

An Inconvenient Truth Inspires Couple to Solarize

Mike Elwell, a freelance TV photographer who lives in Richmond, California, got so inspired by doing a video documentary on Al Gore before the movie came out that he told his wife, Susan, "We ought to go solar."

Conveniently, Mike soon met Real Goods Solar Technician Michele McGeoy at Solar Richmond, a local nonprofit whose mission is to encourage installation of more solar power on Richmond residences and businesses. The organization is chaired by Michele and was inspired by the city's mayor, Gayle McLaughlin, one of the only Green Party mayors in the country. Mike and Susan were impressed with Michele's expertise and hired Real Goods to install solar on their 2,500-sq.-ft. home.

"It was painless," Mike says, even though he was out of town a lot during the installation, and the house needed a new roof before the panels could go up.

Installation was completed and the Elwells began generating their own power in July 2006. The Elwells' 3.4 kW system features 20 170-watt Sharp panels and a Xantrex inverter.

"It feels really good to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem," Susan says. And Mike adds, "When we first got the system, we'd have a glass of wine and watch the meter spin backward on long summer evenings." The Elwells also enjoy the lower energy bills (their house is net zero during the summer) and saying "Gotcha" to Chevron Oil Company (which is influential in Richmond, California) by producing their own energy.

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