Everything you need to know about going solar

A number of friends have asked me for information on going solar. Rather than keep sending the same emails about it over and over, I thought I’d consolidate the information here.

The Most Solar Man in the World urges you to sponsor me for the Solarthon

It’s quick and easy to help me help low-income families, with even a few dollars!

Policy trumps sunshine as a solar resource

The future looks bright for solar in the U.S. That’s according to a recent UC Berkeley study that claims that by 2050, solar power could supply a third of all electricity demand in the country’s western states.

Help others while helping yourself: Sponsor me for the GRID Alternatives Solarthon!

It’s Solarthon season! What does that mean? As some of you know, that means I’ve signed up to help install solar panels for low-income families with GRID Alternatives. And I’m asking for your help to sponsor me.

2012: The best of times or worst of times for solar?

Yogi Berra might have been referring to the solar industry when he said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” But that never stops people from trying! As we look back at the many predictions about the solar industry for 2012, it’s instructive to see how they stacked up to reality.

B Corps: Changing the Capitalist Game

Years ago, I was invited to a “Monopoly” party. The hosts divided us into groups and got five or six games going. What fun, no? No! As the afternoon progressed, I noticed people getting meaner by the hour. People I thought were my friends. People who were normally nice. The game was bringing out the worst in everyone. It dawned on me that we were playing at the capitalist system, and it’s one that encourages selfishness and greed. I vowed never to play “Monopoly” again.

I only recently learned from Nation of Change that the game was created “to warn players of the dangers of free market capitalism.” Just as I thought!

But while I can avoid playing “Monopoly,” I can’t avoid being part of the capitalist system. And the dangers of that system are far more serious than hurt feelings or overturned game boards. We’ve seen capitalism widen the gap between rich and poor, ruin many in the middle class, and devastate our planet.

So what can we do? Are we stuck with this system? I can’t answer that question, but glimmers of hope are appearing, in the form of what’s being called “the new economy” — a more sustainable one whose overriding purpose is not to grow profit. And two important parts of the new economy are Certified B Corporations and Benefit Corporations.

What are B Corps?

You may have heard both of these referred to as B Corps. But while the two are similar, they have a few important differences. In a nutshell, B-Corp is a certification given by the nonprofit B Lab, indicating that a company meets a high standard of overall social and environmental performance. This certification is available throughout the United States and around the world.

Benefit Corporation, on the other hand, is a legal status administered by the state — so far available in 11 states, with legislation pending in 16 more. In states where both are available, a majority of B Corps have both the certification and the Benefit Corporation status.

What’s revolutionary about a Benefit Corporation is that it’s a new corporate structure that puts people and planet on equal footing with profit. That’s not just a statement of intent. It carries the legal weight of protecting a corporation from being sued by shareholders for not putting profit first — something that traditional corporations are subject to.

Many companies, like Mosaic, have opted to become Certified B Corporations. Whether or not the company is also a Benefit Corporation, that certification means a lot. It shows that a company has achieved a certain score on the B Impact Assessment, which verifies that it’s a purpose-driven, for-benefit company. And it requires legal protections to ensure a company stays true to its mission.

Why do companies become B Corps?

Whether a company goes for B Corp or Benefit Corporation status, the benefits are many — to both the company and the planet. Both entities bridge the gap between traditional corporations and nonprofits, providing a means of doing well while doing good.

To ensure that a company benefits not only its bottom line but also people and planet, both Benefit Corporations and Certified B Corporations are required to consider the effect of their decisions on employees, the community, and the environment. And both must report their social and environmental performance according to a third-party standard.

As even traditional companies know by now, these days that can attract customers and investors, not to mention engaged employees. And the credibility conferred by B Corp status can protect a company from charges of greenwashing.

But companies that become B Corps are doing much more than all this. In voluntarily submitting to high standards of transparency and accountability, they are becoming leaders in a movement to redefine success in business. They are changing the capitalist game.

A new game

The Nation of Change article concludes that we’ve reached the endgame of capitalism and it’s time to start playing a new game. But it’s easier to overturn a gameboard than an entire economic system. And that’s the beauty of B Corps. Instead of overturning the system, they are revolutionizing and transforming it, one company at a time — to the tune of over 600 companies so far, including well-known names like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s.

Unlike “Monopoly,” the B Corp game leaves room for more than one winner. And the best thing about B Corps is that whereas traditional corporations are beholden to shareholders, B Corps serve all stakeholders and allow us all to come out ahead. That includes me. It includes you. And it includes our home, this planet.

Rosana Francescato combines her passions for solar power and community as a community solar advocate. This began with her quest to install solar on her San Francisco condo complex and has evolved into blogging and solar analysis. She’s a member of the Local Clean Energy Alliance steering committee and has hands-on experience installing solar with GRID Alternatives, where she’s been the top individual fundraiser three years in a row. She’s excited about new ways for the 75% to participate in solar and has invested in several Mosaic projects.

Originally published at Mosaic and Triple Pundit.

How Mosaic Brings Solar to the 75%

From the roof of my condo complex in a sunny part of San Francisco, I can see solar panels on at least a few houses on each surrounding block.

Yet solar for our condo has eluded us. When it comes to solar, condos — with multiple owners and HOA regulations — are a tough nut to crack. I’m determined to get us solar power someday, but the jury is out on when that day will come.

Is the Sharing Economy the next big thing?

Every time I hear about the sharing economy, I think it’s an idea so great it has to catch on like wildfire. What could make more sense than eschewing rampant consumerism in favor of sharing? It’s clear we need to stop buying stuff we’ll rarely use and instead move to sharing, so we can access that stuff just when we need it.

But I live in San Francisco, where I’m surrounded by like-minded people. Is the sharing economy really the next big thing that’s already happening?

Renewables for the 100%

I’m a big fan of bringing solar to the 75% — that is, those of us who can’t get solar on our own rooftops. In the solar equation, with leases putting panels within reach of more Americans, solar is no longer an elite luxury that only the 1% can afford. But for most of us, it’s still out of reach. If you rent your home, have a shaded roof, or live in a multi-unit building, just to name a few obstacles, you may belong to that 75% who still can’t go solar.

Solar Crowdfunding in California: Part 3, San Francisco Energy Cooperative

As the price of solar has plummeted and leases have become more widespread, many more Americans have been able to go solar. But what about the 75% who can’t?

More options are emerging for solar for the rest of us — including Mosaic’s new online marketplace, which is making it possible for people to invest in community solar projects and earn solid returns.

This three-part series profiles some other startups that are paving the way to spread solar to all.