More Bay Area Residents Choosing Solar Power

May 7 - KGO (KGO) -- The thought of blackouts doesn't even enter the minds of people who use solar power. These sunny days are just what they need to stock-up on summer energy, and going green means making green.

Temperatures in the Bay Area broke or came close to setting record highs, but Richard Eckman of San Jose doesn't mind, he's keeping his house cool for free.

Richard Eckman, San Jose Resident: "Since this system went in 1998, our PG&E bills have been zero. Except for gas, no electric bill"

On his roof sits a two and half kilo watt solar panel system, generating enough electricity to power his home and then some.

Fat Spaniel Technologies, a San Jose based company that measures the performance of solar and renewable energy systems, lets Eckman know how much he's saving.

Chris Beekhiusm Fat Spaniel Technologies: "This is the inverter, which is taking the DV electricity from the solar panels on the roof, converting it to ac electricity it gets used inside the house or exported to the meter and out to the grid.

ABC7 New Erik Rosales: "So today alone you've produced?"

Chris Beekhiusm: "Thirteen and a half kilowatt hours."

Now that global warming is no longer a partisan issue, going green is in. Solar based businesses are seeing a surge in business.

Barry Cinnamon, Akeena Solar CEO: "A combination of high energy prices and significant environmental problems has just contributed to long term increase in the demand for solar panel systems."

Akeena Solar, is one of the biggest solar energy installers in the nation. The Los Gatos company installed a solar system at this plumbing business for around $40,000 dollars, but incentives and rebates from the federal and state governments brought the cost down to $25,000 dollars.

Executives say it will pay for itself in about seven to 10 years.

Even at the city level, going green is on the minds of many. Mayor Chuck Reed says he's hoping to have solar panels, power all city buildings in the future, saving money for other items in the budget.

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