An upcoming event at the Easton Community Center will provide information on whether solar panels can offset the rise in electric bills.
The event comes after John Hamlin, a home inspector from Easton, asked in a recent Facebook post if people were looking for alternative energy sources to grid-based electricity. Most Connecticut residents saw record-setting rate increases in their August bills after the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved rate increase requests for Eversource and United Illuminating.
The response Hamlin received from the community was overwhelming.
“I figured if we got past, you know, maybe eight or 10 people interested that I’d go ahead and schedule something,” said Hamlin. “We’re well over 30 people that have responded who said are interested, so I think it is definitely something that is of interest in the community.”
The session will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Easton Community Center’s Teen Center Room. Hamlin will be there to answer questions as will James Volosin, from Trinity Solar and Kelly Higgins, an Easton resident and real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. The three will answer questions and educate people on the impact solar can have on reducing electric bills and how long it takes, whether solar panels affect the value of your home, if solar complicates real estate transactions, and how to know if your home is a good fit for solar.
Hamlin is no stranger to solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. He has solar panels on his house, and around 12 years ago he did some side work as an energy advisor working for a non-profit program called the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Energy Challenge. His role as an energy advisor was to do community presentations on how to make your home more energy efficient, making it greener, looking at things like geothermal, solar and insulation.
Connecticut is trying to encourage homeowners to switch to solar and other renewable energy solutions. The state’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program gives homeowners incentives, including loans, grants and rebates.
Cathy Alfandre, with the Easton Energy & Environment Task Force, thinks the event is a good opportunity for residents to learn about solar energy.
“I think it’s wonderful that someone who has personal experience with solar has organized this event,” said Alfandre. “With the price of electricity so high, it’s important for as many Easton residents as possible to learn about the potential benefits and cost savings they can realize from installing solar.”
The Easton Energy & Environment Task Force’s page on the town website has useful links for residents. Look on the left for the tab that says “Getting Started with Residential Solar.”
Hamlin said the biggest obstacle for homeowners is that many don’t know how solar works and how it affects electric bills. Others are concerned about the appearance of how the panels will look, where to put them on the house. or overall understanding how solar works.
Hamlin said there are benefits to installing solar, but it might not be a good fit for every home or in every circumstance.
