One of the most challenging and time-consuming steps during the solar development process can be making sure an installation meets all state and local regulations and all the necessary permits are secured. Since requirements vary from county to county in many cases, with cities and municipalities also making their own rules, it’s incredibly important to stay up-to-date on any changes and make adjustments if necessary. We make it a point to be in the know when it comes to the permitting issues relevant to our customers, so it’s one less worry on their minds. For example, just last week the state of Maryland made changes to their permitting requirements that will limit the size of rooftop solar installations so all future system designs for our Maryland customers will be done with this in mind.

Moving ahead with solar projects without securing local permits often ends up with delays in construction and worse, fines levied on the homeowner. Our experts at Standard Energy Solutions make sure that doesn’t happen, and if and when changes to local regulations do occur, act quickly to minimize the impact on systems under contract, or for potential customers. While we are continuing to hope for a nationwide standard, which will likely lower installation costs and streamline the process, our team stays apprised of your specific rules and regulations so that you are always informed.

2013 is the year we are giving back control. After taking a look at Standard Solar’s success in helping homeowners over the years, we noticed a common theme among Standard Solar and Standard Energy Solutions (SES) customers. Whether their interest lies in home solar or energy efficiency, our customers enjoy the satisfaction that comes once they are able to take control of their energy usage and its performance. So we are making some changes to better meet the needs and desires of our customers. As a result, SES is expanding to encompass all home energy management. Our new, holistic product offering includes home solar, home generators and smart home technology solutions in addition to the top-notch energy efficiency audits and retrofits we are known for. Overall, we’ve made it so that we can provide a simplified, streamlined service for our customers, from start to finish.

SES launched in 2009 to provide comprehensive energy audits, custom upgrades and retrofits in order to maximize energy efficiency at home. We’ve been happy to help our customers lower their utility bills, and realize healthier and more comfortable homes. However, as technology advances and home solar becomes more accessible, we’ve needed to grow the range of products and services we offer. There are so many options now to control energy usage at home: upgrades to help seal windows and doors, increased insulation, technologies that allow you to adjust your thermostat, outlets and lighting via the internet from any connected device, and even better, can alert you when someone forgets to turn off a light. Our team can help you determine and implement the best and most effective applications for your home.

A key addition to our offerings – home generators. As many of us located on the East Coast have experienced all too recently, the realities of an aging and overtaxed electric grid and increasingly volatile weather events like last fall’s Superstorm Sandy make power outages a concern for many. We’ve responded by including natural or propane gas generators in our stable of solutions. Generators can keep your home running when the power goes out, from essential circuits to whole home operation. It’s a welcome bit of peace of mind, and we are happy to offer the best products on the market.

We are so excited to make SES the single source for home energy management, and as always, commit to providing the utmost in customer service and professionalism.

Visit us at www.standardenergysolutions.com

Have you ever dreamed about building an efficient, environmentally sustainable and beautiful solar-powered house? For a group of more than 100 students and faculty leaders from The Catholic University of America, The George Washington University and American University, that dream will become a reality over the next ten months. Team Capitol DC, comprising students from these three universities, will be competing against 19 other teams in the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in Irvine, CA.

We are excited that Standard Solar will act as a technical advisor to the team throughout the design and construction phases of the project, with Solar Decathlon alumni and current Director of Engineering C.J. Colavito working closely with the students. Over the next year, the team will work together to design and build their solar-powered house, dubbed “Harvest Home,” which will be then transported and assembled in California for the competition, to be held October 3-13. Each solar-powered home will be evaluated by based upon the best blend of affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

Keep up with the developments of Harvest Home at www.TeamCapitolDC.org.