As many know, Mike and I are building a home "off the grid" on Isla Solarte in Bocas Del Toro province, Panama. The solar panels are on the roof and we expect to power all the amenities that we've become accustomed to having - TV, ceiling fans, refrig's - you know everything. But on our US / California business building, we hit several barriers to adding the panels from orientation for maximum exposure to cost - But after reading Kelly's article, I'm searching for a good reason NOT to continue. Maybe you'll agree.
Solar Energy and Your Business: Time for a Second Look?
Posted: 08 Aug 2010 08:25 PM PDT
Like many, you may think of solar panels as an investment for idealists — those business owners who want to do something environmentally positive even though it can take over a decade to see financial payback.
After all, purchasing and installing a system of solar photovoltaic panels generally requires an upfront investment of $8 to $10 per watt, or upwards of $30,000 for many businesses. Those businesses might shave only $1,500 or $2,000 annually off their electric bills. It’s not exactly the ROI most business owners seek.
But the economics of solar energy are brightening, and it might make sense to take another look.
One reason is a new momentum nationally for solar energy production. The Obama administration unveiled plans recently to give $2 billion to two U.S.-based solar plants. The hope is to greatly bolster production of solar energy, while simultaneously creating more than 1,500 new green jobs. This kind of federal promotion of solar energy is helping increase competition among producers of solar panels and bringing the price of solar installations down.
Already, businesses can receive a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of installing solar panels; the credit is available through 2016.
But there are other encouraging developments. Several states and local governments are using federal stimulus dollars to roll out new incentives, such as tax rebates, for businesses that install solar-power systems. Massachusetts, Delaware and Florida are among the states to do so. In recent years, states have also been bolstering their net-metering laws, requiring utilities to buy excess energy produced by customers with solar power. (A good place to check for solar incentives and net metering laws in your state is www.dsireusa.org.)
More utility providers are also starting to push solar incentives. Rocky Mountain Power, for instance, provides Utah commercial customers a $2-per-watt rebate for installing solar panels, while CPS Energy offers its Texas commercial customer $3 per watt. Many of these utility programs cap their annual payout.
But even with all these various incentives combined, many business owners are probably wondering whether it makes sense to buy solar panels right now. It’s a good question. While incentives may abound, the price of solar is likely to decline in coming years. A good place to start is by finding out what the upfront cost of installing solar panels would be for your business and then what incentives are currently available to defray that cost. Also factor in your business’s electric bills and how much you are likely to save annually with solar energy. Some businesses will now find paybacks of five years or less, while others may still have to wait more than a decade.
From Small Business Trends
Written by: Kelly Spors is a former small-business and entrepreneurship reporter and blogger for The Wall Street Journal who has also freelanced for Yahoo! and The New York Times.
Kelly is now communications and outreach coordinator for Energy Smart, a Minnesota nonprofit helping businesses save money through energy efficiency. The organization works with businesses of all size to help them get low- or no-cost energy audits and take advantage of energy-efficiency incentives offered through utility companies and government.
Follow Energy Smart on Twitter @mnenergysmart or on Facebook. She can be reached at kspors@mnchamber.com
Write me: agelvisions@gmail.com if you have something to say...
Showing posts with label business development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business development. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
a letter from a friend on Goal Setting
Dear Terre,
In my twenty plus years in the direct selling industry I have seen it all. But there is ONE thing I've never seen....In all my years of experience, I have NEVER seen a leader that did not set goals, write them down, refer to them, and work specific plans to meet them. Knowing how to set and work goals is, quite literally, a requirement for success in this business.
And in the spirit of that, I offer ten clarifying statements to help you assess where you stand with regard to this critical skill....
Myth #1: Goal Setting Is Not That ImportantReality: Success Requires Goals—End of Story! A life of meaning needs goals and specific plans to achieve them. Success does not happen by accident.
Myth #2: Goal Setting Is Difficult and Takes Too Much TimeReality: Performance is accelerated by time invested in strategy. The game of life is won behind the scenes, in time spent on preparation.
Myth #3: New Years Is the Best Time to Set GoalsReality: There’s no better time than now to take control of your life. Goal-Setting is not about timing, it’s about decision. This life is not a dress rehearsal; it’s the only one you’ve got.
Myth #4: Goals Don’t Need to Be Written—Keep Them In Your HeadReality: Written goals clarify thinking, objectify their potential, and reinforce commitment. The palest ink is better than the strongest memory. Goals once out of site, soon become goals out of mind!
Myth #5: Long-Term Planning Is a Waste of TimeReality: Your Future deserves consideration. It will someday be your present reality. It’s worth considering seriously.
Myth #6: A Good Plan Is All You Need to Be SuccessfulReality: Success is active, not passive. All plans require action. Preparation is no substitute for action. Commit to the philosophy of implement now—perfect later.
Myth #7: The Best Way to Achieve a Goal Is to Just BeginReality: Action without planning is the root cause of most failure. Success is a choice. With a plan to lead, you can figure out how to get where you are going.
Myth #8: All It Takes Is Hard Work to Achieve Your GoalsReality: Hard work is important, but working smart is mandatory. Quit trying harder, look for new solutions, and you will accomplish far more in far less time with only a fraction of the effort you have been giving.
Myth #9: I Can Do It On My Own—I Don’t Need HelpReality: Success requires cooperation. Nobody does it alone. In order to achieve more you must learn to help yourself. Success requires the cooperation of others.
Myth #10: Goals Only Need to Be Reviewed Once a YearReality: Inspect what you expect. Everything changes. Your goals must keep shaping, shifting and flexing to fit these fast-changing times.
Adopt a regular and consistent review process.
Signed:
Your Friend,
Craig Bradley and I am Agel!
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