SREC FAQs

Last week’s post discussed how investing in your own solar system can be affordable, provide a worthwhile return, and help you to be a better citizen of planet earth. One incentive mentioned in the post was an SREC. For many, this is a confusing topic. This week, we at Earthsponse hope to answer any questions you may have about SRECs, so that you can better understand this potentially lucrative opportunity.

What is an SREC?

Let’s start from the beginning. In the U.S., 30 of the 50 states (plus Washington D.C.) have established Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). This means that these states are required to obtain a portion of their electricity from renewable sources, (i.e. wind, biofuels, solar, etc. ).

An SREC, or Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, is a certificate that you receive every time your solar system produces 1000kWh of electricity. The SRECs contribute to the solar aspect of the state’s renewable energy goals. These certificates are proof that you have produced renewable, solar electricity. For a 5kW system about 6 of these are produced every year, and these certificates are worth money!

Once your solar system is installed, it must be certified by the state, and an account must be created with a trading platform (Earthsponse will help you with this!). SRECs are then issued based on what your system generates.

How much are SRECs worth?

Even though most states have RPS, they do not all have an active SREC market. The states that do are: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C.. There is no set price for SRECS. They are traded similarly to stocks, so as the demand goes up, so does the price. Current market prices can be viewed at http://www.srectrade.com/. Currently New Jersey and Massachusetts have the most attractive SREC markets, with certificates trading at $640 and $570 respectively. This means that with a 5kW system in New Jersey, you could potentially put an extra $3,840 in your pocket each year you produce solar electricity.

How are SRECS sold?

There are two ways to sell your SRECS once they are produced:

1. They can be sold to a middle man, who will take on the risk, complete all administration work, and sell them to the utility for a cut.

2. Register and sell your SRECS on the open market.

How can you get started?

The only way to begin producing your own SRECS is to install your own solar system! Give Earthsponse a call, or complete our online assessment to learn more today!

-Lisa Dougherty

You Have the Power to Go Solar

One of the more frustrating trends happening today has to be the ever rising energy prices. Filling a car with gas or receiving that monthly electric bill has become quite a scary experience. Although this daunting expense seems unavoidable, there are ways to help make it hurt a bit less. Solar panels are becoming more affordable than ever. Not only are they now affordable, but solar customers can expect to save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of their solar systems, which are warranted for 25 years. It is an investment where you are all but guaranteed a return for your money – try that in the stock market.


One of the main reasons solar is so affordable is help from the federal and state governments, which support an investment in solar through incentives and rebates! In addition to these rebates, solar adds value to your home (according to the EPA and the National Appraisal Institute, for every dollar you save on your energy bill you add 20 dollars to the value of your home), and you are able to start saving on your utility bills immediately. The federal government alone will refund 30% of the cost of your solar electric or solar hot water system.

There are also state incentives that make solar easier than ever to acquire at a low price. One state that is showing its commitment to going green and saving you money is New Jersey, which offers exemption from the 7% state tax on all solar PV and solar thermal equipment. That is not all - New Jersey has also made a commitment that by the year 2021, 22.5% of its electricity sold will come from renewable sources. Therefore, it offers one of the best SRECS (Solar Renewable Energy Certificate) in the country.

Although New Jersey is making a big statement in the renewable energy world, it is not the alone in making solar a more worthwhile investment for taxpayers. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Program offers a rebate of 35% on your solar thermal or PV installation costs. In New York, NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) is offering money back on electricity produced with solar thermal and PV systems as long as certain criteria are met. There is also the NY Solar Jobs Act that, if passed, could create over 20,000 green jobs and boost the local economy. All federal and state incentives can be found at http://www.dsireusa.org/solar/.

Here at Earthsponse, we believe that producing your own solar energy will be one of the most rewarding investments you make. You will be energy independent, you will help to save the planet, and you will save money. How much better can it get? Visit our website, fill out your free virtual solar assessment and our solar experts can tell you! http://earthsponse.com/

-Lisa Dougherty

Get to Know Earthsponse!

Welcome to the official Earthsponse blog!  This will be a place for you to view news, opinions, testimonials and  other information to keep you informed about the renewable energy industry, solar energy in particular.  For our first post we thought we would give an overview of who Earthsponse is.

Earthsponse is a renewable energy company that was founded in 2008 by Dan Babcock as a subsidiary of Modern Marketing Concepts (MMC), in Binghamton, NY.  Through direct sales in our local area, and our network of dealers throughout the East Coast, we provide our customers with top-quality solar energy products, and even better service.  Our goal is simple - , we aim to make solar as easy as possible. Our team of experts will do the heavy lifting – federal, state, and local incentives, designing your system, and helping you select the best options available to finance your project, if needed.

We offer two types of panels for residential and commercial customers: Solar electric and solar thermal.  A short summary of these technologies is below.

Solar Electric Systems
An electric solar system has few components: photovoltaic (PV) panels which collect the sun, and an inverter,  which converts the DC power your system generates into AC power, which fuels the devices in your home.

During the day, the PV panels capture the sunlight and the inverter converts it to usable electricity. Any energy you produce that isn’t used  is effectively “sold” back to your utility for credit. At night, or when your system isn’t producing electricity, the utility grid supplies your electricity. Solar Thermal Systems
Heating water is just as easy. A solar collector plate is positioned to face the sun, where it catches and absorbs the sun's heat. A fluid (water or glycol) flows through the piping within the collector. Behind the insulated plate is an air gap, which allows excess heat to be released, preventing stagnation and overheating. As heat is collected, it's transferred to your water tank through a heat exchange process.

Currently, Earthsponse has dealers that service areas in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, and Connecticut, and we’re looking to expand even further.  More information can be found at our website, www.Earthsponse.com.

Continue to check back often for news regarding Earthsponse and the growth of the renewables industry!

-Lisa Dougherty