Who’s Eligible?

1BOG programs are open to all residents that:

• Own their home*
• Are listed on their electrical utilities bill
• Are willing to make energy conservation changes such as installing compact fluorescent lights, running the dishwasher at night, etc.

* Renters with support of landlords are eligible to participate. 1BOG will work closely with city officials and private companies to bring solar to multi-unit rental buildings.

Not all homes are ideally suited for solar power. When you register for 1BOG your home will be evaluated to ensure it is appropriate for solar. The following summarizes the solar qualification criteria:

• Level of shading
• Orientation of roof
• Amount of space available for panel mounting
• Roof inclination, material, condition and age
• Electrical service upgrades

When does the program finish?
We are currently in the first 1BOG campaign, and plan to continue running 1BOG programs in San Francisco and around the country. We will complete the first program on September 15th, 2008 to allow our members to have solar installed and approved before the end of the year.

Why should I sign up?

Our goal is to get as many “blocks off the grid” as possible. We aren’t looking for a specific individual city block but rather a “virtual” block - enough homes to reduce the electrical demands by one city block (hopefully many city blocks). By combining the power of group purchasing with  Federal, State and City solar incentives, together we can make solar more accessible and cost-effective than ever before.

How do I sign up?
You can sign up to join a solar community by filling out the registration form on the right. You will need to provide details about your current electricity usage, and be willing to have a short solar assessment done on your home. This assessment is necessary to make sure your home is a good candidate for solar.

Which cities are eligible for 1BOG?
The first 1BOG campaign is being run in San Francisco. We intend to bring 1BOG to other cities and other states. Please signup for 1BOG wherever you are. This helps us identify the cities with the greatest interest.

How can I get neighbors to sign up?
This program relies on getting as many people to commit to solar as possible. The savings are in the numbers, the more we are the more leverage we have to negotiate terms and prices. You can help spread the word about 1BOG by emailing your friends, neighbors and colleagues about the program. If you’d like to setup a neighborhood meeting about the 1BOG program contact us, we can help.

How much will solar cost me?
Visit our “What Does It Cost” page for details on the costs of solar power in the 1BOG program.