Angiolo Laviziano Chief Executive Officer

By Angiolo Laviziano
Chief Executive Officer
REC Solar, Inc.

Congratulations! I want to commend you for making a smart choice and going solar. Whether you installed your system last week or last year, you are now reaping the benefits of producing your own energy.

You may have chosen solar for several reasons: to help the environment and reduce your carbon footprint by producing your own clean energy, or to reduce both your monthly electricity bill and your reliance on an increasingly expensive and limited resource. No matter what your reasoning is, you have taken a positive step toward your own energy independence and are joining thousands of others who are making a difference to our environment and our world.

It is no secret that the price of most fuel sources is going up. Demand for oil, coal and natural gas is on the rise. As worldwide demand continues to grow, it is clear our need for these resources is outpacing our ability to meet those needs. And as demand expands, price increases will follow. In 2006 alone, the price of electricity rose by 9 percent, the largest jump in 25 years. The price of gas has risen 100 percent in the past five years.

But price increases are not the only negative result – carbon emissions also are surging. According to Greenpeace, “The primary human source of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is from the burning of fossil fuels for energy production and transport … fossil fuels are the primary source for almost 80 percent of the industrial world's energy and is a non-renewable resource.” 

Harvesting sun's energy is the answer

The good news? We have a way to reduce these negative impacts on our pocketbooks and the environment. Most people do not realize that in only 20 days, the sun produces more energy than what is currently available in all our reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. Since the sun has been with us for 4.6 billion years, harvesting its energy seems to be a logical, long-term solution.

Not only is solar energy a renewable resource, its production does not emit the CO2 that results from fossil fuels. Consider this: a home using an average solar energy system produces 285,000 fewer pounds of CO2 than one using traditional resources. That amount of CO2 savings is equivalent to planting 685 mature trees or not driving 357,000 miles.

Solar energy really is the solution. So again, I thank you for choosing a smart investment for now and for future generations.