The Alternative Press

The West Orange Energy Commission will be joining hands in a collaborative effort, “Is Solar Right for my Home?” with the Livingston League of Women Voters and the Livingston Green Team. This public event will be held in the Livingston Senior Community Center building, on Thursday, April 25th, 2012 at 8 pm. The address of the center is 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039.

It’s not unusual any more to see an array of solar panels on Livingston roofs, and it raises the question for
many homeowners, “Is solar energy cost-effective and appropriate for my home and situation?”

To answer the question, homeowner’s individual questions about residential solar energy systems will be
addressed. Billed as a “practical, decision-making guide for homeowners,” the program will deal with both
financial and installation questions that homeowners ask when weighing the possibility of a solar installation.

Speakers include Bureau of Public Utilities Commissioner Joseph L. Fiordaliso and Ronald Reisman,
Renewable Energy Program Manager for New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, who will discuss the status of
solar energy in New Jersey today and what incentives and financial options the state offers for considering
solar energy as an alternative energy source for your home.

The evening will also include a panel of local homeowners who will describe the decision-making process
that they used, either to install a solar energy system or to decide against installing solar.
“Payback time, purchase vs. lease, and what to look for when choosing an installer---these are some of the
topics the program will cover,” explains Arlene Johnson, co-chair of this program and co-chair of Livingston’s
Green Team. “The program’s intention is to give residents the information they need to evaluate the
benefits of solar as part of an overall energy-efficient home.”

As a follow-up to the April 25th informational program, there will be an Eco-Fair on June 9, from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m., in the Senior Community Center at which a number of exhibitors will demonstrate their products. At
the Eco-Fair, residents will be able to get information and ask questions about a number of energy- efficient
approaches for the home, including solar and wind systems, insulation, energy audits, energy-efficient
lighting, and energy-efficient design.

According to Renee Resky, co-chair of the Eco-Fair, “The April 25 program and the subsequent Eco-Fair in
June will provide residents with lots of useful information, not only on the practicalities of residential solar
energy but also on making their homes more energy-efficient.”