Anyone who’s stocked up on toilet paper at Sam’s Club or Costco knows the advantages of buying in bulk. For those interested in harvesting the sun’s rays for solar power, the Greater Arlington Solar Co-Op offers a similar kind of deal. By buying as part of a group, local homeowners can cut their installation costs for solar roof panels by up to 20 percent. Companies bid on the contract to install the panels on co-op members’ homes, and all members receive the bulk discount.
According to Adam Segel-Moss, outreach specialist for the Arlington Initiative to Re-Think Energy, “More than 80 Arlington homeowners have put solar on their roofs with this program. This has more than doubled the amount of solar in Arlington in just two years.” He expects the program—which is also open to Alexandria and Fairfax residents—to continue to grow in 2018. vasun.org/greater-arlington/