Are you a fan of mercury poisoning? An advocate of sulfur pollution? A cheerleader for acid rain? Of course not! Since we know you love your house and the humans in it, take the time to educate yourself on the impact of solar living.
Solar Energy Consultant Andrew Ehrnstein is here to serve you, your family, and our planet.
During his first sixteen years in Colorado, Andrew worked in air freight, starting his own office in 1996, followed by working as a commercial real estate broker. His passion for preserving natural resources grew exponentially when he was asked by clients to package listings focused on land and water rights. He worked closely with farmers and ranchers and learned lessons in the uses and abuses of water and other vital resources in our state. In March of 2008, he joined the clean energy industry, and thus began his passionate and steadfast journey learning about and leading solar installation.
Every solar installation saves money and prevents a tremendous amount of pollution and wasted water. Owner of Solar 4 Planet A, Andrew Ehrnstein, is credited with over eleven hundred installations over the past thirteen years. His serious and lasting impact extends to his authored curriculum, “Better Energy, Better Homes,” and he has served on the Board of multiple non-profit organizations for over ten years.
Andrew’s care for and influence in our beautiful state of Colorado are simply unmatched.
It is easy to see why “Andrew rules!” and why “Andrew is a superstar in the world of solar design and installation” (customers Dave Cooper and AH). Join the movement. Help save the planet one roof at a time.
“I am not sure we could adequately express our gratitude for Andrew during our process of realizing our goal to achieve net zero. His professionalism, depth of knowledge, and communication skills are both thorough and comfortable. The thoughtful nature of his character creates a feeling like you are working with a friend. He is a great listener and answers any and all questions with directness and clarity. Additionally, he worked seamlessly with Photon Bros to provide an efficient service from beginning to end. Thank you Andrew!” Customer Meegan Guarino
“Andrew is a solar veteran with a deep understanding of solutions that meet customers' needs. He helped me go solar on my home a few years ago. I only wish I had gone solar even earlier.” Customer Nick Perugini
Ask Andrew!
WHAT WILL MAINTENANCE LOOK LIKE AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO A TRADITIONAL ROOF?
Photovoltaic systems have no moving parts and no plumbing, so they really have no maintenance that is normally required. Some systems need pest abatement if they are not screened in originally, which is why I work with partners that include pest abatement in their installation. There should not be any annual maintenance costs, and any equipment failure is covered under warranty.
WHAT DOES THE ENTIRE INSTALLATION PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
Depending on the system design and size, it could be as quick as one day, or could take a couple of weeks for larger commercial systems. In all cases, it is important to know that after you sign up for solar, we must confirm the original design with a site survey, design and engineering, and then secure approval from the utility company before we install. Timeframes can vary from district to district.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I EXPECT TO SPEND?
The idea that you have to pay cash up front for solar is very outdated. It can certainly be done that way, but most people acquire solar with a solar loan which does not require a lien, and no down payment is required. There are a variety of loan programs available, and we can discuss options during the consultation, looking at interest rates, any fees, and term of the loan to find the best fit. None of them have any prepayment penalties.
HOW MUCH CAN I EXPECT TO SAVE?
This depends on what you’re currently paying your utility company, how sunny your roof is, and if there are other installation expenses like tilt-up racking, new electrical panel, or similar items. The simpler the installation and the more efficient the roof, the more you will save by going solar. Typically, if I cannot save you any money with solar I will suggest that it is not a good fit for you. Customers that go solar typically save from a third to more than half of what they otherwise would have spent on electricity over a 25 year period.
WHAT ABOUT MY HOA?
In Colorado and many other states, HOAs cannot prevent a homeowner from installing solar or any renewable energy system on their house. It is common for people to think that they can, and some HOAs are not aware of this homeowner protection. However, I can assist you in educating the HOA about their responsibilities if needed. The bottom line is that once we have a professional design set to show the HOA, approval is usually granted immediately. They have an interest in making sure that work done on the exterior of your home is done well, and we take pride in doing a clean installation, too.
DOES SOLAR ADD TO OR DIMINISH THE PROPERTY VALUE?
This question has been very well researched and studies show that solar adds to the value of properties when it comes time to sell. This is true across various building qualities and in regions all over America (“Selling Into The Sun – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory” 2017). It only makes sense. More than 80% of Americans polled respond that we should have more solar, and fewer than 5% of properties offered for sale typically have solar, so solar makes your property a hot commodity. If your Realtor has any questions about this, please have them talk to me or bring me into their brokerage to teach my class, “Better Energy, Better Homes."
“Andrew was timely, efficient, and courteous, and he answered all of my questions along the way. More importantly, our relationship extended beyond that of a typical sales transaction, as he saw the project through to completion. He was patient with me as I navigated the process, and I couldn't recommend him more highly.”
Customer Alex Kaufman
“Andrew is amazingly great to work with and being a solar nerd myself, was excellent at explaining the who, what, why, and how. Navigating the various electric companies and "AO" rules is an art form in itself, and we even had to upgrade our street meter and aluminum line to the house, and they took care of it all. During COVID times, we saw some pretty drastic delays and Andrew was on top of it every step of the way. An excellently designed system and he was great at making sure we got the biggest bang for our buck on equipment. Absolutely recommend S4PA.”
Customer Chris Mayfield
SOLAR 4 PLANET A
Andrew Ehrnstein, Owner/Energy Consultant
720-443-1239
ANDREW@SOLAR4PLANETA.COM