An easy, affordable way to get solar power

SolarShares is the first program of its kind, and the largest in the nation. The new 1MW SolarShares system is in Sacramento County with the capacity to serve between 800 and 1,000 customers. You can be part of this innovative effort to support local renewable energy for a cleaner environment. The SolarShares farm is currently sold out, but SMUD is working to increase the capacity for its local solar power generation.
When you participate in SolarShares, the amount of electricity you receive will vary by the amount of sunshine and by season. You’ll receive higher amounts of electricity when you need it most — on hot summer days. The monthly amount of SolarShares power generated by your system will show as a credit on your bill and reduce the amount of non-renewable power that you pay for, after the cost of your program involvement is deducted. The average monthly cost to participate in the program is expected to be somewhere between $4 and $50 a month depending on your energy use and the size of the system you choose.

How does SolarSharesSM work?
SolarShares is an alternative to owning a solar system that you will need to pay several thousand upfront to purchase, or pay a few hundred dollars a month on a loan payment until the system is paid off. With SolarShares, the fixed monthly fees to participate start at $10.75 per month for a 0.5kW system for small energy users. After your monthly fee, the amount of power generated by your share shows as a credit on your bill — expected to average about $4 a month. And that offsets the amount you pay for electricity produced through other methods. Use the SolarShares estimator to see options for system size and cost.
How does SolarShares affect my bill?
You pay a flat monthly fee to subscribe to the SolarShares system. The flat monthly fee is determined based upon your historical energy use and the size system you choose.
You will receive energy credits to your bill for the amount of solar power your SolarShares subscription generates. Both the flat monthly fee and the energy credits from the solar power will be consolidated on your regular SMUD bill.
I am a renter, live in a condo, or live in a multi-family building. May I join SolarShares?
Everyone is eligible. Because the solar panels are on a local “solar farm,” you don’t have to have your own home to participate. And if you do own your own home, you’re still welcome.

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UPSOLAR RANKS HIGH IN SOLAR QUALITY TESTS

Upsolar receives “very good” from German Öko-Test magazine

Shanghai, China–March 30th, 2010 – Following the independent testing results of the German magazine Öko-Test (April 2010), China based Upsolar was rated “very good” among 15 international solar photovoltaic suppliers. Only 4 companies obtained a “very good” rating, and Upsolar was the only one of 7 Chinese companies to achieve this. This is major achievement for Upsolar and reflects the quality of its products. The testing, done by Photon laboratory on behalf of Öko-Test, focused on the actual power output when compared to the data sheet, tolerances, module efficiency, cell quality, as well as performing tests for micro cracks. Upsolar’s product was rated “very good” (test performed on UP-M185M).

The cornerstone of Upsolar’s success has been the rigorous quality-control management system we have developed and its employees’ implementation of these online QC Management standards at all its partners’ manufacturing platforms in collaboration with the third party QC management provider, Bureau Veritas (BV). BV also helps Upsolar to continually improve upon these processes while at the same time conducting audits of all Upsolar products prior to their shipment.

Using top-quality module components from qualified international manufacturers ensures the delivery of a consistently high quality product. All potential components are strictly tested in our in-house state of the art testing center and selected according to their performance and ability to withstand a range of different climatic conditions including high wind and snow loads. End products are also tested in our laboratory in order to achieve a longer lifetime and product safety.

“We are proud of the quality and efficiency of our products and happy to prove that our quality controls and strict component selection were not vain. They enable us to deliver safe solar”, says Mr. Jiang, CEO and founder of Upsolar Co., ltd.

Upsolar’s mission, since the company’s inception, has always been to provide the global PV market an opportunity to purchase a made-in-China product of market-leading quality, at a competitive price. The company focuses on providing an excellent product, which meets all international quality standards, while offering the most competitive prices available from a Chinese manufacturing base.

About Upsolar
Upsolar is a multinational company specialized in the design, engineering and manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules. Their US office is based in San Francisco, California.

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