WASHINGTON — In an effort to lead by example and further educate residential solar consumers across America, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) launched the first “SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power.”

Available online, the free guide offers those interested in solar power a one-stop shop to better understand the basics of solar energy and ownership options and includes key questions to ask solar installers before entering a transaction. The guide is a result of a joint effort of the leading companies across the solar industry and complements SEIAs existing code of ethics by which all SEIA members abide.

“The ‘SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power’ is a must-read. It’s a step-by-step checklist that will help consumers seamlessly transition to clean, affordable solar energy,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO, SEIA. “Consumer protection is an issue of the highest priority and is vital to solar’s future growth across America.”

Today, the residential solar market is growing at a record-breaking pace. According to the newly released U.S. Solar Market Insight report Q1 2015, the market segment increased 76 percent from this time last year. By 2016, industry projections forecast enough clean solar energy in the U.S. to power 8 million homes.

One of the components of the consumer guide is a section titled “Working Out Differences” that’s devoted solely to potential problem resolution. The guide is only the first release in a series of efforts by SEIA and the industry to promote increased consumer protection across the entire solar marketplace. In addition to the guide, free digital access is available to NREL-SEIA standardized solar contracts along with the SEIA code of ethics.

The “SEIA Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power” will be periodically updated and complemented with additional tools as the U.S. market grows and matures, so consumers can stay informed with the latest information. To access the guide and other related consumer protection resources, visit www.seia.org/policy/consumer-protection.

Publication date: 8/10/2015 

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