Musings on going solar

In the Editor’s “On Going Solar” blog section, I’ll write about experiences I have with going solar. While many of the entries will involve a description of the process of going solar, some will also be general musings on going solar. The entries about my, really, our – my wife and family are also part of the whole experience — going solar experience will be more informal and more current than the articles about my solar-charged driving experience and my general experience going solar I’ve posted to the “SCD primer” and “Going solar” sections. I hope some of you find at least some of my musings on “going solar” interesting, potentially useful, and, ideally, thought-provoking.

My cohousing HOA community is getting rooftop solar — finally!

Christof Demont-Heinrich
Precisely 10 years ago to this month, REC Solar workers were on the rooftop of my Aurora, Colo. home installing a 5.5 kW solar system that is still there. The system outlasted me -- or, at least my marriage -- and is still there, pumping out clean, green electricity for the residents who bought the home from me and my now ex-wife in November of 2015, which we sold following a August 2015 divorce.

Why a solar garden isn’t as satisfying as rooftop solar

Christof Demont-Heinrich
I had solar for nearly six years on a house in Aurora, Colo. that I lived in with my family. Life happened -- divorce, etc. -- and I no longer have the house, or the solar. A year ago, I moved into a so-called "cohousing" community, Highline Crossing Cohousing in Littleton, Colo. I moved here because cohousing is more community based than average HOAs/neighborhoods. I wanted more community, less suburban isolation and alienation.