Dan's Papers - September 14, 2007 - Solar Energy

I'm sitting at Bobby Van's with Steve Rogin, the owner and CEO of New Energy, a solar power energy company based in Bridgehampton. Steve is a local East Ender and a businessman, and it was immediately clear to me that his passion for alternative energy is where he sees the future of energy, but also as a very practical means of energy today.

Solar Power has come very far and the demand for new ways of producing electricity because of the high financial cost that it bears on all of us has spurred business at New Energy. "Now it just makes sense to get solar power in your home. Especially if you are a summer resident and are not in your home that much during the fall and winter."

What surprised me about my interview with Steve was how it makes financial sense to invest in solar energy for your home. "In the long run, you'll save money. The hard part is convincing people that they really will. But once you show them just how much money they can save, it really becomes easy."

Although the investment for solar power can seem high on a home, with packages starting around $50,000, the payoff is great. You can begin to see a return on your investment within the first year and Steve's firm can calculate all of that information, from the first to tenth year of having solar paneling on your roof.

"There are also tremendous rebates that LIPA and the state offers for solar power."

Steve broke down a $50,000 system and after all of the rebates and paybacks from the state and LIPA, the total cost of the system goes from $50,000 to around $20,000. Of course, New Energy handles all of the paper work that is involved in making sure that a client gets those rebates.

Going green is not only a popular thing to do these days - it makes financial sense as well. Steve's background is in just that - having worked for Johnson & Johnson in the past and advising them on ways they could cut back on the amount of metal they were using on their band-aid boxes. You know those thin paper boxes they have now? You can thank Steve for that. Johnson & Johnson can also thank him for the millions of dollars they have saved over the years in packaging costs. "That's what people really need to realize about alternative energy. They need to see that they can really save a lot of money and help the earth at the same time. When I meet somebody that is interested in getting solar energy, I don't do a hard sale to get them to buy it. I simply show them what it can do for them and my product really sells itself."

Solar paneling on rooftops are ideal to be facing towards the south for maximum sun exposure and an expert from New Energy is happy to come down to your home to have a look at your roof and see what would be the best option for you to save the most money on your electric bill each month.

"It is pretty wild for a lot of our clients to get their electric bill and see a negative number next to it," Steve told me. "It almost doesn't seem possible to them, but it absolutely is possible."

Solar is rapidly becoming a very popular way to get extra electricity pumping through your home. And if you make the assumption that the cost of electricity is going to continue to go up, getting solar paneling on your home is a wise investment. Having it installed in the Hamptons makes even more sense for summer residents who do not use their homes during the colder months because the electricity that you build up from the solar panels gets tracked and stored. So when you are not using electricity, you can save it for later.

If you are interested in solar power, give Steve a call at New Energy in Bridgehampton. The number is (631) 537-7711. You'll be surprised by what it can do for you.