Meet the Murrays: CEC’s 500th Solarize customer drives on sunshine

Santa Barbara residents Jill and Michael Murray have always had an environmental interest in going solar. However, even with two children and normal electricity use, their bills were low, so the investment never penciled out financially. This changed when they began looking into another sustainably minded choice: driving an electric vehicle.

Choosing An Electric Car

After researching, the Nissan Leaf rose to the top, and they learned about the different advantages of leasing versus buying. When it all penciled out, they found purchasing worked in their favor. They financed at zero percent and took advantage of $10,000 in rebates and tax credits. While charging it at home at night eliminated their visits to the gas pump, the electric bill increased by about $75 per month. The idea of solar came back on the table, and now the numbers seemed more favorable.

The Solarize Advantage

Jill researched local solar companies, and was impressed with the reviews for Sun Pacific, who happened to be a 2016 Solarize Santa Barbara partner. Doing their due diligence, the Murrays got a few quotes from other solar companies and saw that the Solarize pricing offered savings of about 20%. Their decision was made. They used the savings and credits from their Nissan Leaf purchase toward the solar purchase, which itself offered a 30% tax rebate.  As Jill shared, “Going solar was always the dream. With the Solarize program it finally made financial sense.”

Solar At Its Best

Now Jill and Michael pay just the $10 monthly minimum to Southern California Edison for their electric bill.  They have also stopped spending money at the pump when they drive their Nissan Leaf. This, along with achieving their goal to decrease their environmental footprint, makes Jill particularly happy.  “I love the fact that I am offsetting all of the driving I do by charging my car with solar energy.  Driving on sunshine is great.”