Renewable Energy Resources for Commercial Property & Public Buildings

Our resources provide information on how to access city incentives, state rebates, and federal tax credits when you go solar. This page also includes California organizations that speak to the benefits of making your commercial or public property energy efficient.

Rebates, Credits, and Helpful Programs for Going Solar

The Green Finance SF program - San Francisco is developing an accessible financing program that commercial property owners can use to finance sustainable building improvements. This effort has coincided with efforts across California and the United States to establish similar financing programs.

California Emerging Renewables Rebate Program - The California Energy Commission (C.E.C.) is offering cash rebates on eligible renewable energy electric-generating systems through the Emerging Renewables Rebate Program. Find out more on the CEC Rebate Program, certified equipment, financing and testimonials.

California Solar Initiative - Join the thousands business owners who have earned cash back rebates by installing solar energy systems through the California Solar Initiative. Customers earn cash rebates for every watt of solar energy installed on businesses, farms, schools, and government and non-profit organizations.

PG&E Standard Net Metering (NEMS) -  NEMS (previously Standard E-NET) is a net energy metering program for small commercial customers with eligible solar, or hybrid (solar and ) generators that are less than or equal to 10 kilowatts in size.

Local Resources

The Case for Renewable Energy Systems in Apartment Buildings (by Greg Kennedy, Founder of Occidental Power, written for San Francisco Apartment Magazine in 2001) - Everyone knows that energy deregulation in California has failed to lower prices. Its promise of an efficient market system and lower competitive prices has instead illustrated the difficulties politicians and bureaucrats encounter in imposing a new free-market system on an existing and complex regulated economy.

The San Francisco Solar Map - The website features a map showing pin points of solar activity around the city. Commercial properties with solar are shown in purple. Several case studies feature Occidental Power, including The Rosebud Agency, St. Francis Square, Yoga Garden, and JumpSlide.

The Norman Griffin Company - Occidental Power's dimensional engineering contractor.

How Solar Electricity Works

The U.S. Department of Energy's Photovoltaic (PV) Program - This web site is a great resource for learning the details on how solar electricity works.

California Solar Energy Organizations and Associations

California Solar Center - The C.S.C. goal is to provide timely and accurate information to help develop the market for solar energy technology and design practices in California and to assist businesses and policy makers move toward a clean energy future without compromising the environment or the economy

The California Solar Energy Industries Association - (CALSEIA) - The California Energy Industries Association (CAL SEIA) was founded in 1977 as a nonprofit solar industry trade association organized by professionals of the solar energy industry, which includes small scale solar thermal, photovoltaic, and solar thermal electric technology companies or others doing solar-related business in the State of California.

The Solar Energy Industries Association - (SEIA) web page is loaded with solar information, including solar basics, solar applications, net metering information, tax credit updates, and information on the promised "Million Roofs" project. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association of solar energy manufacturers, dealers, distributors, contractors and installers.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - (EREN) A comprehensive resource for the Department of Energy's energy efficiency and renewable energy information.