From economics to action: Sue's solar journey

Sue Marren’s solar journey began long before her solar panels were installed.

Having worked at an economic consulting firm with an extensive energy practice, she had been surrounded by experts working on renewables and energy economics for years.

"I had a lot of exposure to it and knew that it made sense to do both economically, but also environmentally," Sue explained.

The catalyst came when her old gas heating system finally needed replacing. Sue decided to switch to electric mini-split heat pumps, knowing her electric bill would increase significantly if she didn’t.

"I knew that my electric bill was going to go up. Not quite as much as it actually did," she said. "So at that time, I figured it would make sense to do solar."

After a positive experience with the savings from her heat pumps, she decided it was time to look into going solar, too.

Sue had been casually researching solar for about two years, initially considering it for her house in Cape Cod. When that proved unworkable due to tree removal requirements, she turned her attention to her Newton, Massachusetts home.

What she found in the solar market was disheartening at first.

"A lot of it's probably like roofing or siding—everybody was very salesy. They all kind of disappeared after the first or second call, and I'd never hear from them again," Sue recalled. "I was getting really discouraged."

That’s when she discovered EnergySage at a summer seminar hosted by the Eastham Climate Action Committee—and it turned out to be exactly what she was looking for.

Unlike the sales-driven approach she had encountered elsewhere, EnergySage offered a more transparent, consumer-first experience. She began by filling out a short survey on the website, sharing a few basic details about her home. Her information stayed private and was enough to match her with a handful of pre-screened, trustworthy solar installers in her area; when homeowners have questions, there’s a team of Energy Advisors available to help them make the best decision for their home and budget.

"I was really glad to find that there was somebody who could help me wade through this," she said.  

That somebody was Energy Advisor Maria Kiley. Unlike door-to-door salespeople, EnergySage’s advisors don’t work for any installation company. Instead, they’re unbiased, clean energy experts dedicated to helping homeowners make confident, informed decisions.

"What I loved about Maria—she was knowledgeable, there was nothing salesy, I never felt under pressure, and I really did feel that she had my best interests at heart," Sue said. 

This transparency was crucial for Sue, who had grown wary of the sales-heavy approach she'd encountered elsewhere in the industry.

"The homeowners I talk with often aren't looking to be sold on solar,” Maria explained. “I meet with many well-researched individuals, like Sue, who have already decided they want a PV system. They typically aren't looking for canned marketing answers. Instead, they hope to have an honest conversation about costs and expectations, with the main goal of finding the best company for the job."

When it came to selecting an installer, Sue had clear priorities: She wanted someone with a good reputation who wouldn't disappear mid-project, and she preferred a smaller, local company over the big national players.

“What I found really helpful was when I filled out the survey on EnergySage, I received eight or nine different bids,” Sue explained. “And it was broken down in a way that I could easily compare, and that was probably one of the most useful tools in the process.”

Sue ultimately chose Great Sky Solar as her installer, and the decision went beyond just price.

"They were actually a little bit more money than some of the other ones, but one of the reasons was they employ their own staff," Sue explained. "I learned that a lot of the big companies just hire people sort of on a day rate, and they come and go. And so I liked that."

What sealed the deal was her initial conversation with a Great Sky representative.

"He was really a believer in renewable energy, and that's what we talked about. There was no big sales pitch, and he really seemed like he cared about what he was doing," she said.

Great Sky installed a 10.1kW solar panel system on Sue’s home:

• System size: 10.1 kW

• Panels: Qcells DUO BLK ML-G10+ 405 Q.PEAK 

• Inverter: Enphase Energy IQ8PLUS-72-2-US

The installation process exceeded Sue's expectations. Great Sky's team handled the two-day installation professionally.

"They were polite, they were nice, they were clean. You wouldn't know that they were here, and they really seemed to know what they were doing," Sue said. "There was a manager on site who gave me a whole intro to what they were doing and answered all my questions."

Great Sky also handled all the complicated paperwork, coordinating with her utility,Eversource, for interconnection and managing city permitting requirements.

"I would get emails and answer a few questions, fill out a form, and then just magically, it all happened," Sue recalled.

While Sue wasn't primarily motivated by financial savings, the numbers worked out better than expected. The combination of rising electricity costs and falling solar prices created an attractive payback period.

"Great Sky calculated a five or six-year payback, but it was a lot less expensive than I thought it was going to be, and a lot less than bids I had received for the Cape house several years earlier," she said. 

Sue was able to claim the federal solar tax credit without any complications, saving her an additional $10,000 on her upfront costs: 

“Filing for the solar credit of $10,000 was really easy,” she explained.  “I used TurboTax, and there was a place to enter the cost of the system. When it calculated my taxes, the $10k credit was applied!”

The psychological benefits have been just as valuable as the financial ones.

"Once you make the [financial] outlay, it is just really nice not to mostly be thinking about electric bills, not to be making that calculation when you're cold in the house—should I turn on the heat or should I not? Should I turn on the air conditioner?" Sue explained. 

“In my case, the size of my roof limited the number of panels that could be installed, so I knew going in that I would likely have some electricity charges during the winter months,” she said. “That did happen, but for the rest of the year, I pay nothing and build up credits that are applied against the winter charges.”

Sue's experience highlights the value of working with a trusted advisor in a complex market. Her advice to friends considering solar is straightforward:

"I would definitely tell a friend to call EnergySage," she said. "Like all new industries, there are still a lot of players out there that just don't seem really dedicated and on the up and up. Having somebody help you through the process was just incredible."

Now, as Sue enjoys her reduced electric bills and the peace of mind that comes with clean energy, she's become an advocate for solar in her community.

"I'm looking forward to being able to talk to friends and neighbors about solar, because I think it's a great thing," she said. "Now I drive around and think, why don't these people have solar panels on every piece of construction?"

For Sue, the combination of EnergySage's guidance and Great Sky Solar's expertise turned a potentially frustrating process into a smooth transition to clean energy—proving that with the right support, going solar can be both economically smart and environmentally responsible.