Behind every great installation is a great story – meet George and Laurie.

George and Laurie Fransway weren’t really thinking about solar until it was time to buy a new car.  Knowing they wanted an electric vehicle, they chose a Ford CMAX, and the dealership suggested that they go solar at the same time.  After receiving TFS’s name and contact information, George and Laurie decided to act on their solar quote.  “We were prime candidates for [solar],” says Laurie, “but we were just floating along, not really doing anything, and then ‘Boom!’ He bought the car, they got in contact with us, and it just fell into place.”

What really sealed the deal for George and Laurie was the financial return offered by the solar system.  “We had rebalanced our financials and decided that we needed to do something with our cash that wasn't making any money,” says George.  “The return on solar is really one of the big things we did it for. Any money we had in CDs or money market funds were making, really, no money.”  They are benefiting from a much more favorable return on investment with solar.

“It's a good thing to do to keep your bills down; it's a good thing to do for the environment, too," continued George.  At their home George and Laurie are water conscious, with several rain barrels collecting water, which they use to water their edible garden, in addition to a number of other sustainability measures they have implemented.  “We’ve always tried to leave a small footprint,” says Laurie, and going solar “just seems like the right thing to do, and it makes me feel good.”

One of their favorite things about their solar system is the data monitoring tool, which allows the couple to track the system’s production and their own electricity usage.  Laurie uses it the most, saying “It’s very fun for me, and I think it helps me conserve power.”  Additionally, since Laurie works at one of the TUSD schools that recently installed solar panels, she can explain how solar works to the students, using her own home production as an example.  “Since I have it, I get it, and I can explain it to them.”

In addition to the immediate financial and environmental savings, George and Laurie see their solar system as a step towards retirement.  "You can consider it part of your retirement planning, to reduce your bills," says George.  Laurie interjects, "Actually, it is because that's one of the key things they tell you: ‘Have your house paid off.’  So if you have your house paid off, AND a very tiny electric bill, what could be better?"

George and Laurie are excited to spread the word about solar, and offer this advice to anyone interested in making the switch: “Try it – it’s painless.”

View George & Laurie's Solar Story In Video Form: