Did you notice something different about the SunPower website? We hope so. Today we’re pleased to debut the new look of our SunPower corporate website. This launch is the culmination of many months spent working with our different stakeholders to understand what our customers are looking for when they visit the SunPower website and how best to deliver that experience.


The SunPower new corporate home page.

Here’s a quick listing of what’s new:

• A more intuitive, top-rail navigation system that enables you to quickly find the information you’re seeking.
• Lots of great imagery and videos of SunPower products, customers and installations.
• The brand new Solar Resource Center, providing you with education and insights to help you learn about solar technology and owning a solar system.
• A rolling ticker on the home page with news and social media updates, providing you with a real-time feed of what’s happening around the solar world.
• And a new SunPower Insights blog. You’re on it now!

We hope you like the new changes. Take a spin on our home page and begin exploring all the new features. If you have any questions or requests for the types of content you’d like to see on the SunPower site, please leave a comment on our Facebook wall.
 

In late January, SunPower CEO Tom Werner spoke on the ‘Economic Forecast 2011’ panel, an event organized by the San Jose Business Journal. Tom and fellow panelists, including San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Sobrato Organization Chairman John Sobrato and PriceWaterhouseCoopers Managing Director Rob Gittings, talked about the current state of their industries and provided their economic outlooks for 2011.

Among the morning’s comments, Tom described how 2010 is the first year of the Solar Decade. Solar is appearing everywhere, on commercial buildings and residential rooftops.

Tom talked about how SunPower is committed to halving the cost of solar over the next five years, making it a viable option for even more households and businesses. This cost reduction will make solar less dependent on incentives and will also allow owners to save more money on their monthly electricity bill.

See below for video of Tom’s comments. Also, check out Tom’s companion article from the San Jose Business Journal which describes the ‘Decade of Solar’ and SunPower’s growing investment in the Silicon Valley economy.

If you have any further questions or comments, please post them to our Facebook page.

For 41 years, Earth Day (April 22) inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. We strive to celebrate Earth Day, Every Day and this month we’re honoring the work we all do to change the way the world is powered by partnering with SunPower dealers to support the Earth Day events around the Bay Area.

Want to celebrate Earth Day with SunPower? If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by at one of our events and help us celebrate our favorite month of the year! You will meet with SunPower representatives, learn about solar energy, get special offers and rebates, and have fun.

Here is the list of some events we will be participating:

Earth Day SF Celebration
Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 10am – 6pm
Civic Center Plaza, Downtown San Francisco
This year, a new Earth Day Festival arrives in San Francisco. On April 23, the Bay Area will come together to celebrate Earth Day SF in Civic Center Plaza with a multi-cultural music festival and sustainable living road show featuring international keynote speakers on multiple stages and eco-zones filled with prominent sustainability activists and workshop leaders, nonprofit organizations, green businesses, indigenous community leaders, civic agencies and youth empowerment groups. Click here for more information.  

City of San Jose
Friday, April 29, 2011 from 11am – 7pm
San Jose City Hall
Bright Green Day is a one-day event held on April 29.The event includes live music, local food, clean energy showcase, tours and workshops, earth balloon and community art canvas. SunPower’s dealer Real Good Solar will be presenting a workshop on the Basics of Going Solar. Click here for more information. 

City of San Jose Energy Efficiency & Solar Fair
Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10am – 3pm
East Santa Clara Street between 4th and 5th
San Jose, CA
The time for clean energy is now! With money-saving rebates from the State, making home energy improvements has never been easier or more affordable. Come to the Solar & Energy Efficiency Fair at the Clean Energy Showcase, the nation’s first outdoor demonstration of large-scale solar, wind, electric vehicle and energy effi ciency installations. The fair include energy workshops all day. You can learn how the sun can save you money by attending "Go Solar and Save" workshop presented by Real Goods Solar and SunPower. Click here for more information. 

Is this all? Of course not! In celebration of the Earth Day 2011, we just launched a Solar Rebate Program. In addition to Federal, State and local solar rebate incentives, this program provides an ADDITIONAL rebate of up to $1,750 on the purchase of a SunPower solar system. Sign up from 4/1/2011 thru 7/4/2011 by clicking here. Happy Earth Day!

 

One of the greatest parts of working at SunPower is hearing from SunPower customers and seeing how enthusiastic they are about solar energy and SunPower products in particular. So we were thrilled when customers Bob and Sarah Cutler of Las Cruces, New Mexico sent us a 20-minute homemade documentary detailing “the planting of a Kilowatt Farm” on the rooftop of their house. The Cutler’s system was installed over two days in November 2009 by SunPower Elite Dealer Positive Energy, which operates throughout New Mexico.
 
We’ve spliced the video to show some of our favorite parts, including Bob’s overview of his system, Positive Energy’s ‘solar oven’ (which they use to cook the installation team’s lunch), the dealer’s explanation of the system’s various components and the solar installation across various stages of completion. The Cutler family documentary provides a great overview of the solar power installation process.
 

For all our SunPower customers, we’re always interested to learn about your solar experience. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and share the details of your own solar installation. If you’re interested in more customer success stories, check out the residential section of our website.

Broaden Your Energy Awareness & Spread the Word
Did you know that electricity generation is the single largest source of carbon emissions in the United States? It’s true. SunPower is working to change the way the world is powered. Here are a couple of ways you can help:

• Kill-a-Watt Wherever You Can – Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and turn off power strips in your home when not in use. These tiny acts can save you money and have a bigger impact on your carbon footprint than you ever imagined.
• Be a solar evangelist – Spread the word about the benefits of solar power to your friends and family. Refer them to www.sharesunpower.com. If they purchase or lease a SunPower system as a result, you both earn $200! It’s a win for you, them, and the planet.

Join (or Create) a Community
Find a nonprofit whose work inspires you. Consider the organizations listed below, with whom SunPower regularly collaborates. Or create your own.

• GRID Alternatives empowers communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training
• Global Green fosters a global shift toward a sustainable, secure future
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties provides food to underserved residents
• Greenpeace prioritizes global environmental campaigns to protect the oceans, whales and seafood, stop global warming, and eliminate the use of nuclear weapons and toxic chemicals

Transform Your Transportation
There are many ways to ensure that your morning and evening commute is environmentally friendly. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Drive electrified – Electric vehicles emit no pollutants from the tailpipe, so they’re cleaner for the environment. They also generally cost less to operate and maintain. Ford and Nissan have partnered with SunPower to maximize the miles and savings you get when charging your electric vehicle with a SunPower^® rooftop solar energy system.
• Dive into the (car)pool – According to a recent report in The Daily Green, sharing a ride with just one other coworker can cut the cost of your commute in half! Plus, you’ll dramatically reduce your carbon emissions, and may reduce your travel time by using HOV lanes!
• Like your bike – Why use four wheels when two will do? May is Bike to Work Month, so pump up your bicycle tires, strap on your helmet, and take a kinder, gentler way to work. At SunPower, we take pride in our ride: We recently received the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s Annual Bike Friendly Business Award, in the large business category.

We hope that reading these suggestions inspires you to come up with a few Earth-friendly ideas of your own. If so, please comment below! SunPower is eager to share the wisdom and innovation of our community…so check back frequently, and let us know how you’re changing the way your world is powered.