Green thoughts lead to local solar energy dealer
May 1, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY –
Solar energy is a source that won’t go away anytime soon.
If it does, we won’t be a position to give it a thought.
Relying on the sun to power homes is something that has interested Chris Gary and his wife, Ctaci, who opened a Sun City Solar Energy office in Oklahoma City in February.
Chris Gary said he’s always had his eye on all things green and spend 14 years in the recycling business.
Sun City is based in Tulsa and Gary opened a dealership here.
He said he owes a lot to his wife.
“Ctaci did a lot of the investigation,” he said. “She was the major backbone to get it running. She handles marketing and is our chief financial officer.”
The Garys began looking into solar energy about a year ago.
“We were doing some studies, got excited and basically decided to get into it,” Gary said. “Eventually we will put it on the home we are going to build.”
Solar panels and grid-tie systems make for a lucrative business, he said.
“We install systems anywhere from $3,000 all the way to $100,000,” Gary said. “Every single home and business is different. It really depends on what the homeowners want to do.”
He said the federal government provides a 30 percent tax rebate for residential solar systems up to $2,000. Commercial customers get a 30 percent tax rebate and there on what they can spend.
The Oklahoma City office, which is at at 7540 Berkley Avenue – just to the east of May Avenue and Grand Boulevard – is manned by the Garys.
Oklahoma is the perfect spot for solar energy, he said.
“We have a great solar state,” he said. “We get the same solar gain as Florida, Texas, and southern California. I don’t think people realize that one of the best resources we’ve got is the sun, and it’s basically underutilized.”
As energy costs rise, more and more people are looking into alternatives.
“We hold educational seminars and look at the advantages of solar power and solar hot water,” Gary said. “It’s green a great way for people to learn about solar and the different systems available.”
Sun City has had one seminar per month at its office and Gary is planning to add one each month.
Gary said residential systems have been the most popular, mainly due to costs.
“The main residential systems are solar grid-tie systems that tie into the meter and can make the meter spin backwards,” he said. “That’s the majority of the systems we put in. Most are looking at grid-tie systems to reduce the utility cost. They also offer solar hot water systems, solar pool heating systems, and solar attic vents.”
Gary said print and radio advertising has helped spread the word and boost business.
“The main thing is letting people know we’re here,” he said. “We still get a lot of people hitting our Web site. We’ve been extremely busy.”
Gary said the company has installed hot water systems and power grid system and has more on the books for homes that will be built this summer.
Gary said there are few solar companies in the area and said the 25-year old company has been based out of Tulsa is proof of experience. Hot water systems installed in 1983 are still in use, he said.
“People are starting to realize that we are going to have to do something,” he said. “Things are changing.”
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Sun City Solar Energy 
larry travis said
i think that it is about time that we had a serious solar business in OKC. look forward to seeing more installations of this type of system in our area.