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8 Reviews
3 star rating
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Reviews
4 star rating
January 14, 2008
Citizenre - Growing pains will subside.
I'm interested in what this company is doing, and have been asking a lot of questions, and getting good honest feedback from a Citizenre sales associate:
1) Citizenre's offering is a paradigm-shift for the solar industry... renting PV panels instead of buying them…for the rest of us who can't afford to buy PV, renting is an easy, painless way to get renewable power (and save money).
2) Citizenre's opted to use a "network marketing" approach…Citizenre is the only network-marketing company that does not require the salespeople to spend any of their own money. There's no sales quota, no product to buy each month, and no cost to sign up... so it has none of the usual negatives associated with network marketing (which is why I signed on). Citizenre chose to use network marketing because they want this thing to roll out at the grass-roots level. Big Oil companies have stymied other solar start-ups by buying them out, but that won't be feasible once there are mass numbers of people out there selling this solution…
(sales associate continues) "I think Citizenre will be successful, but probably will be late with some deliverables in the short term. Building a brand new business of this magnitude is not easy, and they are going after it aggressively, so I expect some setbacks. But as long as people are patient, they'll get their pv systems... just maybe not as quickly as anyone would like…I think most people are open-minded about this… We'll be starting our pilot program very soon, so a lot of the criticism will stop once we start putting panels on rooftops… customers doesn't pay anything until the panels are ready to go on their roof."
I hope this feedback is helpful to others, as well.
Cris' keywords: solar energy solar panels solar energy alternative energy solutions green environment
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REnU - Residential Energy Unit
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3 star rating
January 13, 2008
Waiting for solar
I learned about the REnU concept about a year ago, and was excited by the idea. I can't afford to privately purchase solar panels at current prices, so 'renting solar' appealed to me. I signed a "Forward Rental Agreement", locking in my current electric rate for 25 years. When/If the solar panels start rolling off the lines at the factory (which hasn't been built yet), my system is reserved.
I even became an "ecopreneur", an independent agent who can sign up other folks who want to reserve a system. That's the "multilevel marketing" part. There might even be some $ involved at a later date, in the form of a bonus for each system and a percentage off my own bill. But money isn't my motivation. Clean, renewable energy is.
And the company has been upfront about being a work in progress. Admittedly, I expected to see more progress in the past year, but there may be a lot going on that I am not aware of. I respect their desire to keep their plans to themselves, and it doesn't cost me (or anyone else who has signed up) a single cent. NO payments of any kind until the system is ready for installation. (Whenever that may be...)
If something changes, and I decide to buy my own solar power system, I can. If the Citizenre folks pull this off, I'll be on the list (at a very low number!) and ready to pay for clean, renewable electricity, and at a rate equal to or less than what I pay the electic company right now.
My biggest concern is the carbon footprint that the system will cost. They aren't addressing this point at all, and probably can't until they get into production.
I give them 3 stars for a great idea. If they manage to keep the carbon cost low, they get the 4th star. They can have the 5th star as soon as I get my system installed.
Nancy's keywords: ecopreneur FRA solar photovoltaic energy renewable solar electricity citizenre renu program
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1 star rating
January 10, 2008
do your homework first!
CitizenRe is a "network marketing" / "pyramid scheme" - based operation.
Many industry professionals believe that CitizenRe is a potent threat to the good reputation of the business.
The concerns about CitizenRe have been documented in several articles, most prominently:
Renewable Energy Access:
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=47419
National Public Radio:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8989563
Zoe's keywords: solar photovoltaic energy renewable solar electricity citizenre renu program
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3 star rating
January 9, 2008
Waiting to see if they will ever "walk the talk" ???
I've been watching this company for about a year and a half now. Their concept is great! I would love to see them succeed! However, up to this point they have been all talk and no action. I would love to be wrong and "eat my words" written in this review. Just like so many of us "green collar" workers, we have our doubts about this company. I hope I'm wrong, they need to "step up" and EARN their credibility.
It's time for them to deliver.
Justin's keywords: citizenre solar cells energy renewable renu residential solar program
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5 star rating
January 9, 2008
I think It Is A Great Idea
I think that since they aren't asking for money up front it's great. I signed up too. I live in the Florida Keys and my old solar panels leak and have actually damaged my roof.HELP! If they truely maintain this product, it's worth it!! The cost right now for my repairs are going to be astronomical and a total replacement is out of the question. For now, I'm going to give them 5 stars just for trying! A good friend of mine is developing a company that adds total solar additions to homes ( or you can build and customize your home with his "kit"-with 80% efficiency) I'll keep you posted on that one!!! There's one thing I've got here in the Keys is sun--not so much money though, and a bad roof!! Please visit www.organicfloridakeys.com/
ANNE's keywords: solar REnU energy resource photovoltaic solar power
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REnU - Residential Energy Unit
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1 star rating
January 9, 2008
Not So Fast
The concept is a good one, but the reality is that CitizenRe has not come close to delivering on their promises. You do have to pay a deposit upfront, as thousands have done so already. Those people would have been better off putting their money in the bank, because CitizenRe has yet to even build their factory, They have been promising to do so for 2 years, with no progress in sight. They claim to have the financing in place, so what is the hold up? They refuse to divulge the source of this financing. They may well be legit, just do your homework before giving them your money.
Tom's keywords: CitizenRe solar panel rental services photovoltaic solar energy
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REnU - Residential Energy Unit
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2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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4 star rating
September 12, 2007
Rent the Sun!
After exploring options of putting solar panels on our home, I was discouraged. It's SO Expensive! An average home would take about 4KwH which could be $35,000 or more. Then I heard about a program where you could rent the system - any homeowner can do it. Here's the catch - the company, Citizenre - is in an advanced start-up phase and has not produced any panels yet and won't until later in 2008. However, they are taking no-obligation applications from interested homeowners which will lock in your rental rate for up to 25 years. They aren't taking any money now, but when the panels are ready to install they will call and ask if you still want solar. THEN after they design a system for your home (2 - 10 Kw) they will ask for a security deposit ($500 - $1,000) which they assure will be returned at the completion of the agreement with interest. This is a way to get energy to the masses. I was so excited I signed up to promote the program.
Mary's keywords: solar photovoltaic energy renewable Citizenre
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5 star rating
January 11, 2007
Residential Solar Power for the masses
Be a leader in the transition from our old electric grid to a smart, reliable, and renewable one. Every homeowner now has the opportunity to have a Solar System without an up-front investment. You pay only for the electricity that it generates for you. What's more, it costs the same as your electricity service does today, but unlike the electric company, its price will stay the same for the next 25 years!
Visit www.jointhesolution.com/vasolar to find out more!
Julie's keywords: Solar Power
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