Anyone interested in learning about the nuts and bolts of adding a solar electrical array to a home had a front row seat when Solarize Clinton hosted a live solar installation at the home of Paul and Judy Jakubson on July 16.

A crew from Ross Solar Group spent the morning installing racking and running electricals for 40 solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Jakubsons’ Bright Hill Drive home. Ross Solar Group sales consultant Jim Paradis, who helped manage the project, says a typical residential installation—like the one at the Jakubson home—takes about three days.

Through the Solarize Clinton program, Clinton residents are offered discounted prices and financing options that eliminate upfront costs. The discount runs through Oct. 19.

“I just got my electric bill,” Paul Jakubson said. “Between the pool filter and air conditioning, it was over $500 last month.”

He says he anticipates significant savings by September and projects that 90 percent of his household’s electricity needs each year will be met by the new solar array.

At the Jakubsons’ open house, guests had an opportunity to see how a solar installation is performed and ask questions of the installers, consultants, and homeowners. North Haven resident Tom Casey, who says his home is a good candidate for solar PV, arrived early to watch and talk to the crew.

“We had people there from beginning to end,” said Paradis. “One couple who just purchased a system came to see the process and learn what to expect. Others who are in consultation wanted to get more familiar with what the equipment looks like and how it pieces together.

“It’s helpful, I think, for people who are considering solar, but don’t know much about it to see the panels, inverters, and the way it all fits together,” Paradis continued. “Can you imagine shopping for a new car without really knowing what it looked like or how it felt to drive it? I think an event like this lets people put their eyes and hands on the components of a solar system and brings some level of understanding and comfort to them as they are trying to make a decision about this important change in the way they can provide energy for themselves.”

For those who missed the open house, Solarize Clinton workshops will be held in August and September. Dates and locations will be announced at http://solarizect.com/our-towns/clinton.