Green for less: Group rates for solar installation for homeowners

Recently, 83 homeowners in the San Francisco Bay Area got together and decided to have solar power installed on the roofs of their homes.

While 83 homes in an area with more than 6 million people might not sound like much, together their 83 homes and combined 274 kilowatts would equal more carbon savings than 1.2 million miles driven in a car.

Actually, the homeowners didn't get together on their own. They were coordinated by 1BOG.org, or One Block Off the Grid, a San Francisco company that takes groups of homeowners and works with a solar power company to get them a group discount.

Participants save 17% through the program, according to 1BOG, which started with getting cheaper solar power for 100 homes in San Francisco.