EnergySage and the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University (NC CETC) has announced a partnership to help consumers and businesses make well-informed and profitable decisions about solar energy adoption. The resulting EnergySage North Carolina marketplace enables residents and business owners to quickly research and compare solar options and obtain multiple price quotes from pre-screened solar installers.

The marketplace also provides the state's solar installers access to a large pool of knowledgeable prospective clients, giving them the ability to reduce customer acquisition costs and efficiently grow their businesses.

"It is our mission to advance a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices and policies," said Steve Kalland, executive director for the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center.

"Our collaboration with EnergySage, a fellow recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy supported SunShot grant, is one significant way in which we're executing on this strategy by helping consumers to become knowledgeable about solar and actively assisting them throughout the research and purchase process."

When visitors enter the EnergySage North Carolina portal from the NC CETC website (www.greenprofessionals.org), they have access to a wealth of unbiased information about adopting solar energy.

The one-of-a-kind marketplace is a resource for everything from learning about local financial incentives and comparing installers, to obtaining answers to common questions crucial to informed decision-making. Users can also get an instant home or business estimate on the costs of buying, loaning or leasing solar panels, and request customized quotes from local, pre-screened installers for their particular property.

"The EnergySage marketplace greatly simplifies the process for those looking to adopt solar energy and gives consumers more choice and greater market price transparency," added Kalland.

"Solar energy is a particularly good investment for homeowners and business owners in North Carolina today, and thanks to our partnership with EnergySage, they now have an objective forum for evaluating multiple options. With a large state tax credit and the federal tax credit, consumers can get as much as a 60 percent discount on solar right off the top, making their payback quick and the financial benefits attractive."

"EnergySage shares the goal of the NC CETC to provide consumers and business owners with the unbiased information and support they need to make the smartest and most profitable decision about solar adoption," said John Gingrich, senior vice president of partnerships for EnergySage.

"We deliver an innovative online tool to help do this-all through one simple platform. Users can easily comparison shop, but, equally important, they can also tap the expertise of our Solar Advisors to get answers to their questions and obtain impartial guidance about the solar options that will be most advantageous for them."