US Solar February 2019

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MY W I F E ’ S CON T I NUA L S U P PORT MIGUEL DELGADO

Valentine’s Day is this month, and I couldn’t help but think about my good friend and head marketer here at US Solar —Miguel —and his wonderful wife, Kristina. I wanted to feature Miguel this month and for him to share with you how the two of themmet and their supportive relationship.

And where we are as a company right now is just the beginning. We’re going to work harder and do a lot better in 2019, aiming to grow even more than we have already. Kristie is helping us achieve this goal as well: She’s starting up a support group at US Solar for women whose husbands are partners or part of our team. Her focus is to encourage them and talk with them about what we do here and why it’s essential. She also wants to help other wives understand what they can do to continue supporting their husbands as they work with US Solar.

The first time I met my wife, Kristina, she walked right by me without saying a word.

We first met through mutual friends and began chatting over Facebook after I’d sent her a friend request. Kristie and I talked online for about three months before we decided to meet in person. I thought it was the weirdest thing; here we were, “talking” all this time, but the first time we actually met, she didn’t say one word to me. Kristie told me later that she didn’t speak to me when we met because she hadn’t dated anyone for seven years and was nervous about us actually meeting each other. All that time, she had been waiting for the right person to come along. Seven months after we met face to face, we were married! Ever since she came into my life, Kristie’s been my biggest supporter, both in my career and my personal life. She’s been a big part of US Solar too, advocating for what we do here since I joined the team early last year. We’ve experienced tremendous growth as a company since then. It was because of this that I was given the opportunity to make a short speech addressing US Solar, talking about all we’ve been able to accomplish. During that speech, I got to thank Kristie for always being by my side. Kristie is a great supporter of everything we do here at US Solar; she understands the challenges we face, and she prays for the company every day — it’s astounding. I’m not sure if I could find a sincerer supporter than her. Kristie knows where we’re coming from and how hard we’ve worked in the last 10 years to get where we are. She believes in US Solar as much as I do, if not more.

Kristie is always in pursuit of a deeper relationship with God, and that makes her an amazing individual. In all her support and care for me and the company, for Kristie there is one even greater love: Jesus. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the most important thing of all. Having a woman in my life who loves God more than anything is what I’ve always wanted, and that’s precisely who Kristie is as a person. There’s so much I wouldn’t have accomplished if Kristie hadn’t been a part of my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her continual support during the years I’ve known her. Kristie is one of the most important people in my life. She has an impact on every aspect of my career and who I am, and I am thankful for her. –Miguel

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SPEAK FROM THE HEART HOW MR . ROGE R S SAV ED P B S It’s May 1, 1969. As the war continues in Vietnam, people gather in the Senate Subcommittee on Communications in D.C. to fight for what they believe is critical to the American public. Proposed budget cuts to Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) threaten the programs that have become dear to so many, and $20 million is on the line. For a public television station, this is everything. Over the course of two days, Senator John Pastore, chairperson of the subcommittee, has listened to speech after speech about why PBS should be awarded the funding. He’s tired of hearing the same bland data and is eager to have the ordeal over with. Unlike his fellow speakers, Mr. Rogers doesn’t use numbers or research to persuade Senator Pastore. In the calm voice many of us associate with our childhoods, Fred Rogers shares with Senator Pastore the reasons why he’s concerned about what children see on television. Two minutes after Rogers has begun talking, Pastore’s demeanor changes — his face softens, and he can tell Rogers has something important to say. From his work in child development, Rogers has come to empathize with and understand the worries and fears of children. He explains to Senator Pastore that he’s created a show for children, saying, “I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health.” He doesn’t speak from the piece of paper in front of him; he speaks from his heart. Then Fred Rogers, host of the newly syndicated series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” steps up to the microphone.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KIND WORDS!

“Getting solar panels through US Solar was the best thing I have done. They have awesome customer service, and the immediate savings I saw was amazing. I have and will continue to recommend US Solar to everyone looking

to be energy- and finance-efficient.” –Letitia Williams

“Very professional company. I worked with Ryan, Scott, and Sean. My questions and concerns were taken care of in a timely manner, and I have been pleased with the end result. Great sales team.” –Sunny Sparrow

“US Solar did a phenomenal jobmuch faster, andmuchmore thoroughly, than I thought it would be. You can tell at the core that they truly care for the customer.” –Daniel Godwin

Rogers shares with Pastore what he tells viewers at the end of each episode: “You’ve made this day a special day just by being you.”

“I’d like to see this program,” Pastore says. Five minutes into the speech, he is transformed, just like anyone who’s seen Rogers’ show. “I’m supposed to be a pretty tough guy, and this is the first time I’ve had goosebumps for the last two days,” Pastore tells him. How has Rogers swayed the senator? He hasn’t waved a magic wand or given a dramatic performance, but Rogers’ passion is so palpable, even Senator Pastore can’t help being won over.

After Rogers shares the words of one the songs he features in “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” Pastore has heard enough.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Pastore declares. “Looks like you just earned the $20 million.”

If you’d like to see Mr. Rogers’ testimony for yourself, you can check it out at youtube.com/watch?v=fKy7ljRr0AA.

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WHO I S R I GHT FOR SOLAR ENERGY?

G E T T I N G T H E H I G H E S T R E W A R D

Although it may come as a surprise, solar power isn’t for everyone. Solar energy comes with such a plethora of advantages that it’s hard to see why it’s not always the right option. But this begs the question: Who is right for solar energy? Well, there are two groups of people who can benefit the most from solar power: homeowners and individuals who are on a fixed income. Homeowners are optimally positioned for choosing solar energy, and for several reasons. Aside from the fact that as a homeowner, you benefit from solar by enjoying more control over your electrical costs, solar also adds value to your house intrinsically. According to Fannie Mae, the largest federally backed home finance company, solar systems add to the value of your home in direct proportion to the cost of the solar technology itself. In short, a homeowner who chooses to have solar panels installed on their home potentially increases its appraised value by quite a lot.

for a tax credit, you could still gain a financial benefit by pulling away from the utility companies. At US Solar, we’ve been able to show many customers considerable savings, and the trade-off more than justifies the investment in solar power. Ultimately, switching to solar can help you save more of the income you’ve worked so hard for. If you own your home, a solar system is one of the best enhancements you can make to that investment. Savings begin the first day the system is completed, and once your system is paid for, the energy coming into your home is virtually free. Additionally, energy that your system produces beyond what you consume is fed back into the utility company’s power grid. From that contribution, you receive credit from the power company, which in turn can be applied to any costs you may incur when you draw energy back from them.

If you’re interested in learning more about what US Solar can do but are still unsure if it’s right for you, we encourage you to call our offices at 813.434.0284. We can provide you with the information you’re looking for and answer any questions you may have.

Are you living on a fixed income? Choosing solar energy might reveal that, even though you’re getting a substantial technological upgrade, it still fits into your budget. Even if you don’t qualify

B I STECCA ALLA F IORENT INA

For a sinfully delicious Valentine’s Day dinner, turn to this classic Italian steak preparation. It’s simply flavored with rosemary and lemon, allowing themeat to take center stage.

INSTRUCT IONS

1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove steaks from fridge to bring them to room temperature. 2. Heat a grill or large cast-iron skillet to high. While heating, brush steaks with half the oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Place steaks on the hottest part of the grill or pan and cook for 5 minutes. 4. Flip steaks and baste with remaining oil, using rosemary sprigs as a brush. If cooking in a pan, place sprigs next to steaks after basting. 5. Cook for 5–6 minutes for medium-rare. 6. Let steaks sit for at least 5 minutes, slice against the grain, and serve with bone.

INGREDI ENTS

• 2 bone-in

porterhouse steaks • 1/4 cup olive oil • 2 sprigs rosemary • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste • Lemon wedges, for serving

Inspired by Saveur magazine

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I N S I D E

MY SUPPORTIVE WIFE 1

HOW MR. ROGERS SAVED PBS

SEE WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING 2

THE RIGHT CHOICE

BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA 3

BRING VARIETY TO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 4

FAMILY GAME NIGHT BREAK THE MONOTONY OF OVERPLAYED BOARD GAMES!

Family game night is a time when a family can forget about all of life’s commitments and bond over a good old-fashioned board game. But the old, tattered Monopoly box or worn-out UNO cards can leave something to be desired, and the classics might be getting a little dull. If you’re tired of playing the same board games over and over, it might be time to start looking for ways to change things up. Here are four tabletop games you might not have heard of that are perfect for spicing up family game night.

all the problem-solving skills a typical chess game offers but with a twist. At the end of each turn, a player fires a small laser beam that bounces off the mirrored chess pieces. If it hits the non-mirrored surface of a piece, that piece is taken by the player. A player wins when the opposing player’s king piece is illuminated.

CATAN Welcome to the island of Catan! After a long voyage at sea, the people in your expedition compete against other seafarers in building settlements. Enjoy the 45–90-minute game as you and your family build roads, barter resources, and race for absolute supremacy on Catan.

MYSTERIUM Your family will love delving into this cooperative murder mystery game that is a mixture of Clue and Dixit. You can play as the ghost or as one of the mediums who enters the haunting. The ghost player gives each medium a clue or vision about a potential murderer, and the mediums have to guess which person, room, or weapon was used to murder the ghost player. After each turn, the ghost reveals whether

ONE NIGHT WEREWOLF Every night, werewolves prowl around the village, and it’s up to the villagers to find the werewolf once the sun rises — before it’s too late. Each person plays a unique role with different abilities to help find or conceal the werewolf. If the werewolf is caught, the villagers win the game, but if the werewolf manages to escape, the villagers lose.

each of the mediums’ guesses are right or not. If all of the mediums succeed in guessing correctly by the seventh in- game hour, they work together to find the true murderer. LASER CHESS A classic game of chess is a great way to spend an evening, and it just got a little more interesting. Laser chess includes

Now you can bring some exciting variety into your family game nights. Don’t miss out on these excellent tabletop games, and most importantly, have fun!

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