For all those who are curious about the benefits of solar power but hesitant to shake their dependency on standard forms of energy, the folks at Citizenre REnU have a proposal. If they could eliminate the hassle, take care of installation and maintenance, set a reasonable fixed price, and virtually guarantee the effectiveness of the system, would you be willing to make the leap?

In theory, solar power is a no-brainer. What better way to cut down on costs than to use the ever-present sun to fuel our power needs? The energy produced is clean and renewable, and the sun should be around for another 5 billion years (unlike the world's oil supply).

Solar power hasn't exactly caught on like wildfire, though, and some projections for the future of residential solar energy don't look half as bright as the source itself. The high up-front cost is a major issue for consumers-the initial investment in solar can be up to three times higher than the cost of the average electrical system. Pair that with the inconvenience of learning to maintain the solar setup and trust an unfamiliar energy source, and you've got a risk many an average Joe is understandably not willing to take.

Enter Citizenre REnU. Launched on a pilot basis in the fall of 2006, Citizenre REnU is a solar-installation program that allows homeowners to rent solar panels for upward of 25 years. What makes this system unique is its worry-free promise, summarized in the program's tagline: "Solar made simple."

Citizenre REnU (REnU stands for renewable energy units) agrees to do all the work for you. Solar engineers will set up a design uniquely suited to your residence. They will construct the panels and secure them to the roof. Once installation is complete, they will monitor the system's performance over time. If at any point the homeowners decide they no longer want the system, it will be removed. It appears that all you need is faith in the concept of solar energy itself and an eye for affordable eco-friendliness.

The folks at Citizenre are aware of the many factors that have prevented solar energy from taking a place at the forefront of environmentally friendly solutions. "So far, it has been left to the individual purchaser to handle," says Erica Morgan, senior vice president of communications at Citizenre. "If something goes wrong, they have to figure out these technical issues themselves. There is also the technology risk: What happens if, five years down the road, I've bought the system but by then there's a new whiz-bang system that's better for me?" REnU's response to this particular fear is straightforward: "In that case, if there is a major breakthrough ten years down the line, we will go get it."

The REnU program also makes the most of the cost-effective aspects of solar energy. Since the solar power generated in your home will reduce the need for electricity from your standard power company, your electricity costs should never exceed your past payments (your monthly rental fee is based on the amount of electricity produced by the panels, which is charged for at a predetermined rate). Customers can lock in their rates for up to 25 years as a hedge against the ever-increasing cost of energy.

The fact that these panels are rentals means homeowners don't have to feel as if their hands are tied. Apart from a security deposit due after approval of the system's design, Citizenre allows customers to cancel a contract at any time without penalty. In the event that a homeowner has to relocate, there are three easy options. He or she can set up another system at the new home, sign the system over to those moving in, or simply call the company to have it removed.

In most cases, the only requirement is that you own a house with a roof that has exposure to the sun. "There are ways to mount equipment to take advantage of whatever rooftop you have," says Morgan. "But shading is an issue. If the home is shaded heavily, from 10:00 to noon particularly, it is very unlikely that it is a good candidate for solar."

Since the pilot launch of Citizenre REnU, customer response has been positive, with more than 19,000 clients signed up already. With the service available in nearly 40 states, the company is poised to put easily accessible solar energy on the map.

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