Are corporations doing all they can to embrace renewables?
What ties our entire built environment together? Energy – and lots of it. The kind of energy future we transition towards today can have a big impact on our environment in the coming decades. So what are society’s main actors doing to lower their carbon …
New solar panels on the block
Have you ever seen black rooftop solar panels and wondered what makes them different from the typical blue-tinted arrays? Those sleek dark panels are made of monocrystalline silicon, while the blue panels contain polycrystalline silicon. …
Snow problem: How do solar panels fare in winter?
Northern areas of the country enjoy less sunlight than southern regions, but homeowners in colder climes continue to embrace residential solar power with success. …
What to expect after your solar installation
With a lifetime of 25 to 30 years, residential solar panels become an integral component of the home after they are installed. It’s reasonable for prospective buyers to wonder just how much servicing and commitment is required over that long period. As it turns out, …
You picked your panels – how do you finalize and install your residential solar system?
Solar panel selection is often the first of a series of choices homeowners need to make when buying a new residential solar power system. What kind of solar inverter should you consider? Can you install solar panels without hiring a contractor? Are backup batteries worth …
Ready to go solar? Here’s what you need to know before you buy
Everyone’s green energy journey is different. When it comes to residential solar, a little knowledge goes a long way towards designing a well-tailored system. In this article, we’ll review some of the practical considerations for homeowners shopping for solar panels for the first time. …
How long does it take for residential solar power to save you money?
A lot of bright ideas are solar-powered: After a colder-than-average winter in 1969, sunlight poured over London at a rate not seen in ten years. Some speculate that George Harrison drew inspiration from that sunny spring to compose Here Comes The Sun. How will you …
Mainstream sunlight: Can the solar industry grow without subsidies?
This past December, the U.S. Federal Solar Tax Credit was extended for two years. If you install a residential solar energy system in your home, you’re eligible to claim 26% of its cost on your taxes. But as residential solar energy matures from an engineering …
Four types of solar rebates for California homeowners (2021)
The average homeowner will wait an average of 8 years to earn back their initial investment in residential solar panels through energy savings. The long-term benefits of energy efficiency are significant but the upfront costs for hardware and labor can be high. There are a …
The solar-powered home: How do solar inverters and rectifiers work?
Even though solar panels and storage batteries are not a common feature of most homes today, their environmental and economic impact is driving homeowners towards their adoption. Photovoltaic panels are becoming thinner and cheaper and the underlying technology is becoming more energy- and cost-efficient. …
