A few years ago, residential solar power experienced a huge boom, thanks to the economic recovery as well as numerous federal and state subsidies that reduced costs for homeowners. Manufacturers and installation companies sprang up overnight to take advantage of the rapidly growing industry. However, increased competition and improved manufacturing efficiency resulted in shrinking costs […]
Many homeowners express hesitance about having a solar power system installed on their home, simply because they’re unsure as to what the process involves. Will their home be disrupted by installers for days or weeks, with panels and construction materials cluttering up the yard? Will it take months to bring their system online? To help […]
The California Energy Commission’s update to the state’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards in May 2018 included a big surprise for builders and homebuyers. Most new single-family homes and low-rise multifamily residences built in the state will be required to have solar power systems installed during construction. All 5 members of the CEC voted to approve […]
On the day that your home solar power system in installed, it’s probably going to work great. Your panels will most likely meet the production estimates provided by your installer for many years to come. But as with anything else, your system is going to age, and begin to decline in efficiency. Different products show […]
You likely don’t think about which way is the ‘right way’ to face your solar panels—the direction which the flat surface of each panel should face—but solar power system installers certainly do. The energy production of a solar panel depends entirely on the amount of sun it receives. This is why solar panel systems perform […]
Back in January of 2018, the United States imposed import taxes of up to 30% on solar energy equipment imported into the country. Many feared that the tariffs would put the brakes on the explosive growth of solar power in the US. Unfortunately, the industry did experience setbacks. The Solar Energy Industries Association estimated that […]
Over the past few years, with more than $10 million in rebates, Roseville Electric Utility has subsidized the installation of hundreds of residential rooftop solar power systems. Currently, more than 6% of Roseville residents own solar energy systems, and are enjoying significantly reduced or even zeroed-out energy bills. But, impending changes to how homeowners are […]
Our installers and product specialists are often asked by customers, “Why should I buy solar now, and not wait for better technology? Won’t next year’s solar panels be better than what you have now?” This question is based upon the assumption that, much as this year’s iPhone is faster and has more features than last […]
Residential and commercial solar power systems offer significant financial benefits, especially in the face of rising time-of-use electricity rates. Many system owners see savings of 75% or more on their electricity bills. In order to see those savings, you must first invest in a solar energy system for your home. Thankfully, there are many low-cost […]
Going back decades, energy bills have been incredibly simple to calculate. Take the amount of electricity you use, multiply that by the current price per kilowatt-hour (kWH), tack on some miscellaneous fees and taxes, and that’s it. But in recent years, energy companies like PG&E have been pushing to change how we pay for electricity. […]
