Community solar is quickly becoming a hit in the renewable energy industry. Many people hear the pitch and think, “Really? This is too good to be true”…and honestly, we get it. But truthfully, there are a lot of good reasons to join a community solar program – here are four of them to start:
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How to read your SCE bill
Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the largest utility companies in both California and the United States. Based in Rosemead, they provide natural gas and electricity to about 15 million people in the southern part of the state.
Continue readingRapid shutdown: what you need to know
If you’ve just installed a solar panel system or are looking at a picture of one, you may notice a box with an on/off switch that says “rapid shutdown.” But what does rapid shutdown mean, and why is it important for a solar panel system? In this article, we’ll give an overview of rapid shutdown requirements, how they vary by state, and list some popular inverter options that are compliant with rapid shutdown requirements.
Continue readingBoston’s new CCA program: how does it compare with community solar?
Earlier this year, Boston rolled out their new community choice electricity (CCE) program, the largest community choice aggregation (CCA), or municipal aggregation, initiative in New England. Given the availability of local community solar projects in the Greater Boston area–and given that Boston is EnergySage’s home city!–we get a lot of questions about how some of these subscription options compare to this new program. In this article, we’ll discuss the major differences and similarities between the two options.
Continue readingComparing quotes: why are installers proposing different system sizes?
So you have a few quotes, sit down to evaluate them, and notice something right off the bat: installer A and installer B have proposed different sizes for your solar panel system. Why is this? And how can you truly compare apples-to-apples in this scenario?
In this article, we’ll review why this might happen – and what you can do about it!
Continue readingSolar loans: what you need to know
Want to finance your solar panel installation? Cash purchases and solar leases (or PPAs) aren’t your only options. If you don’t have–or aren’t willing to spend–the capital for a cash purchase but want to maximize the financial benefits of a solar energy system, the solar loan offers the best of both worlds.
Continue readingLumeta Solar: stick-on solar panels
There are many property owners who hesitate in installing solar because of how the panels will look on their roof, or because they worry about possibly damaging their roof during installation. With this in mind, Lumeta Solar sought to create a product that sticks flat against your roof, while not requiring roof penetrations for installation: adhesive solar panels.
Continue readingSRECs: understanding solar renewable energy credits
Of all the incentives for installing solar panel systems, solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) are some of the most beneficial, yet most complicated to understand. However, SRECs can provide sizable income to owners of solar power systems that live in eligible markets.
Continue readingSolar loans vs. solar leases
So you know you want to finance your solar panel system, but one big question remains: should you lease your system from a company, or own your system and finance it with a solar loan? The answer here depends on a few factors, including your preferences, needs, and financial goals.
Continue readingShould you buy or lease your solar panels?
Whether you buy a system or lease it, going solar is one of the best ways to save on electricity bills. That said, the financing option you choose influences a number of factors, including the costs, maintenance responsibilities, terms, savings, and the return on investment (ROI) of your solar panel system.
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