Category Archives: Environment and Clean Technology

Articles about environmental issues and clean technology products besides solar.

Black start: why it matters

The electrical grid is designed with redundancy in mind. In order to avoid any consumers losing power, and especially any prolonged drops in power, utilities and the grid operators have designed backup plans and backups to those backups. Although very rarely, if ever, necessary, the last of those backup plans is perhaps the most important of all: black start resources.

What is black start?

Continue reading

What are microgrids and how do they work?

As more and more customers express interest in solar plus storage on EnergySage’s Marketplace, many do so with the same intended purpose: resiliency. When the grid goes dark, these solar shoppers want to ensure that they are on an electric “island” to keep their own lights on, self-generating and storing solar electricity that they can then consume. The solution? Microgrids.

Partially in response to major storm events nationwide, this innovative, if not new, approach is being taken throughout the country to maintain greater reliability and to return power quicker at the local level. By taking the notion of an electrical island from a single home to multiple buildings or an entire community, communities, cities, and organizations are creating microgrids.

Continue reading

Health & Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy

Homeowners and utilities alike are choosing solar energy at a faster rate than ever before in the United States. The explosive growth of solar power is partly a result of the falling cost of solar panels. Rebates and incentives have also contributed to the United States’ biggest year ever for solar. But decreasing costs are only one of the many benefits of solar energy. You can also improve your health and protect the environment by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels and installing a solar energy system at your home or business.

Continue reading

Case study: Tesla Powerwall installation with Green Mountain Power in Vermont

EnergySage’s own vice president of marketing, Luke Tarbi, just had a Tesla Powerwall 2 installed at his home in Vermont through Green Mountain Power’s new program – for just $15/month! In this case study, he shares his experience with the program.

We’d just closed on the house in Southern Vermont. Fortunately, the sellers left the house mostly furnished and stocked with supplies and a helpful “home instructions” booklet. One line of their “home instructions” stood out to us: “In the event of a power outage, there are flashlights and candles in the mudroom.”

Continue reading

What is my carbon footprint? Calculating CO2 impact

In an age of global climate change, people around the world are looking for ways to reduce their share of the approximately 15 trillion pounds of greenhouse gases emitted each year. In the United States, one of the top three polluters in the world, many Americans are looking into home energy solutions like energy efficient upgrades and solar installations. However, for some homeowners, the first question is “what is my carbon footprint, and what are the biggest contributing factors?” In this article we’ll answer the following questions:

  1. What lifestyle choices influence my carbon footprint?
  2. How do I calculate my own carbon footprint?
  3. What are the best ways to reduce my carbon footprint?
Continue reading

How is solar energy used?

With so many different gadgets and technologies that could leverage solar power in the modern era, many are wondering “how is solar energy used?” Whether it’s powering renewable transportation or charging a wireless speaker, the list of examples of solar energy is endless, leaving many homeowners wondering how far they can really go when they decide to “go solar.”

Continue reading

How the Tesla referral program works: rewards for solar, Model S, and Model X customers

Tesla’s referral program offers incentives to its customers for referring their friends and family to the company. Now that Tesla has acquired SolarCity, the country’s largest solar installer, the leading cleantech company’s referral program includes rewards for referring solar customers as well as car buyers. Whether you purchased a Tesla electric vehicle (EV) or Tesla solar panels, you can earn rewards when your friends buy Tesla cars or go solar with Tesla.

Continue reading