More and more homeowners are discovering the financial benefits of solar and installing solar energy systems on their property, but what many people don’t realize that winter is actually the best time to start shopping for solar. Here are the top five reasons why homeowners should start shopping for solar in the winter.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Solar 101
Should you install solar panel snow guards?
When you install rooftop solar you save thousands on your electric bill, but if you live somewhere that gets lots of snow in the winter, you may also be at risk for a winter-specific side effect. Sometimes, large amounts of snow will slide off your solar panels all at once, which can damage your property. In this article, we will discuss solar snow guards, what they do, and why you might want to ask your solar installer to include them in your solar array.
Continue readingSolar panel patio covers, awnings & gazebos provide shade and power
Patio covers, awnings, and gazebos can make your outdoor space more comfortable and functional. New products on the market can take them a step further by turning your patio cover or gazebo into a mini power plant with the addition of solar panels. If you’re considering making the upgrade to build some sort of solar lounge, you may want to look into a solar patio cover or gazebo.
Continue readingSolar panel safety: how safe are solar panels?
As with any electrical appliance, solar panels can be at risk to certain electrical damages and dangers, such as solar panel fires and power surges. Luckily, there are plenty of measures in place to ensure your solar panel installation is safe. This article will discuss some of the common safety concerns around solar panels, and what mechanisms are in place to prevent dangerous solar panel scenarios.
Continue readingSolar grow lights: how solar panels benefit urban agriculture
What do growing cannabis in Colorado, greens in South Korea, and sustaining life in space all have in common? While it may sound like the setup to a bad joke, all three are actually related to the future of modern agriculture. Indoor agriculture enables individuals to control all of the variables that go into farming, but it also means that the farmer has to recreate all of the natural conditions on earth — from the soil in the earth to the sun in the sky. Solar power can and will play a big part in making this all achievable.
Continue readingWhy are solar panels blue?
Most solar panels you will see have a blue hue to them, although some panels are black in color. The source of this color difference comes from the way light interacts with two different types of solar panels: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. In this article, we will examine what the color of a solar panel can tell you, and what makes solar panels blue.
Continue readingHow many sun hours do I need? Calculating peak sun hours
When weighing the decision of whether or not going solar makes sense for your roof or location, one of the first questions you may ask is “how many sun hours do I need for solar to be worth it?” The reason this question is important is because there is a significant range across the country for average peak sun hours. In this article, we’ll explain which states offer the best sun hour value and how much sunlight intensity in your state should impact your decision to go solar.
Continue readingKey metrics for comparing solar panels: PTC solar, STC rating and temperature coefficient
So you’ve made the decision to go solar. Well done! If designed right, a solar power system is a great, long-term investment with both financial and environmental benefits.
Choosing the right solar panels is one of the most important steps in designing your solar power system. There are hundreds of options, and while all panels are designed for one purpose – to convert sunlight directly into electricity, not all panels are created equal. Different solar cell technologies and the quality of manufacturing can impact the performance of your panels. For these reasons, comparing solar panels and finding the right one to meet your specific system needs can sometimes be a complicated task; but, it doesn’t need to be.
In this article we’ll explain important metrics like PTC power rating, STC, degradation rate, efficiency and temperature coefficient.
Does my solar roof have to face south?
You don’t need optimal conditions for your solar power system to be a great investment. One of the biggest myths about the financial viability of solar is that it requires a really sunny location and a south-facing roof. While these may be ideal conditions, folks outside of Southern California with roofs that face other points on the compass, such as east to west-facing roofs, can still satisfy most of their electricity needs and reap significant financial returns when they adopt solar power systems.
Continue readingSolar canopy installations: bring shade and clean energy to your parking lot
The financial and environmental benefits of solar are greater than ever, and companies looking to benefit can now install a solar canopy over their parking lots to share in the savings. Businesses across the country are building solar parking lots that provide shade for cars while simultaneously generating renewable energy – and they’re saving thousands of dollars on electricity bills in the process.