As you consider joining a community solar project, it’s important to understand how and when it will deliver value to you. This article breaks down the two main types of pricing models – ownership and subscription – in order to help you more accurately compare and decide between various offers.
Continue readingSolar battery warranties: what’s covered, and what’s not?
Tesla Powerwalls, Panasonic Evervolts, and sonnen eco – all of these batteries come with a 10 year warranty. However, simply comparing the length of one warranty term to the next doesn’t give you a full picture: what is and isn’t included in a warranty differs quite a bit from one battery company to the next. And considering how important a battery system is for resiliency and–in some markets–savings, you want to make sure you’re covered in case anything goes wrong.
In this article, we’ll review the most important aspects of a battery warranty, and discuss what’s standard for the industry.
Continue readingHow have solar equipment costs declined over time?
Over the last decade, the costs of solar have decreased from over $8 per Watt in 2009 ($/W) to $2.75/W in 2019 on EnergySage, a decline of more than 65 percent in 11 years. Over this timeframe, a primary driver of the declining cost of solar in the US has been technological improvements in the actual hardware that’s included in solar energy systems: solar panels and solar inverters.
Continue readingHow to read your PG&E bill
If you live in California, there’s a good chance that you’re a customer of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). This company, based in San Francisco, provides natural gas and electricity to about 16 million people throughout northern California, making it one of the largest utilities in the United States.
Continue readingSolar news: May 14th, 2021
In this week’s news roundup, we discuss an exciting investment in renewable energy for our home state of Massachusetts, and progress towards achieving net zero emissions in New Jersey.
Continue readingWhat to know about solar equipment manufacturer endorsements
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing an installer, including experience, years in business, online reviews, licensing, and more. A lesser-known factor you may want to consider as you’re comparing one installer versus another is whether a solar company has received any manufacturer endorsements.
Continue readingEconomic benefits of renewable energy
As renewable energy becomes more widely adopted throughout the United States, it is worth pausing to take stock of the economic benefits associated with increased levels of solar, wind and other renewable energy resources. From providing lower cost electricity to generating reliable, local jobs and to avoiding costly externalities associated with emissions from burning fossil fuels, renewable energy is an economic boon.
Continue readingSolar inverter warranties: what’s covered, and what’s not?
If you’ve already started exploring your inverter options, you may have noticed that many products come with a 25-year warranty. However, simply comparing the length of one warranty term to the next doesn’t give you a full picture: what is and isn’t included in a warranty differs quite a bit from one inverter company to the next. And considering how important a solar inverter is to the functionality of your system, you want to make sure you’re covered in case anything goes awry.
In this article, we’ll review the most important aspects of a solar inverter warranty, and discuss what’s standard for the industry.
Continue readingAn overview of smart modules
Many solar companies recommend pairing a solar array with power optimizers and a central inverter to enhance the performance of a solar panel system. While many people install power optimizers and panels as separate components, your installer may recommend a solar panel that integrates both components into one, also known as a smart module.
Continue readingTesla solar renting vs. leasing vs. buying solar panels
Tesla’s recently announced solar rental program was met with high hopes, as a program with the potential to make solar more accessible to more homeowners. With a sense of how the program works, the question becomes: how do the savings from renting solar panels form Tesla compare to the savings from owning or leasing solar panels?
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