The modern home is a smart home, with everything from voice activated speakers to thermostats you can control from your home. But to truly be “smart” about your own home, you need to have insight into–and control over–more than just the color of your desk lamp. Enter smart panels: the new technology that’s taking home energy insights and the solar-plus industry to the next level. One such smart panel is Schneider Electric’s Square D Energy Center. We sat down with the team at Schneider to learn more about their brand new product.
Continue readingA complete overview of the Tesla Semi
Tesla doesn’t only make cars – soon, their electric semi-trucks will be taking shipments across the country. Rumored and talked about for years now, it seems that the Tesla Semi is on its way to becoming a reality.
Continue readingDemand for electric cars and utility response
Demand for electric cars is growing by the day. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that by 2030, there will be 145 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road.
Continue readingAn overview of the 2020 National Solar Jobs Census
Every year, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Solar Foundation, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and BW Research release the National Solar Jobs Census. Each release is a great opportunity to take a step back and take stock of the solar industry, and this year’s report–which was launched earlier this month–is no different. Taking a look back at 2020, this year’s Solar Jobs Census chronicles the impact of COVID-19 on the solar workforce, tracks efforts to diversify the solar industry, and looks to the future for how many workers the solar industry will employ under different policy scenarios. Spoiler alert: we’re all hiring!
Continue readingString inverters vs. power optimizers vs. microinverters: what you need to know
As you consider a solar panel system for your home, one of the key decisions you need to make is the type of inverter to install. Inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity generated by your solar panels into usable alternating current (AC) electricity. Given the complex power electronics and software contained within, inverters are vital to the ongoing performance of your solar power system.
Continue readingSolar carve-outs
More than thirty states in the United States currently have renewable energy policies. Most of these goals, targets, and mandates allow for compliance from a range of different types of renewable energy technologies. In a few cases, however, states have included a technology-specific mandate as a part of their renewable energy policies. One such policy mechanism is a solar carve-out.
Continue readingNest vs. ecobee: which smart thermostat is right for your home?
In the past few years, smart thermostats have gone from a niche product to one that’s accessible to most homeowners. If you don’t have them installed in your home already, you’ve probably seen the small screens on walls at a friend’s house or on display at a local electronics stores.
5 solar shopping tips for environmentalists
Generating electricity with your own rooftop solar panel system is one of the most effective ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint. In fact, the average solar panel system can help offset three to four tons of carbon emissions annually–for perspective, the impact of those carbon reductions is similar to planting more than 100 trees each year!
Continue readingWhat is a solar home?
What does it mean to have a solar home, or to “go solar”? Photovoltaic technology is rapidly spreading and becoming more accessible, and more and more homeowners are going solar daily. In this article, we will explore what it means to have a solar house.
Continue readingEverything you need to know about First Solar
As one of the largest solar companies based in the United States, chances are you’ve heard of First Solar. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, this company has been in the news recently, in part due to the unique solar product they manufacture.
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