Reading your electric bill might not seem complicated, but if you’re like most Americans, you may be making several mistakes. The complexity of your bill will vary based on your location and utility, but there are several common components that everyone should understand. If you’re looking for bill help, here are the top five things to know about reading and understanding your electric bill correctly, with examples from my electric bill.
Continue readingHybrid solar systems: which pairing of on and off-grid is right for you?
Solar offers more than just an opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint. When you install solar panels on your roof, you are a step closer to taking your electricity production and consumption into your own hands. One of the biggest decisions solar shoppers have to make is whether to install a standard grid-tied solar energy system, a solar battery backup, or a hybrid solar system. Here’s everything that you should keep in mind when you’re comparing hybrid solar panels to typical grid-connection or off-grid options
Continue readingWhat you need to know about energy monitors
Electricity is expensive – and finding ways to cut your usage can save significant money down the line! One way homeowners are starting to take their energy management into their own hands is through energy monitors, devices that provide insight into how much energy you’re using, and when you’re using it. With this information, you can adjust your behavior and ultimately cut down on your electricity costs, all while helping the environment. In this article, we’ll explain some things to consider when evaluating energy monitors.
Continue readingHow many watts does an electric oven and stove use?
We use ovens and stoves to cook all the time, and these days, electric ovens are only gaining in popularity. While not quite as power-hungry as whole-home appliances like air conditioners, it’s important to know how much electricity your oven and stove uses when you’re looking at your whole home’s energy usage, especially because they are relatively high wattage devices.
Continue readingElectric vehicle charging infrastructure: what to know in 2022
While electric vehicle (EV) ownership in the United States is growing, most Americans currently drive internal combustion engine (ICE) – aka gas powered – automobiles. Undoubtedly, if you want to purchase an electric car, it’s first important to know if you’ll have ample charging available.
Continue readingHow does a photovoltaic solar cell work?
You’ve probably seen solar panels on rooftops all around your neighborhood, but do you know how they actually work to generate electricity? In this article, we’ll take a look at photovoltaic solar cells, or solar cells, which are electronic components that generate electricity when exposed to photons, or particles of light—this conversion is called the photovoltaic effect. In this article, we’ll explain how PV cells work. Specifically, we’ll examine the science of silicon solar cells, the solar cells making up the vast majority of solar panels.
Continue readingHow much of my house can I run on a battery–and for how long?
If you are researching a solar battery there’s one major question that you likely have: how much of your house can you power with a typical solar battery, and how long can you provide power to your home? As with most things, the short answer is an ever unsatisfying: it depends! The longer answer is a complicated one, so we’re here to help.
We’ve split this article into two separate questions–how much and for how long–since both questions are important as you decide which battery to install, but the answers rely on different factors.
Continue readingWhy the Texas electrical grid may still be in trouble
In February 2021, Texas residents lost power after the state’s electrical grid failed as the catastrophic Winter Storm Uri moved through the state. A question remains whether or not there’s still legitimate cause for concern. Almost half of Texans (47 percent) don’t believe that the legislation passed improved the reliability of the state’s electrical grid sufficiently enough to help ensure that Texans will not again suffer as they did during the February 2021 winter storm.
Continue readingSolar news: February 11th, 2022
In this week’s news roundup, we discuss a bill establishing community solar in Ohio, and a new solar system design with multiple sustainability benefits in California.
Continue readingWhat does serviceability mean for batteries?
If you’re considering purchasing a solar-plus-storage system, you’re probably contemplating the “what ifs”: what if my battery isn’t performing properly? What if my battery stops working altogether? The good news is that battery technology is highly reliable, which is why it’s sometimes difficult to find answers to these questions. In this article, we’ll cover some common questions you may have about solar batteries to help you make an informed decision about including storage with your solar system.
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