Buying a house is a major investment that comes with many long-term variables to consider, including location, home style, sales price, and monthly utility bills. During the process of applying for a home mortgage, new buyers may also have the opportunity to think about other large home improvement investments that they would like to make once they move in to either increase the value of their home or decrease their monthly homeownership costs. The new solar + home loan from Lowtility is a unique option for home buyers looking to do just that by financing both a house purchase and a solar energy system installation all at once.
Continue readingSolar panels for businesses: does commercial solar make sense?
If you’re a business owner, the concept of “solar panels for businesses” might seem like a risky move in a complex and confusing market. You may have heard about major Fortune 500 companies going solar, but thought that it might not be feasible for your organization. Maybe you’re considering installing commercial solar panels at some point in the distant future, when your organization can afford to make a major investment in something that seems like an environmental “good” rather than a strategic financial decision.
Continue readingSolar news: July 12th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, EV chargers hit U.S. national parks, and a report says that Florida consumers interconnecting to the grid more than doubled in 2018.
Continue readingAnnouncing the EnergySage Buyer’s Guide
We at EnergySage are very excited to introduce to you our newest online, educational tool: the EnergySage Buyer’s Guide. Launched earlier this month, the Buyer’s Guide is a first-of-its-kind educational tool for researching and comparing different solar equipment. As a part of the product release announcement, we want to provide an explanation of what the Buyer’s Guide is, describe how you can use it, and offer some ways you might find it useful.
Continue readingComparing top solar panel brands: SunPower vs LG, Panasonic and Canadian Solar
When it comes to solar panel manufacturers, there is no shortage of options for homeowners in 2019. Solar panel technology is improving every year, and many solar panel companies offer products that boast both high conversion efficiency numbers as well as impressive long-term warranties. SunPower is the leader with regard to efficiency across the board while LG solar panels are known for top tier design and aesthetic, but companies like Canadian Solar offer much more appealing prices for their solar panels. How do the top PV manufacturers stack up? We’ll help you compare and contrast your options among the industry leaders – SunPower, Panasonic, Canadian Solar, and LG.
Continue readingConcentrated solar power (CSP): what you need to know
Many people are familiar with solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar hot water systems. But in sunny spaces across the world, another lesser-known technology exists as a different way to take advantage of the sun’s energy: concentrated solar power (CSP). In this article, we’ll describe how concentrated solar power technology works, the types of concentrated solar systems, and how the technology compares to the solar photovoltaic panels you might install on your property.
Continue readingPhantom loads: what you need to know
There are two primary ways to reduce your electricity bills: 1) by generating your own electricity with solar energy and 2) by reducing the amount of electricity you use every month. These two methods of reducing bills go hand-in-hand: if you use less electricity every month, then a smaller (and less expensive) solar energy system will be able to meet your needs.
Continue readingPros and cons of air source heat pumps
Choosing how you want to heat and cool your property is an important decision, especially in regards to energy bills: according to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling make up roughly 48 percent of energy consumption in the average U.S. home. Because these technologies make up such a large portion of energy costs, homeowners are increasingly looking to upgrade to newer, smarter, and more energy-efficient technologies like air source heat pumps (ASHPs). In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most important advantages and disadvantages of ASHPs to keep in mind as you’re evaluating heating and cooling technologies for your property.
Continue reading5 not-so-obvious reasons to go solar, and why talking to your financial advisor is a smart move
Like many Americans, you’ve probably thought about installing solar panels on your home or business at some point in the past few years. Maybe you’ve even started looking into prices or talking to neighbors who have already made the switch. Whatever your reasons are for considering a solar energy system, now is a great time to take action as prices continue to come down and electricity rates continue to go up.
Continue readingEnergy news: June 28th, 2019
In this week’s News Roundup, we’re taking a slight detour from our usual theme of solar energy. Instead, we decided to focus on two recent stories in the energy industry that have wide-ranging implications for not just solar, but the way we use energy as a whole.
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