Not every roof is suitable for solar panels – factors such as shade, obstructions, age, and available space can have property owners looking for other locations for installation.
When it comes to large-scale solar projects, the most common alternatives to rooftop solar panel systems include ground mounts or solar canopies. Here’s a newer alternative that’s making quite the splash in the solar industry: floating solar.
Continue readingOne of the best financial incentives for batteries in the US is California’s Self Generation Incentive Program, or SGIP. If you are a home or business owner in California, SGIP provides rebates that help you to significantly reduce the cost of installing an energy storage product. We get a lot of questions from homeowners who are curious about how to best take advantage of this incentive program and to claim their SGIP rebate, so we read through all of the program documentation and compiled the relevant info below. Let us know what you think and, as always, feel free to reach out to one of our Energy Advisors if you have any questions about your specific project.
Continue readingNet metering in California is part of what makes the Golden State the undisputed leader for solar in the country. In fact, California saw 26,232 megawatts (MW) of solar installed as of the end of Q3 2019, about five times as much as #2 state North Carolina.
Continue readingGiven the current ongoing COVID-19 situation, you may be wondering both if it’s even possible to still go solar and, if so, where solar installations are still actively taking place. The short answer? Yes and yes! Here’s a deeper dive into what we know about where people are still actively installing solar today.
Continue readingBuying a home is one of the most significant and rewarding decisions you can make. As of January 2020, Californians will have the added exhilaration – and potential stress – of acquiring a rooftop solar panel system at the same time.
That’s because the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) approved a state-wide mandate requiring most new single-family homes, including multi-family residential buildings up to three stories, to install solar panels. The first-of-its-kind California solar mandate is designed to make new homes in California far more energy-efficient while saving homeowners tens of thousands of dollars on electricity costs.
To help people understand what it means to buy a new home with a solar energy system, EnergySage created the California Solar Mandate Guide: an educational resource for knowing what questions to ask prior to buying a solar-powered home. But before we dive into our tips and suggestions, let us first explain why paying a bit more for your new home just to have solar on it makes a ton of sense.
Continue readingIn this week’s Solar News Roundup, LADWP votes to expand a beneficial feed-in tariff program in their service area, and the first 100% electric vehicle “gas” station opens.
Continue readingIn this week’s Solar News Roundup, Tesla launches a new solar rental model, and the energy storage market for California’s major utilities continues at impressive deployment rates, especially in SDG&E territory.
Continue readingIn this week’s Solar News Roundup: bills in Massachusetts mimic California’s new solar mandate, and a SEPA report on energy storage deployment by utility.
Continue readingSouthern California Edison’s (SCE) new time-of-use (TOU) rate plans went into effect in March 2019, affecting the utility’s entire coverage area. Whether you have solar panels on your roof, are considering solar, or don’t have any plans to generate your own electricity, the time-of-use (TOU) rates will have an impact on your monthly electricity costs.
Continue readingWhat should you look at to determine if you’re getting a good deal on solar? There are lots of things to pay attention to when deciding on a solar energy system; but two of the most useful metrics for evaluating the cost and value of a solar power offer are price per watt, measured in dollars per watt of energy ($/W), and ‘levelized cost of energy’ (LCOE).
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