If you just purchased your first home, first of all, congratulations! Buying a home is no small feat and immediately planning your home’s upgrades may feel overwhelming–but we’re here to help! When it comes to solar, we think it’s a great upgrade for first-time homebuyers because solar saves you money in the long run and increases your home value. We’ve laid out some key questions to answer when making the decision to go solar as a first-time homebuyer.
Continue readingTag Archives: net metering
Solar news: July 24th, 2020
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dismisses an anti-net metering plea, and Trina Solar announces new 600-watt solar panels.
Continue readingCalifornia net metering: everything you need to know about NEM 2.0
Net 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 readingHow much is your electric bill after going solar?
One of the most common misconceptions about solar is that people who install panels no longer receive an electricity bill from their utility company. This isn’t true in most cases: the majority of solar panel systems in the U.S. are grid-tied, allowing customers to draw electricity from the grid when their solar panels aren’t producing enough electricity.
Continue reading4 videos for understanding the basics of solar energy
Just getting started on your solar project, and want to learn more about the technology? Here are four videos to watch to quickly learn the solar basics:
Continue readingVirtual net metering: What is It? How does it Work?
As community solar gains more attention in the U.S., more and more homeowners are hearing about a solar incentive referred to as “virtual net metering.” Thus, the question everyone is asking is fairly obvious: what exactly is virtual net metering, and how does it work? We’ve got the explanation.
Continue readingThe best EnergySage videos of 2018
Have you ever had a question about solar, but didn’t have the time to search for an answer? Throughout 2018, we created a number of short animated videos so that you can find answers to the most common questions about solar with the quick click of a button.
We’ve covered a range of topics so far – from understanding the costs included in a solar quote to how the solar tax credit works, and much more in between. Here are just some of our favorite videos from 2018.
Continue readingShould you oversize your solar panel system?
If you’re looking into installing solar, one of the biggest questions will be what size your solar panel system should be. It’s common practice to install enough panels to cover as close to 100 percent of your electricity needs as possible, as this is how you’ll maximize your savings. But, is there any benefit to sizing your solar panel system to generate more electricity than you currently need? For most people, the answer is no; but, there are certainly situations in which it’s a good idea to install a larger system than you currently need. Read on to learn why you should and should not oversize your solar panel system.
Continue readingVDER: NY’s replacement to net metering
Solar energy has many benefits – from financial savings to its positive impact on the environment. However, if there’s any downside to solar energy, it’s that you will only produce electricity during the day. Historically, the primary solution to this obstacle has been a policy known as net metering. With net metering, you can send excess solar electricity to the grid for credits, and use built-up credits when you need them.
Continue readingHow do solar panels work at night and on cloudy days?
If you’ve been wondering “do solar panels work at night or on cloudy days?, you’re certainly not alone. While they don’t work at night, you will still be able to use excess electricity depending on your system. On cloudy days, they will still be able to work, generating 10-25% of their normal power output.If you choose to rely on solar panels for your home electricity use, it’s important to understand how solar panels can be a reliable source of power during night time when there is no available sunlight.
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