With the opening ceremonies underway in London at the 2012 Olympic Games, the world will be watching elite athletes competing over the next several weeks. While the focus will be – rightly so – on the competitors and the pageantry, those that are interested in saving energy and money will be excited to learn that [...]
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Every time I meet someone new and they ask why I write a blog, I tell them about solar power. Yes, I usually discuss the upsides of going solar, but there are both solar power pros AND cons. Only thorough information on both sides of the column – for and against solar – can guide [...]
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Have you heard about solar net metering? The concept is that homeowners with solar panels on their rooftops can get credit against their utility bill for the excess solar power generated, but not used by them. This is because some local utilities are required to buy excess power generated by their customers at retail prices. [...]
A decade ago, you simply did not see solar panels on mainstream and/or middle class homes. They were a unique feature, seemingly reserved for the ultra rich, or ultra green. Today, there are many reasons to switch to solar power, and more and more people are doing so! In fact, One Block Off the Grid [...]
We’ve written a number of posts on residential solar panels to help homeowners deciding whether to go solar. Among the top cited concerns is the cost of solar, whether you purchase an array, or go with a solar panel lease. Now, you can try out solar power with an affordable, easy to install solar panel [...]
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If you have considered switching to solar power, you’re not alone! Residential solar panels have been growing in demand over the past several years as prices have fallen, efficiencies have improved and solar rebates and incentives allow significant savings for homeowners. Before you plan this home improvement project, you probably want to know: how do [...]
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If you have or are installing residential solar panels, you may also want to also have a smart meter. These devices track the amount of energy that you use from the grid (i.e., non solar electricity), as well as excess solar power you have generated that you do not use, which is fed back into [...]
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The price of solar energy is not the same across the United States. Among other things, state incentives for solar, localized costs, and marketplace competition varies. The amount you can save by switching to solar power also depends on the price of grid-based electricity, in terms of kilowatt hours. States with expensive electricity – New [...]
Here in my home state of Oregon, the number of home solar power systems have tripled in the past 3 years. In fact, more than 2/3 of all existing solar installations in Oregon have taken place since 2008. If you haven’t already done so, isn’t it time to resolve to go solar in 2012? The [...]
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One of the things on my bucket list is to help build Habitat for Humanity homes. Now, these community-built, free structures can be even cheaper to live in when they include solar panels. In Dallas, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona (among other cities), solar panels on Habitat for Humanity homes are available via donation and installation [...]
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