Solar
Understanding the Solar Energy Market
Investing in solar energy for your home is a worthwhile, but significant, investment. As you vet and select the best solar energy contractor for your project, it is important to understand all the factors that affect the overall cost of your solar panels and the return you should expect on your investment. To make sure…
Solar
Are Your Neighbors Getting in the Way of Your Solar Power?
Do you have a right to solar power? The short answer is: it depends. The long answer has to do with your state legislation, local permitting boards and zoning commissions, and the governing rules of your homeowners’ association. In many states, the government protects your right to install solar on your roof. However, where these…
Solar
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Solar Tracker System?
If you clicked on this article, then there’s a good chance you already know a little bit about solar power. Just in case though, here’s a little background on solar trackers. The solar tracker is an automated module fitted to your system that reads the angle of the sun and adjusts your panels to compensate, thus…
Solar
Could a Ground Mounted Solar Installation Be Right for You?
We’re used thinking of solar panels as the exclusive domain of rooftops, but many of the most productive installations in the world are a lot lower to the ground. If your home doesn’t have the ideal orientation and slant for solar power, a ground-mounted solar installation may be better than one on your roof. Ditto if you…
Solar
Where to Install Solar — Instead of on the Roof
From the environmental impact to the low utility bills, you may love everything about solar. But many homeowners find they you quite fall in love with the way panels look. Luckily, you don’t have to choose between a bulky rooftop solar installation or nothing at all. Homeowners have several options to make use of the…
Solar
Microgrids Could Make Solar a Lot More Neighborly
What if you could set up your solar energy system and bypass your utilities altogether? With more powerful lithium ion batteries coming out on the market, some homeowners are beginning to see the electric company as an unnecessary middleman. That’s exactly what happened in Brooklyn this year. Residents there set up their own microgrid —…
Solar
Building-Integrated PV Looks and Feels Like the Future of Solar
Not to knock against solar panels, but they’re not always the most beautiful pieces of equipment. When you’ve spent time perfectly pairing your roof tiles to match your home’s siding, shutters, and trim, you risk altering the whole aesthetic when you slap panels on top. In fact, some homeowners groups and organizations even forbid residents…
Solar
What Kind of Solar Cells Are Best for Hot Climates
What’s the best spot for a solar installation in a chilly Northeastern home that’s no stranger to a fierce winter blow? Or what about on a hot desert property, that’s sun-drenched 90 percent of the year? Careful—the answer is more complicated than it seems! It’s tempting to think that solar only perform well in sunny, hot…