For readers that live in the United States, you have probably heard about generous federal and state solar rebates. But sometimes its difficult to find information on the amount of these solar incentives, or how to apply. Various government entities hope to encourage consumers to switch to solar power by allowing generous tax discounts for [...]
Quick – what is your solar output? If you are not familiar with this term, you probably understand solar panel efficiency. In general, an increase in efficiency means that the same amount of UV exposure will generate more solar electricity. It goes without saying that if you can produce more solar power with fewer solar [...]
We have previously published posts on removing snow from solar panels. What about other solar panel maintenance? Solar arrays are subjected to heat, wind, rain, hail and dust. Like windows, solar panels tend to accumulate dirt, pollen and even bird droppings. In order to prevent build-up, which can block the rays of the sun and [...]
Even though an increasing number of people are installing residential solar panels, if you ask the average property owner the top three reasons why they dislike solar panels, you’ll probably get similar answers. First, one of the disadvantages of solar power is the expense. A lot of people believe that the cost of solar panels [...]
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When you hear the term “solar power,” you probably think of solar electricity generated by photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. But there is another form of residential solar power that is both affordable and efficient: solar thermal panels for solar hot water. Just like PV panels, solar thermal panels require exposure to sunlight. Even at lower [...]
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So far, 2012 is turning out to be a bright year for solar power. Installations of the renewable energy resource have increased by 69% so far this year, according to Clean Edge’s report Clean Energy Trends 2012. Since 2010, renewable energy has been growing at an impressive pace – overall about 31%, representing an increase [...]
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The term “distributed generation,” may not be understood by the average homeowners, but if you install residential solar panels, that is exactly what you will be utilizing. When people generate and use solar power at the same location, its called distributed generation. This is in contrast to utility scale solar power, usually in the form [...]
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Going solar is easier for homeowners with a few key resources. Here are a couple of tools to help you switch to solar power with less hassle and expense: 1. Tap into Solar Incentives One of my favorite resources is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), which lists state rebates and [...]
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Over the past 5 years, the price of solar panels has dropped dramatically while efficiency of solar arrays has increased significantly. Yet, it appears that the renewable energy revolution continues to make life better and cleaner for many of us! The University of Texas at Austin announced this month that one of its solar researchers [...]
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Have you been thinking about installing a residential solar system? Well, now is the time! The cost of solar panels has dropped more than 40% this decade, and more and more people have changed to solar. If you are still on the fence, consider these top reasons to switch to solar power: 1. Reduce Your [...]
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