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 [...]
For residential property owners, switching to solar power generally means a choice between PV (photovoltaic) solar panels that generate electricity, and solar thermal panels that heat water without electricity. But now, a hybrid solar panel can generate solar electricity and solar hot water at the same time! Virtu, a hybrid solar panel, has been invented [...]
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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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With the U.S. economy continuing to struggle in recovery, one bright spot continues to be green jobs. Solar installer jobs in Northern California are frequently posted on Craigslist, where prospective employees can easily locate the positions. In fact, no matter where you live, searching Craigslist for green jobs can result in potential, higher paying jobs. [...]
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Recently, one of the most exciting developments in solar technology allows for see through solar power. Invisible solar cells for windows could allow homeowners to switch to solar without the hassle of obtaining building permits and/or approval from homeowners associations. Researchers have helped bring us one step closer to this type of building integrated photovoltaics [...]
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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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Cities and other municipalities are increasingly turning to solar power for energy requirements associated with street lights, traffic signals and even reader boards. To this list, you can now add solar powered parking meters! Instead of fishing your pockets for quarters (and finding only nickles and dimes), motorists can use a credit card system powered [...]
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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Solar power grid parity is predicted in the U.S. within the next 10-15 years, meaning that the cost of solar electricity will be lower than traditional grid-based energy sources such as coal or gas. We found this map published on the Energy Self-Reliant States website that shows solar power grid parity in most major U.S. [...]
