Monthly Archives: December 2015

The adoption of solar energy systems is on the rise, with over 135,000 new U.S. installations in the just the first half of 2015, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. As the number of households and businesses using photovoltaic power continues to rise, the electric utility companies are becoming increasingly concerned about lost business, and they’re looking for ways to maintain their healthy profit margins. One way they hope to accomplish this is through the adoption of new energy policies. The Debate on Solar Energy The utility companies argue that low- and middle-income families are not benefitting from solar energy. Instead, they say, these families are absorbing the infrastructure costs of the electrical grid because of net metering. Net...

If you are considering a rooftop solar power system, you’re probably curious about the payback period. In other words, how long will it be before you reach the point when your system has paid for itself? Several factors affect the payback time, and the answer is different for every customer. Consider the following information to get a better idea of how quickly you will see a return on your investment in solar energy. Consider the Initial Investment Costs and Incentives According to the latest U.S. Solar Market Insight report, the average installed cost of a residential rooftop solar system was $4.43/watt.* Now, let’s say you need a 6-kilowatt system to supply your power needs. Your initial investment would about $26,000....

Solar energy systems function by capturing the sun’s light and converting it into usable electricity. So what happens when the sun isn’t shining? At night and on cloudy days, homes and businesses relying on photovoltaic energy can still use cost-effective power. Here’s how. Grid-Tied Residential Solar Panels If your solar energy system is connected to the traditional utility grid, you will have no worries about power when the sun goes down. The grid is like a bank for this type of photovoltaic system, and you can draw on it whenever you need to. In fact, withdrawals are automatic. In other words, the grid kicks in and you automatically get electricity for your home or business at times when your system...

A net-zero home, also known as a zero-energy building, produces as much power as it uses. In other words, these homes create their own energy through renewable resources like solar power, leaving you with a net-zero energy bill! When you achieve net-zero status, the amount of electricity your photovoltaic solar system (energy-saving practices) creates is roughly equal to the amount of electricity your building uses. Even commercial buildings can achieve this financially lucrative goal! Traditional Buildings versus Zero-Energy Buildings According to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, traditional buildings use 40 percent of the fossil fuels in the United States and Europe. Buildings that rely on the conventional electrical grid contribute significantly to air quality problems...

Community solar power projects offer a viable interim solution to those for whom solar power remains inaccessible. Despite the availability of federal and state tax credits and incentives, many people find it difficult to afford their own PV systems. Still others can’t install a system because their rooftops are shaded or otherwise unsuitable for solar panels. And, of course, people who rent their home or office space won’t want to spend the money to make major modifications to the property. In cases like these, community-based photovoltaic power can be a beneficial and effective (albeit temporary) solution. What Is a Community Solar Power Program? A CSP is a voluntary program that provides power to — and may be owned by —...

The PV solar power industry and online music service Napster have a lot in common: Both took on a sacred cow and changed our world in a profound way. Industry experts have observed that recent changes in the music recording industry are amazingly similar to the inevitable changes that utility companies face, thanks to the rapidly expanding solar energy industry. The power companies are being forced to adapt to solar energy, just as the music industry had to adapt to the use of online music services. Traditional Industry Models The conventional utility industry, prior to the widespread adoption of photovoltaic power, had a monopoly on providing power. Not so long ago, everyone who needed electricity was forced to rely upon...

Solar energy solutions are no longer economically out of reach; in fact, this newly affordable technology is quickly gaining popularity among the middle class. The falling photovoltaic panel and equipment prices and the availability of federal and state incentives and rebates means a surprising number of U.S. residents now can afford to make the move to solar power. Solar Energy Growth in Middle Class Neighborhoods According to a recent report from the Center for American Progress (CAP), an independent nonpartisan educational institute, the adoption of solar energy solutions grew phenomenally among the middle class from 2011 to 2012. CAP analyzed photovoltaic installation data from several states and concluded that an overwhelming majority of system installations occurred in neighborhoods with median...

Grid parity — or the point at which photovoltaic solar power costs are the same or lower than the costs of traditional energy — is the goal of every solar power system owner. This goal is entirely reachable now. In fact, recent research suggests that solar power is now the cheapest form of energy. Dramatic Price Reductions in Solar Energy New technological innovations over the last several decades have caused the price of PV or photovoltaic solar panels to drop dramatically. When first introduced back in the 1970s, PV panels carried an oppressively high cost, especially for individual residential users. By the 1990s, however, prices had dropped by almost 85 percent. By 2008, the approximate cost for residential installations was...

As the cost of photovoltaic or PV solar power has plunged over the last few years, municipal and private power utility companies have watched their customer base begin a steady decline. According to many sources, grid parity — the point at which solar energy costs are less than or equal to those of grid electricity — will soon be achieved in all 50 states, meaning that even more customers will look to alternative energy as a cost-effective replacement for traditional utilities. Primarily, the power companies have opposed consumer adoption of alternative energy because it hurts their profit model. However, because solar technology provides many significant benefits to both the power grid and the community, the utility companies have not choice...

The single most effective way to reduce your electric bill is to adopt an alternative energy generating system. Today, solar is the most effective and affordable means to achieve this end. Even when your solar power system remains tied to the traditional power grid, using the sun’s energy is certain to reduce your electric bills. But the utility company may not just charge you for the electricity that you use; they may also bill you for monthly demand charges. This is why adopting photovoltaic technology may not completely eliminate your electric bills, as long as you are tied to the grid. What Are Demand Charges? If you look at your electric bill, you will see a charge for the total...