Monthly Archives: July 2016

Solar bulk purchasing programs — including the Intermountain Community Solar Initiative (ICSI) facilitate the widespread adoption of photovoltaic power. When a neighborhood bands together and decides to adopt solar energy as community a, more homeowners have the opportunity to own professionally installed systems. Leverage the Lowest Prices Available with Solar Bulk Purchasing Costs for installing a photovoltaic system have been falling for the last few years. In fact, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the average price of a U.S. residential photovoltaic system dropped by 8.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016. Because photovoltaic system costs are falling, homeowners are playing a waiting game and plan to adopt solar when the price gets lower. But with bulk...

Photovoltaic panels can power your air conditioner and keep your home cool as the temperatures rise in the summer. In fact, your panel array functions best on days when the sun is shining brightly and no clouds are in the sky. But while sunny summer days may seem ideal for harnessing energy from the sun, intense temperatures do affect your solar panel system. High Temperatures Reduce Efficiency of Photovoltaic Panels We know that temperature doesn’t alter how much solar energy photovoltaic panels take in. However, high temperatures can affect how much power is produced from that energy. As the mercury rises, your solar panels produce less electricity from the same amount of sunlight. Here’s why: Heat changes the speed at...

According to the dictionary, solar energy is simply radiant energy from the sun. But what does that really mean, in terms of putting the sun’s power to work for you? Solar technologies allow you to harness the sun’s energy and convert it to useable power, offering independence from the traditional utility grid and saving you money. Today, you can put solar energy to work for you in three different — and highly effective — ways. Power Your Home with Photovoltaic Solar Energy Through photovoltaic technology, the sun can provide you with electricity for your home or business. A rooftop or ground-mounted solar panel system can capture the AC (alternating current) energy of the sun and convert it to DC (direct...

Your photovoltaic panel array is designed to withstand heavy winds, snow, hail and other extreme weather. But what about squirrels? Can your solar system stand up to these furry little critters? The squirrels climbing around in your trees may seem harmless enough. They can, however, wreak havoc on your solar panel system. How Can Squirrels Damage a Photovoltaic Array Panel? Have you ever seen squirrels scampering around on your rooftop, or perhaps darting under your photovoltaic panels? If so, they may be building nests. Solar installers often get calls from customers whose photovoltaic panels are not working properly. When the installers come out for a service call, they discover nesting material under the modules. Squirrels also are notorious for chewing...

The U.S. solar power industry is going strong. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the photovoltaic energy market has seen a compound annual growth rate of almost 60 percent in the last decade. And in early 2016, our country reached the milestone of over 1 million photovoltaic installations. Demand for solar energy is increasing, as lower prices have made it economically competitive with conventional energy sources. The country is finally beginning to rely less on fossil fuels for electricity. Solar Electric Generating Capacity Beat Natural Gas for the First Time in 2015 Photovoltaic energy installations have accounted for a large share of the country’s new electric generating capacity additions for the last few years. In 2013, for example,...

Off-grid solar energy is gaining in popularity in the United States, especially in light of today’s political climate and economy. Self-sufficiency and economic independence are more important than ever in our country, and using the power of the sun allows you to have both. No longer do customers have to rely on the conventional utility grid for their power needs, especially in times of emergency. If you have considered going off the grid, having the right information can help you decide on the solar energy system that’s right for you and your family. Consider Passive Design for Off-Grid Solar Heating and Cooling In an ideal world, your off-grid home will be designed with the sun in mind. If you plan...

Are you planning to get a photovoltaic system for your home or business? Professional solar energy contractors streamline the process to make it easy for their customers. But it’s not as simple as calling a solar company one day and having your system installed the next. Rather, adopting solar energy requires professional planning to ensure that your system is safe, effective and efficient. On-Site Evaluation to Assess Your Photovoltaic System Needs Professional solar installers know that your photovoltaic system must be designed to fit the needs of your home or business. The first consideration is how much power you would like your PV panel array to generate. A review of your current and anticipated energy use will provide the necessary...

Who chooses to install a solar energy system? Liberal-minded consumers who want to go green? Rich people? Or is the typical solar customer someone else entirely? As it turns out, income and politics are not so important when deciding to adopt alternative energy. According to research studies from Yale University, along with the University of Connecticut and New York University, a phenomenon known as the peer effect plays a larger part in the decision to adopt solar energy. What Is the Peer Effect? Essentially, the peer effect is about keeping up with the Joneses. In other words, the choices that consumers make are often driven, at least in part, by comparisons we make between ourselves and our peers. If we...

Solar power systems produce safe, clean electricity. And most important, using photovoltaic energy provides significant savings on monthly utility bills. Despite the proven benefits, some would-be solar energy customers continue to put off adopting this amazing and cost-effective technology. Why? Objection 1: Solar Power Systems Don’t Always Produce Energy While the output of a solar energy system can be predictable on an annual basis, the same is not true for day-to-day yield. By their very nature, photovoltaic panels only produce energy when the sun is shining. Therefore, they will not work if the sky cloudy or the weather is bad. And not even a weather forecaster can accurately predict how much the sun will shine on any given day. The...