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As the temperature in the intermountain states starts to climb higher, your energy bills will be going in the same direction; homeowners in the U.S. spend over $11 billion a year on energy to power air conditioners. Running your AC all day (and sometimes all night) can significantly increase your monthly costs. Here are a few strategies that can help you reduce energy consumption, which will save some money on those power bills over the summer. 1: Switch to an Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner If you have an older air conditioning unit, consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. Newer units use less energy to convert warm air into cool air to keep your home cool, which means your AC won’t...

Part one of this blog post discussed the first two things you need to determine when you’re trying to figure out how big of a solar energy system is required to meet your power needs. That includes calculating your total energy usage and determining your solar goals. Next we’ll go into two additional factors, as well as the calculation. Determine Sunlight Hours Another factor in determining your solar panels needs is how much sunlight your roof will get on an average day. More sunlight hours means you can get fewer panels because they will be able to absorb solar energy for longer. Fewer hours, or periods of shade in and around your home will require more panels to generate the...

One of the first questions that many homeowners have when they’re planning to get a renewable energy solar system on their roof is exactly how much solar power you need. That can impact the total cost of your system, so you want to make sure you get enough to meet the power needs that you have day to day without getting so much that you have excess or wasted energy. Here are some guidelines on how to calculate your needs. Calculate Your Energy Usage The first step in knowing what size solar system you need is to figure out exactly how much energy you need on an average day. There are some relatively complex ways to figure this out by...

Deciding to get solar energy is a big choice, but it’s more than just determining whether you want to get solar panels installed on top of your home. Another decision you need to make is how you want to be connected to the local power grid, or whether you want to be connected at all. Solar energy systems come in three options: Grid-tied systems with no battery backup Grid-tied systems with battery backup Off-grid systems Today we’re going to explore some of the pros and cons of having an off-grid system. What is an Off-Grid System? An off-grid system is a renewable solar energy system that generates energy from solar panels during the day and stores that energy in battery...

Solar panels are a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency, and today you can find plenty of sales pitches out there telling you that you can lease solar panels for a lot less than you can buy them. That is true when it comes to up-front costs, but leasing solar panels is not always the best option for everyone. Here are a few things you should know about leasing a solar panel system, especially when it comes to tax incentives. Leasing vs Buying Your Solar Panels A residential solar energy system is comprised of solar panels that go on your roof (or in your yard, although this is far less common), the converters that turn it into energy...

Having solar panels on your home is a great way to capture renewable energy and reduce your monthly power costs. But the installation of those panels isn’t the end of the story—are you taking all the steps you can to maximize the efficiency of your solar panels so you can get the most renewable energy out of your system? Even if you don’t need more solar energy because you are already getting enough to cover your power needs, you may be able to sell excess energy back to the local utility company, so getting more out of your system is financially beneficial. Plus, like most anything you buy, solar panels can degrade over time, so it’s important to take steps...

Most people realize the benefits of using renewable energy from the sun as a way to reduce your carbon footprint and maybe eventually even eliminate the burning of fossil fuels entirely. But there are plenty of reasons beyond just the environmental ones to consider solar panels for your home. 1: Self-Sufficiency Getting solar energy is one of the best ways to make sure you don’t have to rely on the local power company to supply power to your home. This can be really helpful in places where things like severe weather can knock out power for days at a time, but it can also be helpful if power prices rise in the future. You won’t be at the mercy of...

More and more people are conscious about the amount of energy they use, and where that energy comes from. Unfortunately for millions of people who rent apartments, the current benefits of solar are almost exclusively going to homeowners. It’s difficult for an apartment dweller to get the environmental benefits of solar panels because they can’t purchase the panels for their rented living space. Since solar has become such a popular way for people to reduce their carbon footprint through renewable energy resources, landlords that install solar panels on an apartment complex can realize the financial benefits of generating energy from the sun, but also gain a competitive edge in attracting renters for whom solar energy is a desirable perk. Reduce...

If you own a commercial building, one of the things that is probably on your radar is the decision about whether to shift toward “net zero” emissions. The term “net zero” refers to industrial or commercial buildings (or residential homes) that are highly efficient and generate as much or more in renewable energy than they consume for things like electricity, heat, and cooling. There is a common misconception that the road to becoming a net zero company is expensive and difficult, but in reality it’s a good business decision that many companies are implementing because it benefits the bottom line (as well as the environment). Companies Leading the Way in Net Zero Goals The fact that the climate is changing...