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Going “off the grid” with your power system and not being tied to a local power utility company has a lot of benefits. Whether your decision to go off-grid is out of necessity (building a home in a place where it’s difficult or prohibitively expensive to get power lines) or out of desire (wanting to be more energy independent), here are some important things to know about off-grid solar system installation. Understanding Your Power Requirements and Habits [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtxjU7ptVtk[/embed] Before going completely off the grid, you need to make sure your solar panel system is built to meet your needs. Building an inadequate system will leave you in the dark—literally—if you don’t have enough power stored and available when you need...

It’s easy to think about solar energy and the benefits during the summer months when the sun is shining from the early morning to late evening hours, and you see energy usage peak with appliances like your air conditioner running all the time. But winter months are actually a great time to make the switch to solar power, and the cold weather doesn’t prevent the team from Intermountain Wind and Solar from installing a residential solar energy system. Solar Energy in Winter [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g9a5HQNZ58[/embed] Since a solar energy system generates power from the sun, it’s tempting to think that you would really only benefit from this during the summer months, when sunlight hours peak. What you may not know is that...

You probably know that solar energy is an environmentally friendly alternative to other common fossil fuel options such as coal, and you have heard that getting solar panels installed on your home can help save you money every month on your power bill. What many people don’t know, though, is just how much you are saving. To calculate that, you need to understand the cost and use of kilowatt-hours. Kilowatt-Hours [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieb4cyNwQis[/embed] A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of measurement that describes how much energy is needed to power 1000 watts for one hour. For example, if you have a lightbulb that is 100 watts that you leave on for one hour, that uses 100 watt hours. If you have 10...

Whether you are thinking about a solar system because you want to reduce your personal carbon footprint as an environmentally-friendly step, or you are in the market because you’re tired of paying the high (and ever-changing) rates for electricity from your local power company, solar systems have become a popular choice. The biggest question most people face when they’re ready to put in a solar system is whether or not to install a battery backup with their system. Battery Backups and Grid-Tied Systems [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh3wxKoyI7M[/embed] Before we get into a discussion of pros and cons for battery backup systems, it’s important to define “battery backups” and compare that to the alternative, which is a “grid-tied system”. When batteries are installed with...

You have probably seen “wind farms” with giant turbines at the mouth of a canyon or out on the plains, and perhaps wondered if wind energy would be a better investment than solar to power your home. While both offer renewable energy for residential areas, they’re not exactly created equal. It’s important to understand the pros and cons of each before you decide which is best. The Pros & Cons of Wind Turbines [embed]https://youtu.be/_SV1SDi1zMM[/embed] Two of the benefits of wind turbines are the ability to capture energy any time of the day or night, and to generate power on a very large scale. However, any renewable energy source is potentially unpredictable, and wind can be particularly so. Even if it...

One of the primary goals for most homeowners interested in solar power is the desire to have a renewable source of energy without being tied to the cost fluctuations and monthly bills of your local utility company. Unfortunately, many people have a misconception that in order to do that, they need to go “off the grid” and get a battery installed with the system to store solar power. For most people, the option to have a grid-tied solar system will achieve the goals of generating your own power and ditching the utility company, but without the huge expense of battery storage. Here’s a quick overview of what that means and whether it’s the right choice for you. How Solar Systems...

The inverter is a crucial component of a solar energy system, as it takes the direct current (DC) power captured by the solar panels and turns it into alternating current (AC) power – which is what you need for your home appliances and electronics. When you make the switch to solar energy, you’ll need to decide whether you want to install micro-inverters or a string inverter. And chances are, your professional photovoltaic contractor will recommend the former. Here’s why. Faster Installation With a string inverter, the solar panels must be wired together for the component to function. Micro-inverters attach easily, one to each panel, speeding up the photovoltaic system installation process – and that results in savings on labor costs....

For anyone who sees the advantages of adopting solar power, the question isn’t whether to make the investment – it’s when to take the plunge. The media headlines make it seem like amazing new technology and drastic price cuts are close at hand, so many people think they should put home PV system installation on hold. But is waiting really a smart move? Obviously, as a solar panel installation company, we encourage homeowners to go solar sooner rather than later. But leaving our self-interest aside, we do have good reasons for saying that you shouldn’t wait to adopt solar power. Improvements in Efficiency are Slowing Down Yes, solar power technology has been steadily improving. But the increases in efficiency are...

Though grid-tied solar panel systems are more popular among Intermountain West homeowners, many are choosing to go off-grid instead. And we’re not surprised -- cutting ties with the utility company is certainly appealing, and who doesn’t like the idea of freedom from monthly electricity bills? However, installing a stand-alone solar array isn’t the right choice for everyone. Before you decide to take that route, consider the following. Off-Grid Solar Panel System Design Considerations If you don’t plan on hooking your solar panels up to the utility grid, the photovoltaic system must be capable of completely meeting your household electricity needs. In addition, it will need to be able to handle the inevitable fluctuations in energy production and usage. With today’s...

Though the popularity of rooftop solar power has exploded in recent years, many people are still skeptical about the benefits of installing a photovoltaic system. Numerous myths perpetuate the media, and separating fact from fiction isn’t always easy. Here, we debunk the most persistent myths about switching to solar power. Myth: Rooftop Solar Panel Systems are Only for the Rich Fact: Photovoltaic system costs have plunged over the last several decades, and many lucrative financial incentives are currently available. And with the wide range of financing options, people of all income levels can afford to install solar panels. Myth: Recouping an Investment in Solar Power Takes Decades Fact: As the prices for photovoltaic components have drastically dropped, reaching the payback...