Off-grid systems typically use a battery, generator, or other alternative energy sources to produce electricity for homes or businesses when traditional grid electricity is not available. The majority of Americans live in an area where the electric grid provides power for nearby customers. However, many people who live in rural areas or in remote areas…
A grid-tie solar system is a type of residential solar installation which ties into your home’s electricity grid. In other words, it connects to the power company so that you can sell excess power back to them. While they won’t buy every bit of power from you, they will take whatever they need at any…
When it comes to buying a home, most people focus on the features and the value of the home they’re buying. But when you add up all your monthly utilities and the cost of maintaining your roof over that space year after year, it makes sense to take into account what you’ll be spending on…
There are three primary categories of batteries used to store energy from photovoltaic (PV) systems – primary, secondary, and tertiary. A secondary battery is a type of maintenance-free sealed lead acid battery that has two electrodes: a positive electrode, called the anode, and a negative electrode, called the cathode. Solar batteries come in different shapes…
Installing a solar system is not difficult, but it does require some time and energy. Here are a few helpful hints that will make the process go more smoothly and in less time than you think: Make sure you have enough room. The system needs to be installed on a south-facing wall for best performance….
There are several ways to harvest energy from the sun. They can be broadly categorized as passive or active. Passive solar uses the sun’s rays to heat a home through its walls, attic, and windows. Active solar systems use photovoltaic panels and special storage batteries called trackers to generate electricity from sunlight. These devices allow…
You’ve probably heard a lot about solar energy and how it’s a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. But what you may not know is that there are a variety of solar financing options available that can make going solar more affordable than ever. In this blog post, we’ll explore some…
Do you know how much energy your house uses? You probably don’t. Unfortunately, most people focus on the exterior of their home and ignore everything else. This is a mistake! Your home consumes energy just like any other appliance or fixture. A house’s annual energy consumption depends on many different factors. For example, what kind…
If you have gotten to this point in the article, then you are probably looking at solar and thinking, “Okay, I get it. I can’t just put panels on my roof. But how do I get more out of them?” Solar is an excellent way to reduce your energy bill and increase your home’s energy…
A kilowatt-hour (abbreviated kWh or kW⋅h) is a unit of energy equal to the rate at which electric current flows for one hour. It is commonly used in reference to electricity usage, but can be used for any type of energy that results from the transformation of matter such as chemical reactions, heat engines, and…