Solar Industry News
Understanding PG&E Avoided Cost Rates and Their Impact on Bay Area Solar Customers
If you’re a Bay Area homeowner considering solar energy, understanding PG&E’s avoided cost rates is crucial. These rates play a…
15 Ways to Conserve Energy and Reduce Your Electric Bill
In the Golden State of California, full of sunshine and warm weather, homeowners are always on the lookout for ways…
What is a Solar Array?
In the world of renewable energy, solar power shines brightly as a sustainable alternative, leading the charge towards a greener…
Benefits and Drawbacks of Solar Energy for California Homeowners
In today’s environmentally-conscious times, solar energy shines as a top renewable solution, providing many benefits to the environment. With rising…
PG&E Requests a 22% Rate Hike: What California Homeowners Need to Know
On October 18, 2023, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) approached state regulators with a proposal for a staggering 22% rate…
Avoid Solar Scams: 6 Red Flags When Getting Solar Quotes
The transition to solar energy isn’t just a trend; it’s a significant movement towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.…
Powerwall 3: What to Expect
Tesla’s Powerwall 3 will be available in 2024 as the newest in their energy storage system lineup, promising to elevate…
Why Battery Storage is Essential with PG&E’s Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0)
When first established, Net Energy Metering (NEM) was a game changer for California residents interested in making the switch to…
Maximize Your Energy Efficiency With a Home Energy Audit
You might wonder what value there really is in conducting a home energy audit and if it’s worth exploring for…
Tesla Powerwall Or Generator – Which One Is Better?
With an increasing number of power outages in California, homeowners want more reliable backup power. Tesla Powerwall and traditional gas-powered…
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Solar Industry News
Five Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill This Summer
With summer heat waves in full swing, homeowners and business owners who rely on conventional power sources to keep cool are likely asking: “How can I reduce my electric bill?” While it takes plenty of power to run an air conditioner, with some parts of the U.S. hitting triple digit temps, we know running heaters during those…
9 Questions to Ask a Potential Commercial Solar Installation Company
When you start researching solar for your business and interviewing commercial solar panel installation companies, you might not be sure where to start. What questions should you be asking? Who should you ask? How do you know if the answers you get are accurate, complete and unbiased? In other words, as with many new endeavors,…
Solar Technology Efficiency: More Breakthroughs are Coming
When Bell Labs unveiled the world’s first silicon solar cell in 1954, it was estimated that the company’s new invention could turn 6 percent of the sun’s energy into electricity — a concept commonly referred to as efficiency. Fast forward to 1999. After nearly half a century of solar research, the University of New South…
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need for Your Business?
In very simple terms, figuring out “how many solar panels do I need” is a matter of dividing how much energy a solar panel can provide by how much your business uses. But you didn’t come here for “simple,” you want a real answer. Okay, let’s dig a little deeper and put some numbers into…
Home Solar Financing Rates Are Heating Up
July 2017 – Solar Technologies, a SunPower Master Dealer and one of the Bay Area’s leaders in solar panel technology, announced today that they’re offering homeowners the chance to go solar at a low financing charge of just 3.99%* with zero down. “If there was ever a time for Bay Area homeowners to consider going…
3 Things to Consider if You’re Building Your Own Green Home
As the world becomes more aware of how important it is to reduce our collective carbon footprint, so do those who design and build new homes. Architects and homebuilders agree that installing solar panels can have the biggest impact when it comes to significantly reducing or eliminating a building’s carbon footprint. Here are three things to…
Understanding Solar Panel Efficiency Isn’t Rocket Science… Except When It Is
Be honest—if your kid came home beaming with pride for getting a 20% on a spelling test, you’d be questioning their understanding of math as well as language arts. 20% just doesn’t sound impressive. But what if your grade-schooler was being quizzed on a list of 500 doctoral-level vocabulary words? You may then be tempted…
Want the Best Solar Panels? Choose the Right Solar Installer
At Solar Technologies friends and family often ask us: “Where can I buy solar panels?” But what they’re really asking is: “How can I buy solar panels and get them installed on my house?” In general, consumers don’t directly buy their own solar panels. Instead, homeowners work with solar installers, such as a certified SunPower dealer, who will provide…
8 Steps to Build a Compelling Case for Energy Efficiency Programs
When it comes to convincing a business’s decision makers and stakeholders that energy efficiency can contribute to a company’s success, the burden of proof may be somewhat daunting. This article by Smart Energy Decisions provides eight helpful steps in using and leveraging utility data to convince decision makers that a sustainability investment can provide a variety…
What is Solar Energy? Common Solar Terms Defined
Solar energy doesn’t have to be confusing or complicated. If you’ve been looking at solar systems for your home, business or school, you’ve probably heard some unfamiliar industry jargon. Fear not the words. We’re here to simplify your solar experience with this A-to-Z glossary, helping you learn more about this source of clean renewable power.…