Solar Industry News

How Will California’s Net Energy Metering Policy (NEM 3.0) Affect Home Solar + Storage Customers?

December 29, 2022

On December 15, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) passed the new net metering policy, NEM 3.0. While the…

Charge Your Electric Vehicle From Home

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Charge My Electric Vehicle?

November 14, 2022

Introduction One of the main benefits of purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) is that it allows you to forgo buying…

The History and Evolution of Our Electric Grid

November 7, 2022

Introduction When you plug in your phone or charge an electric vehicle (EV), your are accessing electricity from the grid.…

Pros and Cons of Electric Vehicles

November 2, 2022

Electric cars are excellent for the environment and offer many benefits over traditional vehicles, but they do have some downsides.…

What Are Off-Peak Electricity Hours?

October 27, 2022

Off-Peak Hours: Everything You Need to Know About the Cheapest Time to Use Electricity Electricity is one of the most…

Moving with solar

Moving? How SunPower Helps Homeowners with Their Solar System During Life Changes

October 25, 2022

Buying or selling a home is a big change for any family. There are several things to consider during the…

Understanding Your PG&E Bill, Fees & Rate Schedule

October 15, 2022

If you live in California, there’s a good chance that you’re a customer of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). PG&E…

A Technical Review Of The SunPower SunVault Storage Solution

October 5, 2022

The SunPower SunVault battery storage solution allows you to gain more control over your home energy usage and protect against…

The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Explained

October 3, 2022

Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, but many people aren’t aware of the tax credits…

What’s the Best Orientation and Angle to Install My Solar Panels?

September 20, 2022

If you’re thinking about installing solar panels on your roof, you might be surprised at how many variables can affect…

Solar Industry News

Residential Solar installation

Home Solar Panel Maintenance Tips

By p15 | February 10, 2019

Home Solar Panel Maintenance Tips “Don’t solar panels need a lot of maintenance?” Solar Technologies gets this question from homeowners regularly, and it’s understandable given that no one wants to worry about climbing up on a roof to care for their solar panels. Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity, so the cleaner your panels are,…

Solar Panels

SunPower® is the first solar company to achieve Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver designation

By p15 | February 7, 2019

SunPower® E-Series and X-Series Direct Current (DC) solar panels are now Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver. The Cradle to Cradle Certified™ designation is a great accomplishment for any product, but we’re especially honored that our E-Series and X-Series DC solar panels, manufactured around the world, are the world’s first to receive this distinction. The principles for certification include sourcing…

Solar Benefits infographic

Our “Beneficial by Design” Philosophy

By p15 | February 4, 2019

Our “Beneficial by Design” Philosophy SunPower has a closed-loop sustainability strategy that drives our business practices at every stage of our product lifecycle and beyond, extending to our employees and communities around the world.   SOURCING: We proactively work with socially equitable and environmentally vigilant suppliers, and we regularly assess our supply chain for compatible eco-friendly practices.   MATERIALS:…

Evaluating Solar Panels

Beyond Solar Panel Efficiency: 4 Important Considerations When Evaluating Solar Panels

By Solar Technologies | February 1, 2019

As you are evaluating things to consider for solar panels, you may come across the term “solar panel efficiency.” But what does that phrase really mean? How much does solar panel efficiency really matter in the long run? Is it the only thing, or are there other characteristics of commercial solar panels to be aware…

Money Saving Tips for businesses

10 Questions About Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

By Solar Technologies | January 30, 2019

Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) are a specialized form of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that allow organizations to track—and potentially profit from—the amount of clean, renewable energy produced by commercial solar power systems. SRECs exist in states that have specific mandates for generating solar energy. The more electricity produced, the more Solar Renewable Energy Credits…

Patio of home with a SunPower solar array

3 Ways Going Solar Changes Your Life

By Solar Technologies | January 28, 2019

You know that a solar energy system will change how you power your home. But have you taken the time to think about the ways solar will change your life? There May Be Financial Rewards As soon as your solar system for your home is turned on, you start generating your own electricity from the…

Size of your current utility bill

How Much Can I Save With Solar?

By Solar Technologies | January 25, 2019

For 19 years we’ve helped Bay Area home and business owners save big with solar. With the price of electricity in California, a solar installation is going to save you a bunch depending on the following factors. Size of your current utility bill How much sun exposure you get on your roof. South facing roofs…

Why Go Solar

Going Solar? What Type of Panels Should You Choose?

By Solar Technologies | January 23, 2019

Going Solar? What Type of Panels Should You Choose? Some solar companies say the type of panels on your roof doesn’t matter because you are only buying the energy they produce. But when you’re making such an important investment in your home — whether you lease your solar system or buy it — quality and…

Solar Ground Mount

Need a Tax Break? Go Solar in 2019 for Maximum Benefits

By Solar Technologies | January 20, 2019

If you’ve been on the fence about going solar, here’s a great reason to make a decision soon: The U.S. federal solar investment tax credit, known as the solar ITC, is set to decrease after 2019. This tax credit, which you can apply toward your 2019 federal income taxes, currently is equal to 30 percent of the…

Solar Farm

New SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant: Using Drones, Robots and Design to Optimize Solar Power Plants

By Solar Technologies | January 14, 2019

New SunPower® Oasis® Power Plant: Using Drones, Robots and Design to Optimize Solar Power Plants In 1997, Garry Kasparov was defeated in a six-game chess match by IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer, marking the first time that a reigning world chess champion had lost a match to a computer. While humans put up a valiant fight…