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

Solar Panel Installation

Understanding the essential relationship between water and energy production

By p15 | May 4, 2018

“Without enough water, you can’t have power; without enough power, you can’t have water.” The relationship between water and energy production is extremely close and co-dependent. It takes a massive amount of water to generate energy, and it takes a huge quantity of energy to process water that can be utilized by humans for drinking…

Solar Technologies Panels

Is fossil fuel divestment at a financial tipping point for energy investors?

By p15 | May 2, 2018

As the cost of renewable energy becomes more competitive with fossil fuel cost, it may be the perfect time for fossil fuel divestment (aka divestiture). An article in The Guardian argues that energy investors could be at a tipping point when it comes to investment in renewables. Historically, the case for corporate sustainability has focused on improving public…

Solar Panel

The net environmental impact of solar power: Is it helping or hurting?

By p15 | April 30, 2018

At the individual installation level, it’s rather obvious that commercial solar energy systems have positive impact on the environment—instead of using electricity generated by fossil fuels, your business utilizes clean, renewable energy from a limitless resource (the sun). But a recent article in The Atlantic takes a step back and evaluates solar as a whole,…

Hybrid Solar Energy System

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hybrid Solar Energy Systems

By Solar Technologies | April 28, 2018

Introduction When researching solar energy power systems, homeowners have two options to consider: on-grid and off-grid solar energy systems. Both of these systems are helpful if you live in a state like California with ample sunlight. But on cloudy days or at night, these systems alone won’t continue to power your home and you’ll need…

corporate sustainability

Corporate sustainability is the way to go

By p15 | April 23, 2018

Trying to find ways to hit your corporate sustainability goals and reduce costs at the same time? A recent survey tells us that many of your peers are considering lower-cost renewable energy solutions, such as solar power, to help them to do just that.  With energy costs on the rise, facility managers who want affordable…

Green Building

Using sunlight to power your business: The how and why

By p15 | April 21, 2018

How does a solar panel system work? The basic science is simple: light equals energy. But that doesn’t explain how that sphere of hot plasma in the sky is going to power your building.  So let’s start with the basics: how a solar panel system works. Then we’ll talk about all of the ways your…

solar panel

Get up and running with commercial solar power

By p15 | April 18, 2018

Step 1: Learn more Become a thought leader on installing solar Understanding the pieces and considerations of a commercial solar installation will help you make the best decision for your company. Learning the basic system components is a good first step: Solar panels – Absorb the sun’s rays as a source of energy for generating electricity Inverter – Converts…

Solar installation

Solar power sees its day in the sun

By p15 | April 16, 2018

Solar power is a great renewable energy source—and it’s also more affordable than you might think. With so many users across the world, solar energy technology continues to become more efficient and cost-effective. According to Jelor Gallego’s article in Futurism, countries such as India and China, among others, are now confidently investing in solar power. From…

Solar Installation

How to help ensure your sustainability efforts pay off

By p15 | April 14, 2018

Although investing in renewable energy and other sustainability efforts can benefit a business in many ways, you may want to make sure it’s the right decision for your company’s bottom line before going ahead.  In an effort to show corporate social responsibility, many investors push for the adoption of business sustainability strategies. But some businesses…

Nasa Solar

Solar That’s Tough Enough for NASA is Tough Enough for Your Roof

By p15 | April 13, 2018

Consumers who are considering going solar often ask us if Solar Technologies solar panels can withstand all that Mother Nature might bring to the rooftops of their homes or businesses. We’re glad they’re doing their homework because not all solar is alike. During our company’s 30-year history our collaborations with solar pioneers such as NASA…