Solar Industry News
How Will California’s Net Energy Metering Policy (NEM 3.0) Affect Home Solar + Storage Customers?
On December 15, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) passed the new net metering policy, NEM 3.0. While the…
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Charge My Electric Vehicle?
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
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
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?
Off-Peak Hours: Everything You Need to Know About the Cheapest Time to Use Electricity Electricity is one of the most…
Moving? How SunPower Helps Homeowners with Their Solar System During Life Changes
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
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
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
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?
If you’re thinking about installing solar panels on your roof, you might be surprised at how many variables can affect…
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Solar + Battery Storage
Solar Industry News
Solar battery storage could increase savings for over 25% of commercial utility customers
A new study suggests nearly 5 million commercial utility customers in the U.S. are at a financial tipping point that could make adding solar battery storage a good option. At this point in the evolution of energy storage technology, the most sensible application for installing a storage system is when customers are subject to relatively…
WAITING TO GO SOLAR WILL COST YOU
Solar Technologies, a Bay Area leader in solar panel technology, announced today that homeowners and business owners should take advantage of the federal solar energy tax credit while they still can. “There’s no better time than the present to invest in solar,” said Jeff Parr, owner of Solar Technologies. “Although solar energy is becoming more…
A new way to market (and realize) the benefits of sustainability
Companies exploring how to improve brand reputation may be tempted to simply highlight the benefits of sustainability as reflected in their products (or services). But how effective is this approach to actually gaining new customers? Or helping the environment? According to a recent article published by BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), marketing sustainability should be more nuanced and…
How Solar Energy Can Help the Whole Power Grid
People who are new to how residential solar power works often ask these two questions: What happens when my solar panels generate more electricity than I use during daylight hours? How do I power my home when the sun isn’t shining? Most grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) solar systems today have no way of storing the electricity…
Choosing the right solar design for your organization
Introduction As you begin your solar planning process, you may have many questions about which type of commercial solar design would be most suitable for your organization. Is a commercial rooftop solar system or a ground-mounted system more effective? Or is a solar carport a better option? It’s important to carefully evaluate your organization’s property…
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need: Panel Size and Output Factors
Determining how many solar panels you’ll need for your home means first knowing what your goals are. Do you want to minimize your carbon footprint? Maximize your return on your investment? Save as much money as possible? Most people want to save money while minimizing their environmental impact. To calculate how many solar panels you…
How Going Solar is Helping California County Save Millions
Faced with lean budgets and skyrocketing energy prices, a small county in Northern California needed to drastically reduce its energy bills to avoid having to cut services to its residents. So, Yolo County, California, population 200,000, partnered with SunPower and switched to clean, renewable solar energy, achieving national recognition for being the first net positive county…
Consumption Key to Successful Innovation in Business
For the past century, many companies have thrived on business models that feature ever-increasing consumption as a driver of financial success. But in an open letter published by GreenBiz, corporate CEOs are advised that the next wave of successful innovation in business will need to focus on a long-term investment in sustainability. The piece warns innovation in current…
Solar Has Become America’s Fastest-Growing Non-Partisan Energy Source
During his Senate confirmation hearing in January, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said that he was supportive of an “all of the above” approach to energy development, asserting that the country’s best interests lie in encouraging production of both traditional and renewable power sources. As Secretary Perry knows well, we’re at an important juncture in terms of…
Why You Should Revisit Your Sustainability Strategy
An effective corporate sustainability strategy should be flexible enough to adapt to changes that impact it, making it a dynamic set of goals. If your policy is more static, you could be missing out on many potential benefits. According to a recent article published by GreenBiz, if the once innovative business practices you’ve outlined to drive sustainability…