Things to know about Net Energy Metering and Net Energy Metering 2.0

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Among the buzz of solar these days is the concept of Net Energy Metering 2.0 (NEM 2.0) Update. After many campaigns by environmentalists and solar advocacy groups, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) decided to grant this solar incentive an extension.

In order to encourage the growth of solar energy and to simplify the use of a solar electric system, net metering was introduced and is becoming more and more popular. It’s used for small residential and commercial systems that are tied to the grid.

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Solar Panels for Home – 4 Reasons Why Solar Panels Are So Popular

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Solar Panels Are So Popular

Every day we can see an increase in the number of people who choose solar panels for home as a replacement for conventional fossil fuel burning. This decision couldn’t be welcomed more. But what is the cornerstone of such popularity to use solar panels over other renewable energy types?

Understanding these reasons will help you realize why solar power is so powerful and why it is the trend right now, but the solution in near future.

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How Solar Energy Saves the Environment

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Besides the financial advantage of saving on energy bills, installing solar panels is a good way to do your part to protect the environment. Since carbon emissions have reached record highs in most countries, solar energy is an effective way of reducing these greenhouse gasses. Global warming has caused most of the climate changes that the world is encountering. If you can contribute to generating clean energy, you will reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and clean up the air around you. Continue reading →

Creating Success and Opportunity with Solar Energy

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In recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of Solar Energy as a means of generating electricity. The hot debate topic of renewable energy sources has created a significant amount of awareness as to the use of Solar as an energy source. With technological advances allowing for more efficient solar panels, as well as the cost to purchase and install solar has significantly gone down, it is becoming more and more of a great energy option. The residential solar market has seen the largest increase in usage, where the commercial market is extremely volatile. As we take a look back at the numbers for the 2014 solar market, it can be estimated that the trend is going to continue going up.

2014 At a Glance

  • Solar was 74% of new energy capacity in the US
  • The residential sector grew 171% from 1st quarter 2013 to 1st quarter 2014
  • Solar installations grew 41% in 3rd quarter 2013 over 3rd quarter 2014
  • Residential installations surpassed non-residential installations

What Does This Mean

As the numbers for 2014 get put into perspective this means that the solar industry is going to grow as a whole. With the Solar industry growing this means a few things:

  • Growth in solar related investments
  • Growth in solar industry jobs
  • More environmentally friendly energy sources
  • Less reliance on foreign petroleum supplies

Solar Investment Growth

The growth in solar investments is not only great for the solar industry, but it is great for the economy as a whole. The investment in solar energy is truly an investment in US jobs. This means that with more money going into the solar industry there is a growth in that industry. When an industry grows, this inevitably means there are more jobs that need to get done.

Solar Jobs

The growth in solar industry jobs are jobs that come in the form of installers, panel manufacturers, as well as environmental engineers. The promising note to make from these jobs is they are highly skilled positions, which makes them more likely to stay in America. Also, if there is an influx in the demand for solar jobs there will become more investment in the education and research associated with those jobs, which allows the industry to continue to grow.

Clean Energy

As America becomes more mindful of its impact on the environment there is a social desire to create renewable energy sources. Solar will fill this void with a growing industry that becomes attractive to investors, as well as job seekers. The movement to solar is also one that is sustainable, because inherently in the nature of solar energy there is sustainability. This means that solar does not have a finite amount, such as oil, therefore there is not an issue running out.

Sustainable

The reliance on foreign oil has been debated wildly in recent years, and by investing in solar energy this debate becomes less of an issue. The ability of America to produce its own energy in a sustainable manner is something most can agree on. Solar allows each American to produce the energy they need to function in their home and to do so in a renewable and sustainable fashion.

 

Top 5 Reasons To Have Solar Panels Installed On Your Home In 2015

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solar-panel-installationInstalling solar panels on your home is gaining in popularity as more and more homeowners realize the benefits. Not only will you have the satisfaction that comes with going green, but you can also save some green. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you should take the time to install solar panels in 2015.

 

  1. Save Money

While the installation of solar panels requires a sizable initial investment, they also pay for themselves over the course of time. By realizing an immediate savings of at least $100 per month on your utility bills, you can put your extra cash toward more important household issues. Having some additional money to spend for other household improvements is certainly a win/win, even for the most skeptical solar panel consumer.

  1. Providing Additional Value To Your Home

You may have been aware of the environmental or financial effects of installing solar panels. But did you know that they can actually increase the overall value of your home? The real estate market is a notoriously fickle beast, so any alterations that you can make to your home that will allow you to raise the asking price when it is time to resell should absolutely be considered.

  1. Keep Energy Costs Locked In

One of the most irritating aspects of paying that monthly utility bill is never knowing exactly what you are in for. You may end up with a bill that is much lower than you expected or you could be stuck with a bill that is far higher than you intended. By installing solar panels on your home, you can lock in your energy costs and ensure the same payment each month. Solar panels take all of the guesswork out of your utility bill.

  1. Environmentally Friendly

Decreasing your overall carbon footprint is another great reason to have solar panels installed on your home in 2015. The average household in America produces a whopping 7 tons of carbon dioxide each year when they use conventional methods for heating and cooling their home. Not only does solar energy decrease this number, it also reduces the amount of damage caused by global warming.

  1. No Longer Connected To The Grid

When you rely on fossil fuels, you are ensuring a continuous connection to the state’s electrical power grid. With solar energy panels, you are able to produce abundant amounts of free energy while not being connected to the grid at all. For those who reside in rural areas, this is a major reason to install solar panels. Power prices are typically higher in rural places and residents experience frequent losses of power. Solar panels give you the ability to enjoy a much more self-reliant way of life.

Ground or Roof Mounted Solar Panels?

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Electricity is an essential part of our everyday lives. We use the power of electricity for just about everything from lighting up our homes, using the modern electronics like your computer or heating up our homes. We cannot imagine a day without it, but electrical energy generated from fossil fuels is expensive as well as hazardous to the environment.  Carbon dioxide discharged from power plants are currently the main cause of global warming. Continue reading →

Go Green with Solar Power

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Solar Energy begins with the sun. Solar Panels also known as the solar photovoltaic (PV) capture the sun’s energy and convert them into electricity. These panels don’t always require direct sunlight as they can work even on a cloudy day. Energy by the solar panels is a renewable resource which means that it is clean type of energy. Continue reading →

Lower Your Tiered Electric Bills with a Solar Photo Voltaic System

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solarFalling solar energy costs and its non-competitive pricing just may be affecting the future of the local tiered electric services, even investor owned electric utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) that service most of northern California. Thanks to today’s Solar Photo Voltaic systems, customers have the opportunity to decide if they want to continue paying high, tiered electric bills or to go solar, taking advantage of significant savings.

 

About Photo Voltaics (PV)

PV is a process of producing electricity by transforming sunlight into direct current electricity by using semi-conductive materials, which present the photo voltaic effect. These systems use solar panels consisting of several solar cells to produce useable solar powered energy. Continue reading →

Oakland Residential Solar Rooftop Contractor Named a World Leader

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Oakland Residential Solar Rooftop Contractor Named a World Leader

Save a Lot Solar placed in 2014 Top 400 Solar Contractors Rankings

 

Solar Power World, the industry’s trusted leader in research and information has released their annual list of the Top Solar Contractors. This list looks at a variety of factors that influence the solar market for the previous year, and ranks them based on the total megawatts installed in 2013 (or lifetime total megawatts, in the case of a tie). Local contractor, Save a Lot Solar, has been placed on this list at #381, with 0.078 megawatts installed in 2013, and a lifetime 0.428 megawatts installed. Continue reading →