Author Archives: Ananyaa Mehra

About Ananyaa Mehra

Ananyaa is a researcher in electrification, renewable energy, and green technology, with a focus on policy and equity. She’s a junior at Tufts University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies. On campus, Ananyaa is involved with the Energy Club and Sustainability Council and serves as an organizer of the annual Tufts Energy Conference. Ananyaa is especially passionate about protecting our oceans, where she loves to spend time.

Do Teslas hold their value?

When you think about electric vehicles, is Tesla one of the first names that come to mind? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Tesla was one of the first electric vehicle (EV) brands to gain notoriety. They currently sell the most popular EVs in the country. However, compared to many other EVs available today, Teslas have a premium price tag, making it essential to consider if they’re worth the cost before you purchase one for yourself. In this article, we’ll help you understand if Teslas hold their value over time to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

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EnergySage’s favorite highlights from COP27

Last month, nearly 200 leaders from various countries came together in Egypt at the COP27 to discuss climate action and goals for the upcoming year and near future. Some of the main goals were to allocate finances, involve youth in climate change policy, and acknowledge and protect nature-based solutions to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Spearheaded by the United Nations (UN) and all affiliated nations, COP is arguably the most important and biggest climate-related conference in the world. In this article, we’ll outline the key outcomes from the 27th conference.

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Incentives for energy management systems

Energy management provides a window into how, where, and when you use energy, while giving you the tools to more easily control your usage. With an energy management system, you’ll be able to reduce your electricity bills and get the most out of your solar–and storage–installation.

Energy management systems, offered by companies including Span, Lumin, Schneider, and Generac, can take multiple forms including smart electrical panels and sub panels – typically, they allow you to monitor and control your electricity at the circuit breaker level. In this article, we’ll discuss some key incentives that can help you more affordably upgrade your electrical panel with an energy management system.

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Energy news: November 18th, 2022

Welcome to this week’s energy news roundup! Today, we’ll talk about the recently announced plans for Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 and the implications it could have on residential solar in California (the leading solar state). We’ll also cover the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal aimed at achieving an 87 percent reduction in methane emissions from the oil and gas industry by 2030.

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Vehicle-to-load charging: what you need to know

If you drive a car, you’re probably painfully aware of the volatility of gas prices – so, it should be no surprise that one of the primary drivers of electric vehicle (EV) adoption is improving energy security. But did you know that some EVs can also charge appliances in your house, help you avoid peak electricity rates, and serve as a constant and reliable source of electricity?

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging allows you to charge devices directly with your EV, which is particularly beneficial as power outages continue to increase in frequency and the cost of electricity becomes higher. In this article, we’ll explain what V2L charging is, how it works, and when it can be helpful to have an EV that supports this technology.

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How has the electric grid changed over time?

Every time you plug in your phone, turn on your microwave, or charge your electric vehicle (EV), you’re using electricity from a network of interconnected sources called the grid. The grid refers to the area where the energy is produced as well as the wires, and electrical systems that transport energy from the generation source to your house.

Today, we use 16 times the energy we used in the 1950s – and grid modernization as well as the creation of a “smart grid” have led to the development and expansion of the grid. The grid we use now is more interconnected than ever, with various sources of energy (renewable and non-renewable), constantly producing electricity to meet our increasing energy demands. In this article, we’ll explain how the grid has evolved and what the future of energy production looks like.

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Honeywell smart thermostats complete review

Smart home products – or home appliances that can connect to other devices or networks, like a smartphone – offer convenience and efficiency, and are becoming increasingly popular. From doorbells and locks, to smoke detectors, to thermostats, smart home devices can be controlled from virtually anywhere. Honeywell has a wide range of smart thermostats to choose from that can help manage a home’s energy habits. In this article, we review some of Honeywell’s most popular smart thermostats.

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Amazon smart thermostat complete review

Smart home products – or home appliances that can connect to other devices or networks, like a smartphone – offer convenience and efficiency, and are becoming increasingly popular. From doorbells and locks, to smoke detectors, to thermostats, smart home devices can be controlled from virtually anywhere. Amazon offers a single smart thermostat, priced at $59 and made with Honeywell Home technology. Created to pair perfectly with your Alexa, this thermostat can help you manage a home’s energy habits. In this article, we’ll review Amazon’s Smart Thermostat.

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ecobee smart thermostat complete review

Smart home products – or home appliances that can connect to other devices or networks, like a smartphone – offer convenience and efficiency, and are becoming increasingly popular. From doorbells and locks, to smoke detectors, to thermostats, smart home devices can be controlled from virtually anywhere. ecobee’s energy certified line of smart thermostats boasts a variety of features such as remote control, vacation scheduling and smart home ecosystem integration that can help manage your home’s energy habits. In this article, we review ecobee’s smart thermostats: the ecobee3 Lite, the Smart Thermostat Enhanced and the Smart Thermostat Premium.

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Devices in your house that function like heat pumps

Heat pumps are an efficient way to both heat and cool your living space – simply put, they use electricity to move heat from one area to another to moderate the air temperature. Overall, heat pumps are able to provide 1.5 to 3 times the amount of electrical energy they consume in the form of heat energy for your home! Many different devices throughout your home use a similar closed loop mechanism that mirrors the functionality of heat pumps. In this article, we’ll explain what these devices are and how they work.

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