Most solar shoppers can save between $20,000 and $97,000 on electricity over the lifetime of a solar panel system. Solar panels aren’t just good for the environment – you can benefit from serious savings which can vary based on a number of factors including your location, current energy usage trends, and the size of your solar panel system. Most importantly, solar savings are influenced by the price you pay for electricity.
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More than a million homes already have solar in the U.S., and many more homeowners are considering installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. If you’re in the market for a clean energy solution like solar, you probably want to know what actually happens during a solar panel installation or even how to install solar panels yourself. There are several key steps that need to happen between deciding to go solar, signing your contract, and powering your home with solar electricity – and most of this happens behind the scenes. To show you what you can expect, we’ve outlined a simple guide for how to set up a home solar power system.
If you’re considering purchasing a Tesla, you’re probably wondering how much you’ll pay to charge it. You’re likely familiar with how much it costs to fill up a tank of gas, but charging an electric vehicle (EV) battery is a whole new ballgame! In this article, we’ll explain how much you should expect to pay to charge your Tesla and how this compares to comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) – AKA gas-powered – vehicles. We’ll also walk you through some of the major factors that will impact the cost of charging your Tesla. (Spoiler alert: the best way to lower the cost is to go solar!)
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Establishing a secure financial future for your retirement requires that you explore a variety of options, but most homeowners don’t realize that installing a solar panel system can be one of the smartest retirement investment options available. By viewing a home solar panel system as an investment opportunity, homeowners can reduce or even eliminate their electricity bills, freeing up more than $1,000 in cash each year. With the increased availability of $0-down solar loans, homeowners that lack the cash required for an upfront purchase can still take advantage of solar as a retirement investment strategy.
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One of the key steps to going solar is ensuring that your home is ready for the installation. Once you’ve signed a contract with a solar installer, the next step is typically for an engineer (not a salesperson) to conduct a site visit to ensure your home’s structure and electrical wiring are compatible with your new solar panel system.
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Many Californians are rushing to install solar before long-term savings drop significantly under California’s new solar policy, net metering (NEM) 3. With net metering, your utility company compensates you for the excess electricity your solar panel system generates and sends to the grid; NEM 3 lowers the compensation rate in California by about 75% compared to current NEM 2 rates. So, if you live in California and are thinking about going solar soon, you’ll maximize your solar savings by submitting your interconnection application before April 14, 2023 at 5PM PST (when NEM 3 goes into effect) to lock in 20 years of higher NEM 2 rates.
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New California policy changes are coming that will dramatically reduce solar savings for homes and businesses in the state. We’ve previously detailed these changes (called NEM 3) and built a simple guide to help homeowners lock in the current, higher savings rate before the April 14, 2023 deadline.
Given this fast-approaching deadline, going solar now may feel daunting. Fortunately, EnergySage is here to guide you through the process and protect you with a simple shopping experience, vetted installers, and a team of free, unbiased Energy Advisors.
If you’re a California homeowner thinking about going solar, your window to maximize savings is short. Our Energy Advisors strongly recommend you select an installer no later than March 31st and submit your interconnection application (via your installer) by April 14, 2023. After this date, your solar savings will still be meaningful but 60% lower over the next 20 years. This change is due to NEM 3, California’s new net metering policy, approved in December 2022, which will apply to systems with interconnection applications submitted after April 14th at 5pm PST. NOTE: your installation does not have to happen by this deadline, and you can even make some changes to your system design after submitting your application.
We were able to kick off the new year in Las Vegas at one of the biggest tech events in the world: CES. EnergySage joined Schneider Electric in their booth to talk about how we can help consumers go solar, and were able to explore the entire show floor, learning about the latest and greatest tech in the clean energy industry. In this article, we’ll share the key trends we noticed at CES 2023 and how they’re changing home energy.
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While Tesla is most famous for its electric vehicles (EVs), the company believes its future lies in total clean, renewable energy integration – a one-step carbon reduction process that involves pairing a solar panel system with your Tesla EV. For homeowners who want the benefits of solar without the “look” of solar, the Tesla Solar Roof provides an enticing alternative: but is this luxury roof the right option for you?
In October 2019, Tesla Motors announced the launch of the Tesla Solar Roof V3, the company’s third version of its integrated solar glass shingle. Among several updates, version three included larger tiles, lower production costs, increased power density, and a more straightforward installation process.
Additionally, the total number of parts in the product decreased. Tesla predicted that these changes would significantly reduce the cost of the product; however, the company has continued to struggle with expediting its solar roof installations.
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