When you make improvements to your home, it’s smart to take into consideration how they will impact your home’s value. The conventional wisdom from HGTV and home improvement magazines is that updating your kitchen, renovating your bathroom, or building an addition are the smartest ways to increase the value of your property. But there’s another home improvement that you may not realize adds to your property’s value: installing a solar energy system on your roof.
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Solar power is one of the fastest-growing clean energy sources, but what happens to old panels? Solar panels have a lifetime of about 30 years. With the increasing number of solar panels being sold and installed in the U.S. each year, it’s only a matter of time before high volumes of panels are at the end of their useful life and have to be disposed of. Solar panel recycling is still at an early stage, but as the renewable energy market continues to expand, recycling processes will play an increasingly important role.
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Whether you’re looking to save thousands on electricity bills, are trying to lower your carbon footprint, or are hoping to become more independent from the electric grid, there are a number of reasons to install a home solar energy system. Today, going solar is an easy and popular way to boost your home’s value and your energy savings, while generating clean energy right at home. In this article, we’ll explain the key things you should know about going solar as a homeowner.
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Solar isn’t just for rooftops – you can use portable solar products like solar generators as a backup power source if the grid goes down, or as a source of electricity for your campsite, RV, or boat. But what is a solar generator exactly? And how does it compare with typical fossil-fuel-powered generators? In this article, we’ll break down the key things you need to know about solar generators so you can decide if they’re right for you!
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This is Part 2 of a two-part series that explores the economics of going completely off-grid with solar. Part 1 focuses on what it actually means to go “off-grid” and how to start thinking about calculating the costs for cutting the cord with your utility. Part 2 discusses two real-world examples of sizing an off-grid solar energy system, along with the feasibility of going through with an off-grid solution. Check out Part 1 here.
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An improperly sized solar panel system (or any power system) compromises your home’s efficiency, which can result in unnecessary energy consumption, higher utility bills, or even power outages. Understanding your home’s power requirements helps you to take full advantage of things like your solar system, HVAC, or portable generator. In this article, we break down the typical energy use of different electrical appliances to help you determine the number of watts your whole house might require.
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Commercial and industrial (C&I) property owners can benefit from installing solar energy on business or factory roofs or as ground-mounted systems on a campus. Many corporations have massive manufacturing facilities and commercial buildings with expansive, flat roof space – the perfect place to generate clean, inexpensive solar power while reducing their carbon footprint.
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Can you go solar if you rent your home or live in an apartment? The simple answer for renters who want solar panels for their apartment or home is that it’s possible! While you may be able to pitch your landlord to install a rooftop solar panel system, community solar is more likely to be your best bet to enjoy the benefits of solar if you don’t own your roof space. Through incentives like virtual net metering, community solar participants can earn credits back on their electricity bill, saving money every month.
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Solar power isn’t just for homes and businesses! With portable solar panels, you can use the sun’s power on the go to meet your energy needs. From portable solar panels and solar generators for RV trips to solar phone chargers, there are many kinds of moveable solar products with an easy-to-transport, compact design on the market today.
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Your refrigerator is one of the larger household appliances, and it’s always on! On average, a refrigerator uses 300 to 800 watts of electricity, or between 3 and 6 amps and about 120 volts. If you’re looking to cut down on your electrical bill or estimate how many solar panels you need to keep your home up and running, understanding how many watts of electricity a refrigerator uses is one important piece of the puzzle.
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