Author Archives: MaryElizabeth Mooney

About MaryElizabeth Mooney

MaryElizabeth is an EnergySage writer focused on making clean energy accessible, covering topics from community solar to smart home gadgets. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College in Communication and Economics. MaryElizabeth is passionate about making our world cleaner and more efficient and spends a lot of her time researching renewable energy solutions.

Roof replacement with solar panels

Solar panel systems will typically last around 30 to 35 years – and in that time, your solar panels will generate plenty of savings on your electric bills! These systems have very long lives, which leaves many homeowners wondering about the impact they will have on their roofs: how will the roof hold up over time? What happens if you have to replace your roof after installing solar? Should you just replace your roof at the same time you install solar panels? In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about replacing your roof when going solar.

Continue reading →

What is virtual net metering?

Virtual net metering, put simply, is net metering for electricity generated by a solar system that is located at a different place than where the energy is consumed. If you’re a community solar customer (or you’re thinking about becoming one), you’ll want to familiarize yourself with virtual net metering. Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered!

Continue reading →

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla with solar?

If you’ve been driving a Tesla for a little while, you may have noticed an increase in your electricity costs because now you’re tapping into the grid to power your car in addition to your home. While you’re undoubtedly saving money compared to what you were previously spending on gas, you might be looking into ways to cut your electricity costs. Solar is a great way to save on electricity costs and a great investment if you’re already driving a Tesla or are thinking about it! In this article, we’ll dive into how much energy it takes to charge a Tesla and how much it’ll cost you.

Continue reading →

Panasonic heat pumps complete review

Air source heat pumps are much more efficient than most other heating and cooling options – and they provide both in one system! If your current HVAC system is aging, you may be able to switch to air source heat pumps for higher efficiency, lower overall utility bills, and, depending on where you live, some extra savings through rebates and incentives. (Bonus: if you have solar, you can heat and cool your home using the sun!)

Panasonic is one of the major players in the heat pump space with seven different lines of heat pumps (including ducted and ductless) you can install in your home. They have been developing HVAC systems since they first produced an air conditioning unit in 1958, releasing their first mini split heat pump system in 1983. Panasonic heat pumps are available in a variety of styles and price ranges to suit differing consumer needs.

Continue reading →

How to electrify your home

From switching to an electric vehicle (EV) to swapping out your gas stove for a convection one, more and more homeowners are making the switch to electric power. Whether your primary motivation is cutting costs or moving towards environmentally-friendly (and safer) power sources, electrifying your home is the perfect solution. In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know about home electrification, including the benefits and what you actually need to replace to go electric.

Continue reading →

What is a load profile?

In order to provide energy most efficiently to the grid, utility companies will monitor customers’ usage to determine times of significant demand and adequately prepare for them. If you understand your load profile, you can use this knowledge to determine what might be contributing to periods of higher energy consumption in your home, allowing you to find ways to reduce your energy usage (and save money in the process!). In this article, we’ll explain what you should know about your load profile.

Continue reading →

What you need to know about IKEA’s solar business

Swedish furniture giant IKEA is already on the top of many people’s lists for furnishing a new apartment or home – they make those updates easy and accessible with furniture that allows you to DIY build everything from a bookshelf to a bed frame. Recently, IKEA has made the jump from home furnishings to rooftop solar through a partnership with SunPower. While this partnership won’t allow you to build your own solar system, it does promise to make solar accessible to IKEA customers. In the United States, this program is currently only available in California, and we’ll cover everything you need to know about it in this article.

Continue reading →

How much can you save with community solar?

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for community solar soon, it might be because you’d like to reduce the environmental impact of your electricity use. Or, you might be hoping to save some money on your monthly electricity bill. More likely than not, it’s probably a little bit of both! When it comes to saving money through community solar, it’s important to remember that you will accumulate savings over the course of an entire year – meaning you may not see savings instantly. In this article, we’ll provide a breakdown of what you can expect to save by signing up for community solar.

Continue reading →

Are you a good fit for community solar?

Community solar is a great way for people who otherwise might be unable to power their home or business with clean energy to do just that! If you’re interested in signing up for a community solar project, the first thing you’ll want to determine is if you’re a good fit. In this article, we’ll explain why community solar is a great choice for many people, and some situations in which you might not consider community solar.

Continue reading →

Can you buy solar panel cars?

Solar panels produce electricity wherever and whenever the sun is shining. As electric cars continue to increase in popularity, it only makes sense that some companies have begun exploring the possibility of integrating solar panels directly into cars to provide power on the go. Imagine how much further you could drive in your electric vehicle (EV) if it was charging its battery with solar panels while you were driving! In this article, we’ll take a look at how feasible solar panel cars actually are, and if you’ll be able to buy one anytime soon.

Continue reading →