Category Archives: Environment and Clean Technology

Articles about environmental issues and clean technology products besides solar.

trends in solar in 2021

Solar trends to watch in 2021

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Over the past year, in the face of constant and unprecedented headwinds, ranging from COVID-19 to an unfriendly presidential administration, the solar industry has proved incredibly resilient, with home solar installations growing 7 percent in 2020. But what does 2021 have in store for solar? Will this growth continue? In this article, we look at the three areas that will determine the industry’s fortunes in the coming year: business trends, technology, and government policy. 

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building integrated photovoltaics (bipv)

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV): what you need to know

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

When you think of solar, rooftops or open fields with panels generating renewable electricity probably come to mind. However, solar products have evolved – and now, there are many options available under the umbrella of “building-integrated photovoltaics”, or BIPV. BIPV products merges solar tech with the structural elements of buildings, leading to many creative and innovative ways to generate solar electricity.

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electrification overview

What is electrification?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

As more and more homeowners make the switch to both solar panels and electric vehicles in the US, the clean energy transition is now about more than just increasing clean energy. Increasingly, an important piece of the clean energy transition is electrification. Electrification is a vital piece of any carbon reduction plan, and could have some big implications for the appliances in your home–and your garage!  

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generator vs. battery

Battery backup power vs. generators: which is right for you?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you live in an area with frequent power outages, you already know the benefits of having backup power installed at your home. Propane, diesel, and natural gas-powered generators have long been the system of choice for homeowners and businesses that want to ensure that the lights stay on when the power goes out in the neighborhood. Now, an increasing number of people are considering newer, cleaner battery options like the Tesla Powerwall.

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tesla battery day

Tesla Battery Day: what you need to know

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

It’s rare that very technical demonstrations of technology and supply chain advancements manage to jump beyond industry and into the public consciousness. But as with all things Tesla, the announcement of the company’s Battery Day was met with significant hype beyond just the storage and electric vehicle industries, and with good reason: teasers in anticipation of the event seemed to indicate that Tesla had discovered a breakthrough in energy storage manufacturing that would reduce the price of batteries to the point that they could begin to produce and commercialize a truly affordable electric vehicle. 

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mass save energy efficiency program review

Mass Save rebates 2019: get an energy assessment in MA

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

The Mass Save energy assessment program is Massachusetts’ all-encompassing energy efficiency campaign, and is sponsored by both your electric utility and energy efficiency providers. The program is available to renters, homeowners, and businesses across Massachusetts. Here’s the complete breakdown of all the different measures that you can take to reduce your energy use and resultant utility bills through the Mass Save program in 2019.

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camping with solar panels

Solar camping gear: on-the-go electricity and heat from the sun

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

With advancements in the efficiency of solar equipment and technology, solar panels are no longer just capable of powering your homes. In fact, from RVs to boats to sheds, solar on a smaller scale can keep many things running outside of your home. One way that this smaller-scale solar technology is being used today is in solar-powered camping gear. 

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Tesla EV in front of solar panels

Tesla solar charger: How much does it cost to charge a Tesla using solar energy?

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Following the news of Tesla’s acquisition of U.S. solar installer giant SolarCity, the world has been keeping a close eye on Elon Musk and his two prosperous clean energy ventures. Tesla and SolarCity, electric cars and solar panels – a two-front war waged against grid reliance and energy dependence. In 2019, Musktopia is both expanding and constricting as two of the tech entrepreneur’s five companies are joining forces around one common goal: decimating your carbon footprint.

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Tesla Powerwall 2

Tesla Powerwall 2: an upgraded battery for your home

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Tesla brought solar batteries to the forefront of home energy technology with the launch of the Powerwall in 2015. A year later, Elon Musk announced the new and improved Tesla Powerwall 2, an industry-leading product that takes solar-plus-storage to the next level. The Powerwall 2 offers a few much-needed improvements over the original Powerwall product, including a larger storage capacity, a lower per-kilowatt hour cost, and a built-in inverter.

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