Category Archives: Environment and Clean Technology

Articles about environmental issues and clean technology products besides solar.

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Tesla Q3 2019 earnings call: what you need to know

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As a publicly-traded company, Tesla presents quarterly reports to shareholders, analysts, and the media about the state of the company. While most coverage of these quarterly earnings calls focuses on the company’s electric vehicle business or their financial standing, we want to provide an analysis of what their reports reveal about Tesla’s solar and storage business. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know from Tesla’s Q3 2019 earnings call: 

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house with electric meter

Behind-the-meter: what you need to know

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The electricity system is changing, from the way we generate power to the way we distribute and use it. All grid-tied energy systems are situated either “in front of the meter” or “behind the meter”, and as more and more electric customers take control of their production and usage, it is important to understand the fundamental differences between these two positions on the larger electric grid.

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renewable energy sources

Five types of renewable energy sources: best alternatives to fossil fuels

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Technologies like solar and wind power are becoming more common across the globe, and are both examples of renewable energy sources. There are several ways to generate power from renewable sources. These alternatives to fossil fuels will become an even more important part of our power generation mix in the years to come.

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solar panel car

Can you buy solar panel cars?

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Solar panels can produce electricity wherever the sun is shining. As electric cars continue to increase in popularity, some companies have begun exploring the possibility of integrating solar panels directly into cars to provide power on the go. In this article, we’ll take a look at how feasible solar panel cars actually are, and if you should consider buying one once they’re available.

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solar powered camping gear

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

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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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solar powered brewery

Solar-powered breweries: making beer with the sun

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Producing beer is a resource- and energy-intensive process. Given the number of craft breweries that have expressed an interest in sustainability, it should come as no surprise that breweries around the country are now looking for ways to produce brews in a more environmentally friendly way: by going solar. 

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how much does a tesla cost graphic

What are typical Tesla car prices? Model S, Model X crossover and Model 3 costs explained

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The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) industry is poised for further success in 2019 after a massive year of growth in 2018. There’s no one single reason for the uptick in EV sales in America – states like California are requiring car dealers to offer electric car options, costs are coming down, battery technology is improving, and manufacturers are inventing stylish new designs for the modern-day electric car.

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

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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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fossil fuels vs solar energy

Solar electricity vs. fossil fuels: how do they compare?

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If you’ve been following the ongoing battle between solar energy vs. fossil fuels, it might seem like the predominant resources on which the global economy depends – oil, coal and natural gas – will be completely phased out of existence in 2019. In reality, these resources still power most of the planet,  while renewable resources like solar and wind only contribute some two to three percent of global energy capacity. This reality check begs the following question: how does solar really stack up against fossil fuels, and why is there so much excitement about the growth of solar?

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solar batteries

Bring your own battery programs: what you need to know in 2019

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As solar batteries become more and more popular, individual utilities are beginning to offer rebate and incentive programs to make the economics of adding storage to your solar panel system more favorable. Given that solar batteries are a new product, utilities have begun experimenting with new program designs specific to solar batteries. One of the newest, increasingly common program types is a bring your own battery, or bring your own device, program.

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