Category Archives: Solar

Net metering vs. net billing: what to know about solar production compensation

In a perfect world, your home’s solar system would precisely meet your electricity demands – nothing more and nothing less. In reality, there will be days when your panels produce more electricity than you use (sunny summer days), and days when they won’t produce enough (shorter, cloudier days and nights). When this happens, net metering and net billing allow you to essentially use the grid as storage; excess energy produced by your panels transfers to the grid in exchange for credits. In times when your solar system isn’t able to meet your energy needs and you need to pull electricity from the grid, you can use these credits to compensate.

In this article, we explain the difference between net metering and net billing compensation structures, different types of net metering and net billing, and where these programs are being offered across the country.

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What is guaranteed production for solar?

Declining costs and increasing incentives make a solar investment extremely valuable – but the price tag certainly isn’t low. When shopping for solar, also known as a photovoltaic (PV) system, you want to ensure you’ll get your money’s worth. So, it’s important to understand the lifetime of the equipment and its expected energy production. Many solar installers will guarantee a certain amount of electricity production to provide peace of mind when installing a PV system. In this article, we break down solar power production guarantees, what happens when a system’s production doesn’t match the amount of power guaranteed, and why some solar companies don’t offer this for home solar panel systems.

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ADT Solar: the complete review

The ADT logo can be found on homes across the United States, broadcasting that they’re protected by the home security system of a trusted and reliable company. Solar probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about ADT, but in 2021, they entered the residential solar market with the acquisition of Sunpro Solar, creating ADT Solar. So what does going solar with ADT Solar look like? Let’s dive in.

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Installing home solar panels with an HOA

Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) exist to protect the property values of the homes within the association. To achieve this goal, HOAs sometimes restrict the renovations and alterations homeowners are “allowed” to do to their homes – including solar installations. As a homeowner, you may be ready to take advantage of the benefits of solar energy, but if you have an HOA for your property you’ll probably need to get their permission first.

Fortunately, solar access is becoming increasingly protected by states and local governments across the country. In this article, we break down solar access rights, where those rights are protected, and how to work with your HOA to install solar panels on your property.

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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.

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What is the best roof material for solar panels?

If you’re thinking about going solar, your roof is probably top of mind. Rooftop solar installations are very popular – they’re typically cheaper than ground-mounted systems and maximize the available space on your property. But, whether your roof is a good fit for solar will depend on a few factors, with one of the most important being its material. Solar energy systems typically last 25 to 30+ years, so you need your roof to last long enough to support your system! In this article, we’ll explain what roof materials are best for solar panels.

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Key things to know about Sunrun in 2022

In 2007, Sunrun launched in San Francisco, CA with their core business model centered around providing power purchase agreements – meaning they own the panels they install on your roof and sell you the power your panels generate. Today, they’ve shifted their strategy and are currently the largest solar installer in the U.S. with about 13 percent of the residential solar market – a feat they reached in large part due to their acquisition of Vivint Solar in 2020, formerly the second largest installer after Tesla. As the solar industry continues to grow, so does the demand for solar-plus-storage systems and Sunrun has also stepped up to meet this opportunity, now offering these systems in most areas of the country.

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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.

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Solar paint: what you need to know

Imagine if, with just a coat of paint, you could generate enough energy to power your entire house or car – one of the solar industry’s newest innovations could help make that possible! As solar energy becomes increasingly popular, scientists continue to find new ways to improve current technologies and explore new alternatives to expand access to clean energy.

While solar panels are by far the most popular (and most efficient) way for homeowners to generate solar electricity, panels aren’t a good fit for all buildings. There are already a few ways to get around this: you could install a different system setup like a solar canopy or ground-mounted system, or you could sign up for community solar, which provides a discount on your electricity bill without having to install a single solar panel. One of the newest innovations in the solar industry comes in a very familiar form: paint! Solar paint is a new technology that aims to work as a regular paint, while still generating electricity from the sun.

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Solar panel disposal: what happens at end of life?

As the urgency for climate action increases, so does the adoption of renewable energy. Namely, solar photovoltaics (PV) – aka solar panels – are one of the fastest growing sources of clean energy. Solar panels have long lifespans, increasingly lower costs, and are safe for the environment! But, what happens to solar panels when they stop producing electricity? Where do decommissioned solar panels go?

There are a few ways solar panels can be disposed, and in this article, we break down what happens to a solar panel at the end of its life.

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