Category Archives: energy savings

How to get the most out of your solar-system

Evaluate Your Usage

To optimize usage, you first need to evaluate how you and your family currently use electricity in the home. One way to do this is by having a professional come out and conduct a home energy audit.

During this process, an expert will come to your home and evaluate how efficiently energy is currently being used, as well as suggest methods for improvement. Inspections should be thorough and review the entire structure, from top to basement. The auditor should check things such as your duct blasts, HVAC system, doors, and windows. These tests will reveal problem areas and ways to improve so you don’t end up wasting the valuable solar electricity you’ll be generating.

By figuring out how much energy you currently use, you’ll also be able to better determine the size of solar system you’ll need.

Already have solar and need your home appraised?  Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com, they have been appraising homes with solar for over 10 years.

Price Shop

Solar technology has become increasingly price competitive in the past few years, making it much more affordable for homeowners to either buy systems out-right, or acquire loans for the project.

If you’ve just begun the home solar process and are looking to compare prices from local installers in your area, try using a trusted solar power marketplace to receive a number of quotes and find a solution that works best for your solar energy project. It’s the quickest way to be able to compare prices and services from companies that are experienced with your solar local programs.

Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions of solar installer candidates, including their experience connecting customers to the utility grid, knowledge of state incentives, and maintenance programs offered.

read more at:  http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-solar-power-system-zbcz1607.aspx#comments

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Off the grid living with solar panels and battery system

battery

“Twenty years ago, you would need a room full of batteries to keep your home powered, and it would set you back around $50,000 to $60,000 to do it. These days, you can achieve the same results with a cabinet the same size as a kitchen cupboard and will cost you from $15,000 to $30,000 (or $50 to $100 a week) for most homes.”

Will going solar add value to your home?  Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your home value questions.

Tips for off-grid living

  • Monitor your home’s energy use with an inexpensive monitoring solution from OWL Intuition, Efergy or Solar Analytics. A company can interpret this data to determine the best off-grid products for your home.  Note:  these are Australian companies.
  • Work with companies that offer a range of technologies and have a track record of installing batteries.
  • Look for inverters that have charge controllers or battery management units already built in (usually called hybrid inverters).
  • Take a tour of an off-grid home for a first hand insight into the lifestyle.

read more at: http://www.domain.com.au/advice/solar-panels-and-battery-systems-power-offgrid-living-as-a-lifestyle-choice-20160521-gozo7b/

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Is your home good for solar? Find out

If you’re starting to think about going solar, knowing that your home and solar are a good match makes the shopping process even easier. Here are the top five questions and answers that will help you determine whether solar is right for your home.

Will it add value to your home?  Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions.

1. How big is your electricity bill?

The factor that has the biggest impact on your long-term solar savings isn’t how sunny it is where you live – it’s how much you pay for your electricity. If you have high electricity rates, solar can save you major cash, even if you don’t live in the sunny Southwest. Don’t believe us? New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York are proof: the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranked all three Northeastern states in its Top 10 Solar States for 2016.

2. What direction does your roof face?

You might have heard that your roof needs to face south for solar to be a worthwhile investment, but that’s no longer true. While it is true that your solar panels will produce more electricity if they are facing perfectly south, solar makes sense even for homes with east- and west-facing roofs. Since the cost of solar has dropped significantly in the past few years, significant solar savings are possible for you even if your roof doesn’t face perfectly south.

3. What material is your roof made of?

While solar panels can be installed on practically every roof material, some can be more complicated to work with than others. Not every solar company will install PV panels on a slate or cedar roof, so if your home’s roof is made of either of those materials, you will need to seek out an installer who has the experience and ability to work with them.

read more at: http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/is-your-home-good-for-solar-find-out-now-zbcz1604.aspx?newsletter=1

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only