Free Solar Panels in Northern California … Too Good To Be True?
For homeowners in Northern California, rising costs have been the only consistent thing about their energy bill. Electric bills have skyrocketed, rising nearly 8% in 2020. As a result, solar companies have become more attractive to residents in Livermore and beyond. Many are saying just the thing homeowners want to hear: FREE. Free solar panels. Free energy. But is it really free? The Cost of Free Solar Panels The plain truth is nothing in business is truly free. Solar companies are a business and, like all businesses, they need to make money. While free energy is the end result [...]
Break Up with PG&E Today
Summer temperatures are rising, and so are the chances that PG&E is going to shut off your power in the hot, dry conditions. Sound familiar? Even if you already have solar at home, you’re still at risk for planned power outages unless you’re prepared. And we all know what happens when you call PG&E for help—you get the runaround. Take matters into your own hands: Become energy independent. When you install solar and energy storage solutions, like a battery backup system, you can save the extra energy that your panels produce. When the next blackout hits, your lights will stay [...]
The Truth about Free Solar
You’ve probably been told a hundred times that nothing in life is free. How can going solar be any different? Not only is it an exception to this rule—you really can get solar for free—but you can save money now and eliminate your entire electricity bill in the future! (That makes us happy, too.) This is what it means when you go solar: Pay no additional out-of-pocket costs for energy (and potentially lower what you’re currently paying) Free yourself from rising electricity costs Protect yourself from PG&E power shut-offs Own your solar system within 5-8 years Does this sound too [...]
Making Solar – and Your Roof – a Lasting Team
You’ve already made the decision that solar energy is the direction you’d like to go. Why wouldn’t you, given the overwhelming financial and environmental benefits? But now comes the question of where to install your solar panels. Rooftop installations take advantage of spacious, unused real estate, and they can benefit your home in ways that you may not have considered. Solar Panels Can Be Good for Your Roof It’s possible to build a solar array on the ground or plug into a community solar farm. Still, roof installations have been the mainstay of solar-powered homes. There are good reasons for [...]
DIY Guide to Reconnecting Your Monitoring System
The days are getting longer and your solar panels are soaking up those rays. If you're like us, you probably enjoy watching how much energy your panels are producing (and how much money you're saving). But what should you do if you notice your Enphase monitoring system is no longer connected? Don’t worry! Even though you may not be able to see the energy production, your solar panels are likely still working. If you recently got a new router for your home, changed internet providers, or even simply updated your WiFi password, you’ll need to reconnect your monitoring system [...]
The COVID Effect—How Much Did You Spend on Electricity?
It’s been a full year since the pandemic started, and you’ve probably spent more time at home than ever before. Some perks you may have enjoyed are trying new recipes, commuting from the bedroom to your home office, finally having time to binge watch your Netflix shows, and most importantly, spending quality time with your family. But all of these directly impact your electricity usage. How so? We compared the electricity usage of two families in our area—and it's surprising to see how much this year has affected our community. If your electricity bill has increased, we'd love to [...]
Alert! NEM-2 Savings Are Ending
There are major changes on the horizon that will impact how much you can save by going solar. The current net metering program, NEM-2, will be replaced by NEM-3 this year, and PG&E and the other big utility companies are pushing to reduce the cost-saving benefits solar customers enjoy. While we don’t want to be the bearer of bad news (who does?), it’s important to understand how NEM-3 could negatively affect you if you wait to go solar. Your ROI will decrease. The big utility companies suggested that “bill savings eventually cover the cost of the investment over the life [...]
Residential Solar Panels: What to Know About Solar Panels for Your Home
You may have heard a lot about residential solar panels over the past few years. Shiny black panels have been popping up on rooftops in communities across the country over the past decade. Here in California, homeowners are switching to solar power at an impressive rate as individuals and policy-makers alike opt for clean energy solutions. While the idea of going green is appealing to most of us, the financial investment makes us want to take a closer look at what is really involved. Is solar power all that it’s hyped up to be? 5 Questions Solar Customers Ask [...]
Lights Out for 2020!
Wow, what a year it’s been. Things were a little different than we originally imagined but we’re finishing out 2020 with immense gratitude for our solar family. Because of this community, the installations we completed helped offset our carbon footprint, allowed you to become fully energy independent, cut down CO2 emissions, and conserved trees. Your contribution to the planet and future generations is not lost on us. As we wrap up the year, we hope that the rest of your 2020 is full of family time and relaxation. We’re excited to see what the new year holds. From the entire [...]
Should I Use EnergySage to Find My Solar Provider?
When you search online for solar energy, one of your first search results will probably be from the online solar referral site, EnergySage. When it comes to internet search results, this site is king. But should you use EnergySage to do for you what they’re in business to do: find and recommend your solar company? Let’s break down for you why you might decide to do so, and the reasons that you might decide not to use their recommendations. How Does EnergySage Work? Just like many other online recommendation services (think Angie’s List, Home Advisor, Thumbtack), home and business owners [...]
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