Solar Panels for Every Type of Roof
Lots of solar companies won’t install solar panels on special roofs. Why? The sad answer is sheer laziness! Contrary to popular belief, solar panels can be installed on a wide variety of roofs. But lots of solar companies turn away business from customers with anything but composite roofs. That's because special roofs, such as Torch Down, S-Tile, and Metal Tile, need a different type of racking system than the standard composition shingles. The work might take a bit more planning, effort, and time to install solar panels on a unique roof, and it does require alternative materials than a standard [...]
The (Solar) Train Is Leaving the Station
Get Your NEM-2 Status before It’s Too Late Big changes are ahead in the solar market... and they’re not good for consumers. NEM—net energy metering—is a program for solar owners to supply clean energy to the electric grid and sell over-produced power to the utility companies. But PG&E doesn’t like paying solar customers for stored power. The utility giant has lobbied for changes to this program, fighting to keep its stranglehold on consumers. The result is NEM-3, a new energy metering program that will alter PG&E's financial obligations to solar owners selling stored power. And, if history is any judge, [...]
Should You Buy or Lease Your Solar Panels?
One of the most important decisions to make when switching to solar energy is whether you should buy or lease your solar panels. There are clear benefits to both, but understanding their differences is crucial to determining which choice is right for you. Buying Solar Panels in Northern California The long-term value of a solar energy system largely depends on how it’s financed. Buying your system outright or acquiring a solar loan will yield the most savings. Typically, a solar system will cost between $15,000--$30,000. You can purchase it outright, or with a $0 down solar loan, pay for it [...]
Moving On: Transferring Ownership of Your Monitoring System
If you're buying or selling a solar-powered property, you need to transfer ownership of the monitoring system. Don't worry: transferring ownership of a monitoring system is simple when you have the know-how. Synergy Power can help you check this item off your to-do list. Each monitoring platform has a different approach to transferring ownership. Enphase, for instance, requires you to work directly with them, charging a $199 transfer fee and an additional $50 for an inspection report. SolarEdge, on the other hand, does not charge the homeowner a transfer fee. For Synergy Power customers, transferring ownership can be done directly [...]
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 of [...]
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 to [...]
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 show [...]
Lots of solar companies won’t install solar panels on special roofs. Why? The sad answer is sheer laziness! Contrary to popular belief, solar panels can be installed on a wide [...]
Get Your NEM-2 Status before It’s Too Late Big changes are ahead in the solar market... and they’re not good for consumers. NEM—net energy metering—is a program for solar owners [...]
One of the most important decisions to make when switching to solar energy is whether you should buy or lease your solar panels. There are clear benefits to both, but [...]
If you're buying or selling a solar-powered property, you need to transfer ownership of the monitoring system. Don't worry: transferring ownership of a monitoring system is simple when you have [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
