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 Do [...]
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 [...]
How one customer saved $2,700
Things are looking really bright for the Ruiz family—they saved $2,700 in ONE year by making the switch to solar. Last week they received their yearly True-Up bill and to their delight they saw that PG&E actually owed them money. How? You’ll see from their bill that PG&E tracks how much power (kWh—kilowatt hours) is consumed each month. Some months the net usage is negative, meaning you produced more solar power than you needed. Other months it can be higher depending on the power you use (think air conditioning and heating). Because they had the right size system for their [...]
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
Determining how many solar panels you need is the first step in setting up your solar energy system in Northern California, and will be the most influential factor in the installation cost. Many of our customers are curious about the number of panels they can expect on their roof array. While we don’t require customers to figure this out for themselves, here are three things that we at Synergy Power assess at each site to calculate how many panels will be needed for a project. Three Questions to Consider When Calculating Solar Panels What is your energy usage? A good [...]
Panel Cleaning 101
California is no stranger to fires, but it feels like an insult to injury this year. If you’ve noticed your solar production has decreased—we’re seeing 15%–20% drops—don’t panic. Solar production is affected by fires the same way it is with particularly cloudy weather. The ash particles in the sky (and on your panels) create a barrier that the sun has trouble penetrating. Let’s help those panels out with a little fall cleaning: Use your trusty garden hose to rinse them off. Do NOT use high pressure. Let the stream of water work for you as the ash rolls off. Do [...]
Synergy Power is Livermore’s Premier Solar Provider
The word “home” can conjure up a variety of images. Whether you’re from a big city or a country town, you are shaped by the place you grew up in a way that stays with you for the rest of your life. As for us here at Synergy Power, we couldn’t be prouder that our roots are right here in Livermore. Solar Based in Livermore, California Livermore is rich with charm and traditional values that have aged like a fine wine. We love living in a town that treasures relics from the past like Vine Cinema and its vintage films. [...]
Solar + Battery: If My Power Goes Out, How Long Will My Backup Last?
How many PG&E power outages have you been through so far this year? A battery backup system for your home or business could reduce that number to zero. But many of our customers have asked us, “How long will my battery last if my power goes out?” Good news: Your battery backup system could give you power for several weeks, while continuing to charge from your solar panels … even while the power is out. Let’s talk about that. The Joy of Battery Backup Systems A battery backup system, when used with your solar panels, it is not at all [...]
Cleaning Solar Panels During the California Wildfires
As fires rage through northern California and into Oregon, one of the most common questions we’re getting from our customers right now is this: Will this drastically affect my solar production and, if so, how can I go about cleaning my solar panels? With heavy air pollution and dust and ash settling at an alarming rate, we understand the need you have to keep your solar panels clean. Let’s talk about why regular cleaning is important, what you can do to keep your solar production up, and how to safely care for your solar panels during the fires. Not Surprising: [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
Things are looking really bright for the Ruiz family—they saved $2,700 in ONE year by making the switch to solar. Last week they received their yearly True-Up bill and to [...]
Determining how many solar panels you need is the first step in setting up your solar energy system in Northern California, and will be the most influential factor in the [...]
California is no stranger to fires, but it feels like an insult to injury this year. If you’ve noticed your solar production has decreased—we’re seeing 15%–20% drops—don’t panic. Solar production [...]
The word “home” can conjure up a variety of images. Whether you’re from a big city or a country town, you are shaped by the place you grew up in [...]
How many PG&E power outages have you been through so far this year? A battery backup system for your home or business could reduce that number to zero. But many [...]
As fires rage through northern California and into Oregon, one of the most common questions we’re getting from our customers right now is this: Will this drastically affect my solar [...]
