How Solar Leases Through LightReach and GoodLeap Raise the Bar in Residential Solar
Residential solar has grown up fast. Over the past decade, more homeowners have gone solar than ever before. That growth has brought better technology and lower costs — but it’s also brought inconsistency. Not every installer operates the same way. Not every system is designed with the same care. And not every company is thinking […]
Understanding SRECs and Their Impact on Solar in Virginia
As an increasing number of Virginians embrace solar energy, understanding the incentive mechanisms in place becomes essential. One of the most prominent programs is the Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) system. This blog post aims to clarify what SRECs are, how they function, and their significance for solar users in Virginia. What are SRECs? Solar […]
Where is Solar Power Used the Most in 2024?
Key Takeaways China leads the world in solar power generation, with 609,921 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity as of December 2023. That is more than four times the amount of solar installed than the second place United States, but both countries have about the same number of installed watts per person because China’s population is so […]
What To Consider When Deciding the Direction Your Solar Panels Will Face
The direction that solar panels face has a significant impact on the production and savings that homeowners see. The general guidance is to have panels facing toward the south, but that is only one of several factors that should be considered when creating an optimized solar panel layout. Energy from solar panels is generated by […]
The 3 Tiers of Solar Warranties
If you’ve looked into solar or been part of a solar presentation before, you know firsthand that warranties are a huge part of the conversation. And why shouldn’t it be? Investing in a solar system for your home can be one of the larger purchases a homeowner will make, so it only makes sense to […]
What is Third-Party Ownership Financing?
Despite high interest rates making borrowing money more difficult, people are still having solar panels installed at home thanks to the increasing popularity of solar leases. A solar lease enables homeowners to reduce the upfront investment costs and liabilities of system ownership while still providing a reduced carbon footprint and lower electric bills every month for 20 years or […]
What is a Hybrid System?
A hybrid solar system represents a cutting-edge approach to energy management, combining the best attributes of both grid-tied and off-grid solar systems. This solution provides homeowners and businesses with enhanced flexibility and reliability in their energy use. Unlike traditional grid-tied systems that depend entirely on the utility grid for backup power or off-grid systems that […]
Storage and Demand Response
Solar and wind differ from traditional fossil generation plants in many exciting ways, especially when we consider the cost savings and environmental benefits associated with renewables. What we often overlook, though, is the power production pattern of variable renewable energy (VRE) sources compared to traditional thermal generators. Thermal producers can assess high load demand times […]
Commercial Solar: Financial Incentives
We often hear about the benefits of solar for residential customers, but commercial PV projects have even more upside and federal incentives. Let’s take a look: As per the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), businesses that invest in solar are eligible for very significant tax credits. Business owners can claim a tax credit up to 50% […]
How do I Know if My House is Good for Solar?
Let’s be honest. Some houses are a better fit for solar than others. There are a few factors to consider when assessing a property’s suitability for PV production, which we will go over here. Orientation In the northern hemisphere, ideal sun exposure occurs on south facing roofs at a tilt angle of 30°-45°. A south […]