Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 1:31 pm
Artificial lighting consumes almost 15% of a household's electricity use. Use of new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in homes by 50%–75%.
You can reduce lighting energy use by selecting lighting and sources that use energy more efficiently, and by installing lighting controls.
For a FREE energy assessment, please contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or email us at info@SolareEnergy.com.
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Monday, March 29th, 2010 10:54 am
You can be connected to the normal power grid but also have solar power. There are multiple ways of doing this:
Separate systems:
This involves having seperate electrical circuits for solar power and for grid power. Usually this means lighting is provided by solar power. However, you are by no means limited to lighting. The systems just have to be kept separate. The rest is then supplied by grid power.
Grid Feed:
In this setup you have two electricity meters - one for the grid power entering your house and one for the solar power leaving your house. This often means that your solar setup doesn't need batteries, only panels and an inverter. A power company buys the power you produce. You pay the normal electricity as per usual.
Grid Interactive:
With this setup if you are using less power than you are producing your meter turns backwards. If you are using more power than you are producing your meter turns forwards. As with two meters, this often means that your solar setup doesn't need batteries, only panels and an inverter.
The setup that applies to you will depend on your existing setup (if you have one), your location and how the system works near you and so on.
Unfortunately, it is not as easy as plugging in your solar system into the grid. While the process varies from place to place, you'll generally need a contract with an electricity company (for them to buy your power) and approval of your system. The exception to this is when you have separate grid and solar systems. As you are not connected to the grid you can do pretty much what you want.
For a free energy assessment, please contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or email us at info@SolareEnergy.com.
Monday, March 22nd, 2010 9:03 am
A lighting expert can help you achieve not only maximum savings, but also maximum visual comfort. Lighting experts also can guide you through the array of options if you’re considering new lamps, fixtures, or controls.
For a free energy assessment, contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or info@SolareEnergy.com.
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 9:20 am
There are numerous things that can keep you from optimal energy efficiency in your home or business.
Dust, grease and other dirt accumulations on lamps, lenses, globes, and reflecting surfaces of the fixture can reduce light output as much as 30%!
About half of all HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems in California operate less efficiently than indicated by the equipment’s label.
Insulation reduces heat flow through the building envelope. Gaps in insulation waste energy and can lead to condensation, which can damage building materials and cause growth of molds, dust mites, and other biological contaminants.
For a free energy assessment to determine ways you can lower your energy costs, please contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or email us at info@SolareEnergy.com
Monday, March 15th, 2010 4:24 pm
The grid is the vast network of power lines that brings AC electricity from the large power plants to most American homes. ON grid means you can buy or sell power back to the grid. OFF Grid means you have no direct connection to the grid. A small percentage of grid power today already comes from renewable sources: mainly huge hydro projects. For your home power system, the grid can be used like a battery to store excess renewable energy produced in the day, to be used again at night.
For a free energy assessment, to determine how solar and/or energy efficiency upgrades can lower your energy costs, contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or email us at info@SolareEnergy.com.
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 10:06 am
Under the Express Efficiency Program, rebates pay for some or all of the costs associated with installing higher efficiency equipment. Also, the California Solar Initiative offers cash incentives on systems for solar-produced electricity. When combined with federal tax incentives, these incentives can cover up to 50% of the total cost of a solar installation.
For a free energy assessment to determine how you can save on your energy bill, contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or info@SolareEnergy.com.
Monday, March 8th, 2010 10:34 am
Solar finance experts suggest that every 1,000 Watts of power from a PV (photovoltaic) panel adds $15,000 to the resale value of a home. Solar panels require little or no upkeep, rarely break or wear out, and can last for up to 25 years, providing you with clean, consistent energy. Also, much of the cost for the system can be off set with State and Federal rebates.
For a free energy assessment, contact us at (800) 411-SOLAR or email us at info@SolareEnergy.com.
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 10:26 am
Different types of lamps can be expected to last different amounts of time before burning out. Listed below are the average life of each type of lamp.
o Standard Incandescent- 750 to 1,000 hours
o Tungsten-Halogen- 2,000 to 4,000 hours
o Halogen Infrared Reflecting- 2,000 to 3,000 hours
o Compact Fluorescent (5-26 watts)- 10,000 hours
o Compact Fluorescent (27-40 watts)- 15,000 to 20,000 hours
o Full-size Fluorescent- 15,000 to 30,000
For a free energy assessment to identify opportunities to save on your energy bill, call us at 800-411-SOLAR or email us at info@SolareEnergy.com.
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