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Are you aware that heating your homes consumes more energy and costs more money than any other appliances and devices? Irrespective of the heating system or fuel used, home heating needs constitute nearly 45% of electricity bills. The good news is that you can reduce your bill amount substantially by taking advantage of the free

Solar power is often referred to as “free electricity”. Is it really free?  There are costs associated with financing, installing, and running solar energy systems. And, none of them come cheap. If you have to make such heavy investments in buying, setting up, and maintaining the system, why is solar energy referred to as “free”?

The answer to this depends on your purchase power and financial goals. The two choices – buying and leasing – have one main difference. While purchasing will give you ownership of the solar system, leasing doesn’t. And, this makes a world of difference in the claimable incentives and rebates and in its home value addition.

Going solar is gaining traction in recent times, what with the price of solar panels coming down substantially in the past decade. The numerous government incentives and rebates have only made the deal more lucrative.  Switching to solar power has always been a top priority for environmentally-conscious consumers. And, when you add to this the

The earliest recorded use of solar energy by humans was in the 7th century BC when the magnifying glass was used to light fire. Later, in the 3rd century BC, Greeks and Romans harnessed solar energy to light torches for religious ceremonies using mirrors.  The “sunrooms” in Roman bathhouses and much later the solar-powered ovens

One of the obvious questions that crop up when thinking about going solar is “how long do solar panels last on average?”. And, this is an essential aspect to understand the value you are getting for the money spent. Though the lifespan of the solar panel is a vital factor, equally important is the effect

Clean, Green, Renewable, Sustainable – these are words that we often find being used interchangeably to describe non-polluting and environment-friendly sources of energy.  Do they mean the same? What exactly is clean energy? How clean is it in reality? How does it benefit us? Which energy sources qualify as one?  Read on to learn more

No rooftop to install solar panels? Staying in a rental property? Do not have funds to purchase solar equipment? Don’t worry. You can still go solar. Replacing grid energy generated from fossil fuels with clean renewable energy like solar power is a big step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and reversing climate change. As

You may have come across ads touting that solar power installations can save thousands of dollars. When presented in a particular way, this sounds attractive. In fact, it sounds too good to be true. Is that the real story? Are solar panels worth it? The average price tag of solar equipment with a 10-kW capacity

It is common knowledge that we can save money with solar installation. And, we have often heard about exporting surplus solar energy generated to the main grid with a net-metering mechanism. So, is a residential solar installation a potential income generator? Let us examine the facts and find out the answer to this question. Table

Going solar is one of the best decisions you can make on many levels. Besides doing your bit in the fight against climate change, it can help you save money and gain energy independence. In this process, you can also help the country achieve its clean energy goals. Before going solar shopping, you need to

Environmentalists and scientists have been sounding the alarm on climate change for a while now. And, it is getting louder and louder. We have been witnessing the disastrous effects of environmental degradation in recent years. It is no longer an issue to be dealt with in the future. It is high time we take action

Solar power is considered the solution to many problems we are facing now – from the degradation of the environment, carbon footprint, and climate change to saving money, freedom from the grid, and creating jobs.  Solar energy is free. And, it is available almost everywhere. All we need to have is the setup to tap

For an overwhelming number of homeowners, their homes are the biggest assets. Before planning any addition, modification, or renovation on it, it is natural to weigh the pros and cons. The crucial questions that come up are: Does it offer value for money? Will it enhance or diminish the aesthetic appeal? Will it add value

If you are considering switching to solar energy, this is one of the first questions that would pop up in your mind. And, naturally so. How can a solar energy system work at night without the essential component sunlight?  Once you find the answer to this, so many more are bound to follow. Do solar

The federal, state, and local governments and utility service providers offer incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy installations. By the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the federal government introduced the solar tax credit, also known as the investment tax credit (ITC). Originally, it was offered for a limited period and was set to expire

Installing home solar power systems in homes is trending across the country as a means of transitioning out of the fossil fuel power grid to a cleaner, greener source of energy. With authorities actively encouraging this, the benefits for homeowners are too many – lower carbon footprint, a lower electric bill, and higher home value.

Our energy dependence is increasing day-by-day, with the ever-expanding population as well as the introduction of more and more appliances and gadgets in the market promising to make our life easier and better. Do we ever seriously think about where the energy to run these devices, small or big, is coming from? Most of them

Solar energy is a comparatively new concept that is remarkably different from other types of energy resources – both renewable and nonrenewable. Solar power is generated without any moving parts in the installation, unlike the rest. All the rest convert different forms of energy into electrical energy using the age-old concept of turning the turbine.

Generating electricity at home has multiple benefits. In addition to securing your energy source and keeping the energy rates in check, it can save you a bundle or even better earn you money or credits. However, something that will appeal to the environmentalist in you is the chance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and

A common question from homeowners planning to install solar panels is “Is it possible to power the entire household using solar energy?” The simple answer is yes, it is possible. However, it is not a question that can be completely explained with a simple answer. It is more complicated.  Before we go ahead and answer

More and more domestic energy consumers are switching over to solar energy to benefit from its long-term cost-effectiveness and freedom from the grid. In case you have not already jumped into the bandwagon and considering the option, look no further. In addition to all the personal gains, solar energy would also make the environmentalist in

How often have you felt like getting away from this materialistic world and living life on your own terms? Have you considered living off the grid? What is the meaning of ‘off the grid living’? The term ‘off the grid’ means independent and not connected to basic services such as electricity and water supply. Off

The sun is an abundant energy source, providing us with clean and sustainable energy. An hour of sunlight received by the earth is calculated to be sufficient to meet our energy needs for a year! However, it is not without its potential disadvantages. The environmental disadvantages of solar energy include habitat loss, alteration in land

Solar energy is now occupying centerstage for being an environment-friendly and renewable energy source. It also comes with another huge benefit for the consumer – bringing down the electricity bill and saving money.  As the electricity rates are increasing at a steady pace each year, installing a solar system is an attractive proposition for the

Going off the grid need not be that hard, but it requires lots of planning and preparation. Once you decide to move off the grid, you should draw up a checklist of things to do before making the move.  There are many things you take for granted that need to be sorted out before starting

The cost of installing new power capacity is increasingly becoming cheaper for renewable energy resources when compared with that of fossil fuels. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in its annual report ‘Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019’ elaborates on “how decisively the tables have turned”. “Solar photovoltaics (PV) shows the sharpest cost decline over

Solar energy, the energy that the earth receives from the sun throughout the day, is one of the most abundant and green of all renewable energy sources. In fact, it is roughly estimated that an hour of sunlight received on the earth is sufficient to meet the energy needs of the entire world for a

Have you ever wished that the monthly energy bills would disappear from the face of the earth? If so, there is good news for you. There are ways to go off the grid and do away with those annoying bills.  The first step in this direction is by restricting energy usage is by increasing the