Did you know that the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth in a single hour would be enough to power the entire world for a whole year if we harnessed it all? Solar electric technology is transforming the way…
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There are several reasons why people consider installing an off grid solar system. Most often, it is because it is in a remote location that would either costs tens of thousands of dollars to install the grid, or connecting to…
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When looking at the cost of a solar power system, it can often look like a very scary amount – the national average for installed solar can be anywhere from $3-5 per watt of solar panels installed. So a 6,000…
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Massachusetts’ previous Governor, Deval Patrick, had set a target for 1,600 megawatts (MW) of solar power in Massachusetts by 2020. We are currently at about 86MW. However, there is currently a restriction on installing any new solar power systems in…
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The technology for grid-tied solar systems has changed rapidly since its start around the turn of the century. With many choices now available, it can be a bit confusing to decide which is right for you.
In an earlier blog, Financing Your Renewable Energy System, we made the statement, “The lure of no money down for leasing is tempting, but the economics show that owning your system offers much better payback over the life of the…
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The 30% Federal Tax Credit, the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2016, dropping commercial incentives to 10%, and residential to zero. The ITC was first enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act…
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The idea of installing a solar power system that automatically tracks the sun throughout the day, increasing its output by as much as 30% seems like such a great idea, but is it worth the extra expense and maintenance issues?…
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We often get the question from customers, “What are the best solar panels for my home?” It depends on what you mean by best. In our experience at altE, for some customers “best” means highest efficiency per square foot,…
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No, they are not new product lines from Gillette® and Weight Watchers®. Peak Shaving and Load Shedding are power management strategies that can help optimize your grid tied solar system. Elon Musk recently talked about peak shaving in his PowerWall…
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