We find that a lot of people are disappointed to learn that solar won’t offset all of their electricity costs. But they shouldn’t be. Only a fraction of people have the needed resources to offset 100 percent. Many of our customers fall in the 50-75 percent range. And plenty others only see 20-40 percent of their electricity offset by solar. Why is this?...
As the costs of renewable energy continues to come down--even passing coal and natural gas in some markets--solar developers are increasingly looking for land to host solar projects. Here are a few helpful tips to find out if your land is a good resource to become a solar farm. How much acreage do you have? One megawatt of solar typically requires 6-8...
When the power goes out, will you be ready? The emerging battery storage market will offer solar homeowners peace of mind during outages and natural disasters, while safeguarding against spikes in electricity rates. The cutting-edge products available to us in the Pacific Northwest aren’t quite ready for prime time--yet. Several companies are planning major product releases in the coming months, and we...
Ten years ago, two guys (Andy and Reeves, hence the A&R) founded a company that was based on the crazy notion that people would want to install solar on their homes and businesses in the Pacific Northwest. It turns out that solar works really well here, just ask any of our 1,000+ customers. Like any emerging industry, solar has been through a lot of...
Washington's largest solar project is now complete. The 1.27 megawatt project sits atop the new IKEA store in Renton, which opened Wednesday. Here is the project by the numbers: 1.27 MW 3,250 solar panels 4,770 ballast trays (they hold the panels) 22 inverters 16-25 crew members, including electricians, roof techs, and general laborers 244,000-square-feet Will produce 1,261,000 kWh of electricity, the equivalent...
KidsQuest Children's Museum's new downtown Bellevue location opened to the public after more than a year of renovations. A&R Solar installed a solar energy system on the steep-pitched roof of the museum. And our installation team did it decked out in spandex superhero costumes. A&R Solar donated the system--valued at $25,000--to the museum as part of the Solarize Bellevue campaign. We must admit: It...
We get asked this question a lot, given that solar panels (aka “modules”) require intensive energy and other resources to manufacture. A subset of environmentalists question how clean and green solar actually is. In fact, Rep. Matt Manweller (R-Ellensburg) asked this question during recent testimony over the proposed solar bill HB 1048 that is working its way through the Washington...
At the end of each year, employee owners of A&R Solar make cash donations to charities that are important to them. A&R Solar now has 13 employee owners (employees are eligible for ownership after three years with the company), up from six in 2015. The organizations receiving cash donations this year are: Rainier Valley Food Bank (two owners chose this nonprofit) ...
We love talking about solar. We get to do it every day. But it’s pretty hard to stay “little picture” when discussing solar with a homeowner or a corporate sustainability executive. Eventually, conversations about renewable energy in Washington and Oregon hit a “big-picture moment,” and we end up talking about the Pacific Northwest’s favorite energy superstar: hydroelectricity. The good news is...
LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.” It is a third-party rating system created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to verify green buildings and encourage sustainable construction, maintenance, and operation. It’s one of the most prestigious, sought-after, and rigorous certifications in the building industry. A LEED certification signals a commitment to the sustainability, health, and well-being of...