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?...
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...
If you are considering adding a solar energy system to your home or business, you'll want to do your research when considering which installer to choose. We've come up with a list of questions that can help you identify quality companies. When you’re informed, you can invest in your energy future with confidence. We've created a downloadable PDF for you to...
We see it all of the time: When one homeowner on the block installs solar, others follow. By installing solar on your house, you get to set an example for others in your neighborhood and community. Sometimes neighbors can have questions about your new system and might even challenge the installation. Here are a couple of things to know: Can my HOA...
Tesla Motors’ announced its rechargeable lithium-ion battery product called Powerwall in April, and solar customers and industry insiders haven’t stopping talking about it. For a product that isn’t even available to the broader public yet, we get asked about it on a weekly basis. Simply put, the Powerwall stores energy. For example, it could bank the excess energy produced from a home’s...
Solar panels weigh about 45 pounds each and measure just over three feet wide by five feet long. For the average home, we install 16-24 panels on the roof, depending on the size of the roof and electrical consumption. There are a couple of ways we get all of these panels on top of your house: a construction lift and...
If you have an old-school analog meter, it really will. When your PV system makes more power than your home uses, your electrical service meter reverses — you can watch it go backward. However, utilities have moved to digital metering. These will not give you the satisfaction of watching the meter spin backward, although the backward-pointing arrow on the digital display elicits...
This post was originally published by A&R Solar customer Nick Strauss on the Northwest Edible Life website. Read the full post here. We just passed the one year anniversary of our solar power system going live. How do things look after a full year? Pretty good. First some numbers, then let’s talk about how we got there. When A&R Solar installed our...
I used to consider myself a generalist. I thought that is what might make me a good entrepreneur. I know a little about a lot of things, graphic design, programming, science, business, gardening, you name it. One day I took the Strengths Finder personality test. Three of my top five strengths have to do with learning and exploring ideas. Along...
“Is your license current? and Is it the right license for the work?” Licensing requirements change from state to state. A quick call to the local chapter of a national solar industry organization should let you know what kind of license is valid for a contractor to be able to install solar. You can find the contact information of your...