It’s a fact of life that many contractors will present potential clients with unrealistic bid proposals when they’re trying to win a new job. The incentive to lie or mislead customers is too great for many Bay Area solar installers to resist, even if it has the potential to blow back in the form of a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or worse, a lawsuit. This is why it is imperative for customers who…

While the technology behind solar energy is quickly becoming more advanced, basic issues like efficient installation and cleaning are hindering its progress. Fortunately for solar panel companies and consumers interested in renewable energy, robots are working hard to make installation easier and bring down labor costs. The New York Times reports that Alion Energy, a small California-based start-up is providing robots to solar farms help with maintenance. The company’s overall goal is to bring the cost…

Upgrading to solar energy solutions for your home doesn’t just benefit the environment, it can also help you save a sizeable amount of money on your monthly utility bills and increase the value of your property. Plus, in spite of initial installation costs, solar panels usually wind up paying for themselves – sometimes in as few as seven years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. There are, understandably, many questions and concerns that individuals have…

Folks who reside in the Sacramento, California, area and who are hoping to invest in solar energy systems may be able to take advantage of a new initiative that makes this and other energy-efficient upgrades more cost-effective. In a March 28 press release, Ygrene Energy Fund, a leading developer and administrator of clean energy financing programs, announced that it is forming a partnership with the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors that will help individuals within the county…

Although many areas of California are fortunate enough to experience a significant amount of sunshine and warm weather compared to other parts of the United States, there are still certain times of the year during which the temperature gets cooler and the skies are more likely to appear overcast. With these inevitabilities in mind, people interested in solar energy solutions may wonder whether this kind of climate has an effect on the performance of solar…

Recently on this blog, we’ve written about a number of steps the city of Sacramento, California, has taken to adopt solar energy solutions. Over the past month or so, Ygrene Energy Fund formed a partnership with the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to help individuals within the county purchase renewable power and two influential green technology companies announced a joint plan to study the effects of solar photovoltaics (PV) on the city’s electric grid. Now, according to an April…

It has become clear over the years that green technology solutions are more than just a passing fad. In fact, the National Association of Home Buyers (NAHB) recently released a study entitled “What Home Buyers Really Want,” which reveals that, first and foremost, prospective property owners desire energy-efficient features. However, there are some factors that may be holding people back from making these upgrades, and one of them is the perception that solar energy is too…

One of the main reasons homeowners choose to have solar energy solutions installed – aside from the fact that these systems help them save money on their utility bills and pay for themselves over the course of several years – is for the environmental benefits. In recent years, reports Media Matters for America, a progressive research center, people have come forward trying to claim that solar energy is “dirty” due to the amount of power…

Residents of San Diego received good news on October 24, when the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) agreed to extend the residential rebate program under the California Solar Initiative (CSI) for customers of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), which administers the San Diego rebate program for SDG&E, reports that $5 million will be allocated for the program, representing about 25 megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity that will be added…

Recently on this blog, we’ve tackled some of the most common misconceptions about solar energy solutions, using data and statistics to support the fact that this alternative power option is cost-effective, good for the environment and able to successfully operate even in cloudy climates. Another myth that has been perpetuated over the past few years is that solar energy requires a significant amount of land. Opinion pieces in publications such as The Wall Street Journal…

Recently on this blog, we’ve been reporting on the plethora of exciting solar energy initiatives happening in the Golden State, and as of yesterday, there’s another bit of exciting news to add to the growing list. Clean Power Finance (CPF), a San Francisco-based financial services and software provider for the solar industry and capital markets, announced in an April 9 press release that it had secured $37 million in funding from investors such as Edison International, Google…

A retiring California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) member has issued a final address in which he warns his fellow members to protect the state’s solar assets. The San Francisco Gate reports that Mark Ferron, who will be retiring due to a prolonged battle with prostate cancer, stated in his address that it was up to the CPUC to protect the interests of solar customers and self-generators rather than those of the utility companies. The CPUC, which sets electricity…