February 27, 2020
Trying to find a solar company “near me” can unfortunately be a bit too much like buying a car. By which I mean while it can seem that picking the best item for you can seem very simple (leather or upholstery?), it actually can become very complex (what’s the difference between all-wheel drive and four-wheel… Read the entire post »
December 20, 2019
We get many enthusiastic calls and emails from people ready to get solar installed on their roofs. Their enthusiasm is exceeded only by their disappointment if we tell them that their projected return isn’t that good because their roof is far less than ideal. How would we know? How could you know? Here are some… Read the entire post »
August 21, 2018
I do not believe in bad-mouthing other solar companies. I do believe in helping homeowners make good choices. (Sorry to sound like the mother in Freaky Friday for fans of the film). That means talking to you about some of the bad practices we see in the industry. Earlier this summer, our solar consultant Todd… Read the entire post »
July 10, 2018
“Haaayyyy” horse lovers: We’ve put solar on so many New England horse barns that Holistic Horse magazine made us their “mane” source for a recent article on how equestrian facilities can benefit from solar energy, whether you have a sophisticated breeding farm or a small private barn. We enjoyed our talk with award-winning equestrian journalist… Read the entire post »
June 5, 2018
If you’re a video viewer, watch this 45-second explanation of our approach to sales. For more detail, read on. If high-pressure salespeople make you want to explode, or crawl and hide, try us. New England Clean Energy’s low-pressure sales approach is the #3 reason* customers choose us to install their solar. I was our first… Read the entire post »
April 3, 2018
(NOTE: This post relates to purchased solar energy systems, which increase home re-sale value and decrease re-sale time. Leased systems are notorious for hampering home sales, as I discuss in this earlier post.) Not surprisingly, as more homeowners install solar, more homes with solar are being bought and sold. Data backs up the common sense… Read the entire post »
February 22, 2018
Did you know investor owned electric utilities (IOUs) including Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, and Liberty Utilities don’t make money on the generation of electricity? I know that sounds strange, but it’s generally true. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, utilities in New England produced or generated electricity, and delivered it to homes and businesses.… Read the entire post »
December 12, 2017
Customers regularly ask me, How soon will my solar panels become obsolete? or Should I plan on replacing my panels when the technology gets better? Panel technology is improving, but very slowly. So don’t worry. Today’s solar panels are not going the way of the rotary phone or console TV anytime soon. You do not… Read the entire post »
October 10, 2017
If your solar energy system was turned on between March and September, and most are, because that’s more than half the year, then you may be horrified when your October production drops. Don’t be. It’s typical to see strong production for seven solid months preceding October and then boom – your solar monitoring site tells… Read the entire post »
July 12, 2017
Selling a home is intimidating enough, but selling a home with solar? You might think having solar on your home would make the home sale process even more complicated. In fact, solar typically makes it easier, and faster, to sell your home. Home buyers show increasing interest in homes with green features. A study by the U.S.… Read the entire post »
I started writing The Energy Miser in 2011 because I like to analyze energy issues and pontificate about my findings. Got a topic you want me to cover? Let me know.
