December 1, 2015
You’re the proud owner of a new 7,800-watt solar energy system. But every time you check your online monitoring, your system is operating below the full 7,800 watts of capacity. Then you notice the rating plate on your inverter in the basement says 7,600 watts. What the heck? I can explain the perfectly legitimate reasons… Read the entire post »
October 30, 2015
I love helping people help the planet with solar. So it dismays me to see sub-par installation work that could ultimately give the solar industry a black eye. Homeowners can’t be expected to know what qualifies as a good vs. a bad installation. Recently, one of my employees pointed out this installation to a friend… Read the entire post »
March 26, 2015
Spring may be here officially, but tell that to the squirrels here in New England. They are still risking suffocation by snow as they scramble from tree trunk to tree trunk. Given the options, hanging out in a cozy nest under a canopy of solar panels sounds pretty good. Unfortunately, squirrels and solar don’t mix well for… Read the entire post »
December 9, 2014
I’ve always told customers due south is the best orientation for solar electric (PV) panels. So why does a recent New York Times article say west is best? The article doesn’t actually say west is best for solar owners, but it’s implied by the headline, and in today’s 140-character world, too many of us don’t… Read the entire post »
August 25, 2014
If you’re a regular Energy Miser reader, you know aesthetics matter as much to me as they do to our customers. My entire Shoddy Workmanship series focused on solar fashion don’ts. Almost every person considering solar asks me how the panels will look, but many don’t know to ask how and where the lesser known… Read the entire post »
January 16, 2014
I’m back from our holiday break, with lots to write about, and more guest posts from our customers coming your way. Today, I ask you: Are you obsessed with monitoring your solar electric panels’ performance online, on a daily, hourly or even more frequent basis? It’s a common affliction with many solar owners, particularly new… Read the entire post »
September 19, 2013
Often, people are crushed to learn their roofs aren’t solar-friendly — the neighbor’s towering pines cast too much shade, or the roof faces the wrong way to capture sunlight and convert it to electricity for your home. The good news is, more and more, home-owners, architects and builders are thinking solar before they design new… Read the entire post »
May 21, 2013
(This fourth and final post about shady solar workmanship offers tips on protecting yourself from unethical or incompetent installers.) Competition generally results in choices and lower prices. It can also create confusion and make it easy for shady solar installers to take advantage of people. In 7 years, I’ve seen my share of shoddy workmanship,… Read the entire post »
May 16, 2013
(Third in a series about shady solar workmanship, how to tell the difference between a good and bad solar installation, and how to protect yourself from unethical or incompetent installers. Thanks to Jonathan Williams, my partner and VP of Installation & Service, for contributing stories “from the trenches” for this series.) So we’re midway through… Read the entire post »
May 9, 2013
(Second in a series about shady solar workmanship, how to tell the difference between a good and bad solar installation, and how to protect yourself from unethical or incompetent installers. Thanks to Jonathan Williams, my partner and VP of Installation & Service, for contributing stories “from the trenches” for this series.) Most people think to… 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.
