Tag Archives: electric
‘Live Free or Die’ for Energy Independence
Last Friday, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a monumental order: effective September 1, the state will lift its Net Metering cap. If you aren’t familiar with the ongoing saga of net metering in America you might be wondering, why is this so exciting? Net Metering is the policy under which the utilities… Read the entire post »
Minimizing Our Carbon Footprint on the Road
I’ve been having an entertaining back-and-forth with the good people at the Massachusetts Solar Owners Association (MASOA) on their blog, about the current state of the market for energy-efficient trucks and vans. New England Clean Energy’s “fleet” includes 3 used hybrid Priuses for the sales team and 3 used, gasoline-fueled utility vans for our installation… Read the entire post »
Is a Solar Lease an Asset or Liability When Selling Your Home?
Is it better to buy or lease a solar electric system for your home? I think the solar industry has room for both models, just like the car industry does. Still, the debate rages on, fueled by new information about the pros and cons of leasing, and of purchasing, which are just coming to light… Read the entire post »
Are Solar Leasing Companies Gouging the Market?
Or, Why You Should Care What Solar Leasing Companies Charge Solar leasing companies have helped many consumers get solar on their roofs and reduce their electric bills without actually buying the solar energy systems and incurring those costs. Sounds good, right? But of late, leasing companies like SolarCity are coming under fire. (Read this informative… Read the entire post »
Going Solar in Stow
Guest post by New England Clean Energy Customer Carl Howe Since my solar energy system was installed in Dec. 2013, and turned on in Jan. 2014, I’ve had a lot of questions from friends and neighbors about the process. Here is a summary of how I went solar through the Stow Solar Challenge in Stow,… Read the entire post »
Getting the Most from Solar through Energy Efficiency
Guest Post by New England Clean Energy Customer Eric Richard “You cannot manage what you cannot measure… and what gets measured gets done.” – Bill Hewlett Mark likes to say his customers become more energy-efficient after installing solar in an effort to zero out their electric bills. That definitely happened to us when New… Read the entire post »
Is Monitoring Your Solar Panels Taking Over Your Life?
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 »
When is a Solar Electric System Like a Car?
Despite the traction achieved by the solar industry in the past few years, naysayers still rear their ugly heads sometimes, raising bizarre and unsubstantiated claims about why solar is a bad idea. I remember reading an article a while ago that said solar systems were “failing” because dirt was collecting on the panels and reducing… Read the entire post »
Battery Backup for Solar: One Man’s Quest to Keep the Lights on During Power Outages
Guest Post by New England Clean Energy Customer George Snyder Installing a solar photovoltaic system to generate clean, cost-effective electricity fulfilled a long-standing desire for me and my wife. On many days it provides more energy than we use. However, it could not reduce the frustration of power failures. Grid-tied solar electric systems are required… Read the entire post »
It’s Pollen Season – Do You Know What Your Panels are Doing?
Guest post by Roy Van Cleef, New England Clean Energy Technical Sales I generally tell customers that regular rain showers in New England keep solar panels clear of dust and pollen. But after a recent, particularly heavy accumulation of pollen on every exposed outdoor surface, I was curious as to the specific effect of the… Read the entire post »