So you want to go off grid? Here’s what you should know before you invest. First, get the right equipment. Batteries are essential in keeping your home running on days where sunshine isn’t abundant. If you truly want to go off-grid, you can’t be left at the mercy of the weather. That means owning [...]
The NEM Successor program is under development by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). NEM applicants take service from this program when PG&E reaches the NEM program cap. PG&E files a monthly report with the CPUC in accordance with Public Utilities (PU) Code Section 2827(c)(4)(C). The NEM Program Limit Report provides the progress toward the [...]
Going solar is a big commitment an a big investment. Changing net metering rates (how you get credited for energy you create) and how far you live from the grid can make or break your decision to go off-grid or use a grid-tied system. A grid-tied system is connected to your local utility. You [...]
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing helps property owners that want solar but can’t afford the initial costs. PACE financing pays for 100% of the costs and allows up to 20 years to pay it back with low interest rates. If you want solar for your home, agriculture, hotel, retail, industrial, non-profit, PACE can [...]
It is good to be energy efficient. However, in off-grid PV systems, being energy efficient is a requirement. Here are a few things you can do to limit your energy usage and get more out of your off-grid PV system. Installing Solatubes skylights can reduce your electricity usage by allowing you to turn your lights [...]
If you are interested in adding a PV system to your business or home and want to enroll in the NEM program, you should start your paperwork now. NEM 2.0 is going to bring some big changes. The NEM Program, which allows residential, commercial, and agricultural customers to install and interconnect a renewable generator [...]
Read this feature article written about us in Upgraded Living. There’s nothing we enjoy more at Upgraded Living than watching a homegrown business take flight, and we’ve had the distinct pleasure of watching Sean McCreary and his company Urban Design Solar, do just that over the past year. Having built some [...]
Action News Now published an article about PACE financing. Our own Sean McCreary was interviewed for the article. Read Original Low income and middle class families who may not have been able to afford solar energy systems may now be able to take their homes off the grid thanks to a new [...]
You can read all about why Armstrong Cabinets went solar and how their experience working with us. Originally published in Upgraded Living. A biology major and chemistry minor at Chico State, Scott Armstrong had aspirations to use what he had learned to pursue a career either in ecology or with [...]
The US is getting rid of dirty energy and going green. There are now one million solar installations nationwide in both the commercial and private sectors. A large part of this huge boom is due to technology companies embracing clean energy. Benefits of going green It’s good for the planet, but there are also monetary benefits. Homes [...]