Solar Energy News

The Origins of Memorial Day

 Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the ...

Conserve Water Around The House And Around The Yard.

Did you know that the average U.S. household uses 156 gallons of water per day? Californians use an average of 48 gal/day of water. That's one third of the national average use. Something to be proud of. So, this ...

Are All-Electric Homes A Good Idea?

Home builders are on a mission to build all electric homes, at least here in California. New homes and buildings that are constructed in 2023 will have to have electric supply panels and circuitry to support ...

Solar Energy rate Plan NEM3: What does it mean?

As of April 15, 2023, all new applications for solar energy will fall in to the NEM3 solar energy utility rate plan. Solar users under NEM3 will get compensated for about $0.08 / kWh for excess energy sent to the ...
Washing Away A Bad Laundry Habit.

Washing Away A Bad Laundry Habit.

By Frank Scotti, Sustainable Energy Advocate – October 01, 2022 – As far back as I can remember, my mom always used liquid laundry soap, or detergent, to wash our clothes when we were kids. Like most everything, my ...
Why Are Solar Panels Always Black Or Blue?

Why Are Solar Panels Always Black Or Blue?

You may be surprised to learn that the color of solar panels is not just an aesthetic choice by the manufacturers. Solar panels are black and blue because those are the natural colors that silicon becomes during ...
Sustainable Travel Tips: Eco Flying

Sustainable Travel Tips: Eco Flying

I recently came across an article in the AAA magazine, Westways, talking about sustainable travel. It was a bit basic and abbreviated, but touched on something that I had not really been aware of, something that I ...

Energy Efficient Remodeling Ideas for Older Homes

Energy efficiency is one of the largest topics for homeowners in recent years. Buyers want a property that will have predictable bills, and homeowners want to lower the monthly charges they’ve been seeing. If ...

What Kind of Backyard Grill Is The Most Eco-Friendly?

Grilling outdoors is not only fun and tasty, it saves energy and money. But what type of outdoor grill is most eco-friendly? We took a look at propane grills, natural gas grills, charcoal burning grills and ...

California’s Net Energy Billing Plan, NEM 3.0, Explained.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is proposing to update the net energy metering policy for solar homeowners, commonly referred to as NEM. The proposed billing plan, NEM 3.0, is complicated and ...

California Utilities Looking To Kill Rooftop Solar.

“CPUC proposed a giveaway to investor-owned utilities that would boost utility profits at the expense of energy consumers, family-supporting jobs, and California’s clean energy future.”  Sacramento, CA— Today, the ...

Home EV Charging: Do You Need A Level 2 Charge Unit?

By Frank Scotti | September 08, 2021 Home EV Charging: Do You Need A Level 2 Charge Unit? As of 2020, nearly 1.8 million EV’s were registered in the U.S., more than three times as many as in 2016, according ...

The Transition To Electric Vehicles

August 6, 2021 By the staff of The Morning Good morning. The shift toward electric vehicles in the U.S. got another boost from President Biden. ‘A vision of the future’ Executives from the three largest ...

Solarponics Awarded Porch “Best Of 2020.”

Solarponics Awarded Porch “Best Of 2020.” Porch.com is a free home improvement network that connects homeowners and renters with the right home professionals based on who neighbors have used, project and cost ...

Composting Is Way Easier Than You Think. Here’s How.

Julian Mackenzie, NRDC.org – With minimal effort, you can turn those banana peels and apple cores into gold. Let us break it down. If you’re going to ask an environmentalist why you should compost, make ...

Jokes from a solar energy nerd...

“Where do electricians get their supplies? The Ohm Depot.”

Jokes from a solar energy nerd...

“I can’t afford to pay for electricity anymore; these are some dark times.”

Jokes from a solar energy nerd...

“Why did the man eat the light bulb? He was hoping it would give him a bright idea.”

Jokes from a solar energy nerd...

“Why did the light bulb fail his math quiz? He wasn’t too bright.”

Jokes from a solar energy nerd...

“Why did the lights go out? Because they liked each other!