South Carolina customers of Duke Energy Carolinas could soon be facing drastic rate-hikes as part of a proposal made by the power company last year. Should the proposal be approved by legislators, there will be a 12 percent rate increase beginning June 1, 2019. On average, this rate increase will cost customers an additional $15.57/month for power (almost $200 more/year). Fortunately for Duke Energy customers, there is still time to avoid these likely increases. Solar energy is the most efficient and effective way to remove yourself from the grid and become energy independent, while also contributing to a cleaner environment. Solar energy systems use the sun as their source by converting its energy into usable electricity for your home or business. And with rapid advancements in technology, the efficiency of solar systems has skyrocketed. Not only can PV cells absorb more energy,...

Solar power. To most people this term probably evokes images of rooftop solar panels on homes and businesses, or huge solar panel arrays glistening in the sun in photovoltaic power stations, delivering utility-scale power to electricity grids. To be sure, these applications of solar energy are a crucial component of the renewable energy movement, but there are other, less obvious places, where solar power is making significant inroads into our lives. The way we travel, for example.

In our modern world, travel has become an integral part of how we live, work, and play. And solar power is appearing more and more as a viable power source for our forms of travel. Let’s take a look at some of these.

Boats and ships are one form of travel where solar energy has already proven to be incredibly effective. Boats are always on the water, and when...

by Geddy Friedman

So you come home from a long day’s work. You’re exhausted, stressed out, and just want to have a relaxing quiet night. You stop by your mailbox on your way to the front door. You walk inside, take your jacket off, and have a seat at the kitchen table. You’d rather grab a drink and sit in front of the television, but you figure you’d better not let the mail pile up and add to any stress at home too. So you sort through the mail. Two credit card offers, a postcard from your extended family on vacation, some junk mail, and… what’s this? Another electricity bill? Last month you paid $281 and you were upset about that. So how much is it this month? $350? Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten that spare refrigerator. Or maybe you should have gone solar.

Utility...

by Geddy Friedman

At present, utility companies across the nation are facing a changing landscape. Contrary to previous predictions, utility companies—which have for generations taken for granted their leverage as providers of electricity—are now looking for means to remain relevant and cope with the way homeowners are choosing to power their homes. Over the past decade, solar energy has been rising to prominence, transforming from inside-out the entire dynamic of how Americans and people the world over are generating their electricity.

At present, many cities and states across the U.S. have even set goals to achieve a particular solar carve out (or solar generation quota) by 2020 and 2030. With as much as solar has done to make a difference...

Green Solar Technologies's Director of Commercial Sales, Barry Durand, and Design Engineering Manager, Yash Ganti, were recently interviewed and featured in a blog on aurorasolar.com . In the interview they discuss the differences between the process of installing a residential and commercial solar energy system.

Read the full blog linked here: Original Aurora Blog

Or read the full blog transcipt below:

"What are the core differences in serving residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) solar markets as a solar contractor? If you’ve ever thought about expanding your residential solar contracting work to serve commercial customers as well, you might find it helpful to understand what these sectors have in common and where they diverge.

To get the lowdown on some of the key differences in solar contracting for residential and C&I solar...

Tax season is fast approaching, and that means it’s time to take advantage of the solar investment tax credit (ITC). If you have purchased a residential or commercial solar energy system, then I have good news--you may be eligible to receive 30 percent back of what you paid for your system!

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created a 30 percent ITC for residential and commercial solar energy systems as an incentive to increase solar installations. The ITC went into effect in 2006 and it has worked tremendously well. So much so, in fact, that it was extended eight years by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and again in 2015 by the Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Since the ITC was introduced solar installations have increased by over 1,600 percent. The ITC is currently set at 30 percent through 2019 but will drop to 26 percent...

The holiday season is here, and it’s all about giving. You give to others, why not give something to yourself? And what better way to treat yourself than with a gift that actually saves you big money? A solar energy system is a proven way to greatly reduce and even eliminate your electricity bills. The average monthly cost of electricity per home in 2017 was approximately $112. Multiply that by 12 and you’re looking at a very substantial $1,344/year. That’s an extra $1,344 to save, spend or invest however you see fit. On average, a solar panel system saves homeowners upwards of $20,000 in only 20 years. Now, that’s a gift with enduring rewards! Solar energy systems have become extremely efficient and have never been more cost-effective (and cheap). In fact, solar prices have dropped a whopping 99% in the past 40 years. Adding to that bright news, this holiday season ignites...