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01 Feb 2016
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Solar Power Popularity And Frequency

Amazingly, but not surprisingly 85% of all solar power systems installed in homes are in California. California is often a leader in new technologies including those that make energy production and usage more efficient and those that are environmentally friendly. With the cost of solar power having come down considerably over the last few years thanks in large part to the technology having advanced rapidly in the same time frame there’s never been a better time to have solar panels installed in your home.

SOLAR SERVICE WITH A SMILE
When you contact us here at SolarGem you’ll be greeted by an experienced and courteous individual who will go over all of the benefits that solar power brings with it. He/she will also field any questions and concerns you may have and help put your mind at ease with regards to the technology and even the initial cost of installation. Once you commit to having a new solar power system installed your property will be inspected in order to determine the best location for your new solar panels. We will also go over with you just how much your energy bills will decrease and assist you with tax credits and even state rebates. Once all these things have been completed we will install your new solar panels and let you begin saving energy!

SOLAR POWER PROS AND CONS
With regards to the pros and cons of utilizing solar power there are far more pros than there are cons though in an effort to be objective and fair to our customers we will cover both. In the pro department’s solar energy does not produce any pollution which means there’s less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide filling our atmosphere. Additionally solar power systems operate very quietly decreasing noise pollution dramatically. One of the most impressive benefits of having solar panels installed is that the tax breaks and state rebates mentioned previously often pay for up to as much as 40% of the cost of the system itself. The only real con associated with installing new solar panels is the initial costs associated with doing so though this can be offset by tax breaks and rebates. Additionally those who live in volatile climates and those whose homes don’t see much sun won’t benefit as much from solar power as those who live in say Orange County.

08 Dec 2015
Solar Powered Car
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Solar Powered Cars Of Today And Tomorrow

While you won’t find them on the streets or the freeways of today, solar cars have existed for roughly 20 years or so. Although the technology surrounding solar power has advanced dramatically whereas homes and commercial structures are concerned the technology is still somewhat impractical for regular vehicular travel. That’s not to say that solar powered cars aren’t functional but the amount of power that must be generated in order to meet the power needs of today’s cars is difficult to generate on such a small body and in order to utilize many photovoltaic cells as possible, makers of solar cars often build vehicles that are only capable of carrying one or two persons.

Although they aren’t commonplace on today’s streets and highways the solar power cars of tomorrow will feature an increased amount of solar technology. At some point in the not-too-distant future cars will operate entirely on solar energy and will be more than capable of generating power needed to not only run a car’s engine but address internal power needs such as air-conditioning, movie and audio playback, among other things.

Modern solar vehicles, although not extremely powerful, run efficiently when the sun shines brightly though they tend to run into problems on cloudy days and during the night. Recently scientists working with solar technologies and those who build solar vehicles have been experimenting with battery backups similar to the ones used in houses and places of business. These batteries essentially store gathered sunshine and convert it into electricity only when needed. These batteries are composed mainly of nickel-metal hybrids though they sometimes are made from lithium-ion and lithium polymers. Solar powered cars require these special types of batteries because the lead acid batteries found in more traditional cars are far too heavy.

Modern solar powered vehicles are all about efficiency and to reduce the amount of power needed to operate these vehicles the majority of solar powered cars currently only utilize three wheels. Three wheeled solar powered cars typically operate in the range of 80 to 170 volts. In addition to utilizing specialized batteries and just three wheels solar powered cars are designed to collect power when they are not in use. This collection never ceases and helps these breakthrough vehicles gather enough power for their next trip. With efficiency being the goal and power consumption a big concern, don’t expect to find things like iPods, DVD or Blu-Ray players, or any other modern amenities in solar powered cars. Until technology advances to point where power can be gathered and converted at a higher rate these things will be relegated only to more traditional vehicles.

Check out the video below brought to you by Sunswift
Although solar powered cars are not practical for everyday use there are several types of vehicles that utilize photovoltaic panels rather well and do their job efficiently. One such example is golf carts. Many modern golf carts utilize solar panels to carry golfers from one hole to the next. While golfers are busy playing the game these golf carts are continuously collecting and converting sunlight to energy for their next trip. Solar panels work well on golf carts because they’re not driving for long distances and the long periods of rest they in between holes gives them time to charge up.

So when exactly will solar power be of practical use for everyday vehicles? That question is a difficult one to answer though we can confidently say that over the next decade or two solar power technologies will change so much and advance so rapidly that it’s hard not to imagine people driving solar powered cars to work, to school, and to the grocery store. How exactly solar power will be utilized in cars of the future is impossible to predict though the technology and its usage will become far more efficient than it is today.

11 Oct 2015
Leading By Example Solar Power
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Leading By Example: Solar Power

Reliance on fossil fuels is slowly becoming a thing of the past. While in years past the move away from fossil fuels was much slower modern technologies such as solar power are making that move easier and faster for all involved. While the technology and benefits surrounding solar power are certainly attractive many of its adopters utilize it in order to lead by example. Solar power is no longer something that only the wealthy can afford nor is it something that only “hippies” want to use. The truth of the matter is that solar power is being adopted by homeowners who want to demonstrate that solar power can not only save homeowners money but allow them to do something good for the environment as well. Utilizing solar power also helps preserve natural resources.

Homeowners who elect to have a modern solar power installed at their home will enjoy a multitude of benefits. These benefits include going green, reduction of their monthly energy costs, and immediate and often very valuable rebates. In fact there are very substantial financial rebates for any California homeowner who has a solar power system installed at their home. While there is certainly some paperwork for homeowners to complete prior to receiving the state rebates, many solar power contractors get that process started and/or help homeowners fill out the paperwork quickly. In some cases the state will front a portion or the cost of installation in order to put solar power in the hands of homeowners. Stored and unused solar power can often be sold back to local power companies as well.

Of course the most popular reason for adopting solar power, at least amongst homeowners, is the reduction of their monthly energy costs and consumption. The amount of money a homeowner and his/her family saves by utilizing solar power depends largely on the type of system they have installed. Obviously the more expensive and elaborate a system is the more energy it can collect, convert, and store for use but even the most modest of modern solar power systems will help homeowners reduce their monthly electric bills dramatically. Modern families utilize a large variety of different electrical appliances ranging from old standards like a washer and dryer to more modern ones such as computers, large television sets, and mobile devices. Solar power allows homeowners and their families to utilize these appliances regularly without the fear of having to pay an exorbitant sum for doing so at the end of the month.

If there’s any downside to having a solar power system installed at a home it has to be the initial purchasing and installation costs. While the rapid advancements in and rising popularity of the technology have helped drive costs way down in recent years these initial costs can often disuade some homeowners, even those with deep pockets. Homeowners need to keep in mind however that despite its sometimes high initial costs, solar power systems begin paying for themselves immediately. Not only by reducing energy costs but by way of rebates and tax breaks as well. Homeowners should also remember to find out if they qualify for financing that will cover the initial costs of set up. The initial costs associated with producing and installing a solar power system may seem steep to homeowners but keeping in mind all of the aforementioned things the purchase of a solar power system should be more than justified.

20 Sep 2015
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Solar Power: What to Expect

Solar Power: What to ExpectIt is interesting to note that eighty five percent of all solar power systems in the United States are installed within the borders of California. There were many reasons California has seen such tremendous interest and growth with regards solar power though perhaps none are more prevalent than the many benefits that come along with having a solar power system installed there. More so than any other state, California offers both home and business owners a number of tax benefits and rebates to those who elect to have solar power installed at their home or place of business. Furthermore and in many cases the state of California can assist in covering as much as 40% of the initial costs associated with solar power installation.

In addition to being one of the largest pro-solar power states in the entire Union, California has one of the largest environmentally friendly and conscious populations. More so than any other state a large portion of California’s residents and business owners want to take advantage of solar power not so much for the financial benefits associated with it but rather to help reduce their carbon footprint and to do something friendly for the planet. This fact alone is thought by some to be the primary driving force behind the sharp rise in solar power popularity within the state.

Home and business owners in California who elect to move forward with a solar power purchase will begin the process by searching for a reliable and trusted solar power vendor as well as installation experts. In many cases those that make solar power systems available are also installation experts and can address all of an individuals solar power needs. After a consultation with a solar power expert an individual can expect to receive a visit from a representative of the company they been speaking with. This representative will carefully inspect their home or place of business to determine exactly where solar panels need to be placed for maximum efficiency and aesthetic purposes. Individuals can also expect the professionals they are dealing with to go over their current energy bills and compare them with their forecasted bills in order to help them understand exactly how much they will be saving. Once the consultation, bill review, and visit have all been completed the solar power experts an individual has selected will help them obtain and submit building permits as well as the paperwork necessary for tax credits and rebates. They will also likely go over any warranties that are included in a solar power system that they’ve either sold and/or are installing.

As with anything in life there are pros and cons to solar power, though the pros far outweigh the cons especially when you consider how rapid the technology surrounding solar power has advanced. Home and business owners that utilize solar panels will consume far less fuel than they ever have, will receive state tax breaks and rebates, may receive financial assistance to help them cover the cost of installation, and will be doing something fantastic for the environment. The only real cons attached to solar power these days are the initial cost of installation and just how effective solar panels are for homes and commercial structures that reside in climates that don’t see the sun very often. The decision to have solar panels installed at home or place of business usually isn’t a difficult one to make though the aforementioned things need to be considered and evaluated before any final decision is made.

01 Sep 2015
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Solar Power Advancements And Effectiveness

Solar Power Advancements And EffectivenessThe technologies utilized in solar power systems have changed tremendously since the 1950’s. In fact so efficient are modern solar power systems that they are nearly 4 to 5 times more powerful than their predecessors of yesteryear. What this essentially means is that home and business owners can have solar power implemented at either their residence or place of business and save more money than ever before on energy consumption. Moreover the solar power systems found in years and decades past didn’t always generate 100% of a businesses or residences power needs though these days even the most modest solar power systems are capable of achieving his feet.

The popularity of solar power is soaring thanks to the aforementioned advances in solar technology and in part because of the rapid technological enhancements have helped drive costs down. With so much focus placed on the ability to be energy independent and keeping consumption costs low, it’s very common for individuals to overlook several other facts about solar technologies. Unbeknownst to many home and business owners the state of California as well as the United States federal government offer financial incentives to those who elect to have solar power systems installed. In some cases up to 40% of the initial cost of the system and installation is covered by these incentives. Home and business owners also frequently overlook the significant increase in property value is solar power systems carry with them. Any home or place of business that utilizes solar power rises in value dramatically very quickly.

Again, with so much focus placed on solar power saving individuals money and allowing them to be environmentally conscious it’s easy to forget exactly what solar power does for homes and/or places of business. Even the most inexpensive solar power systems these days can address the high demand for power that are found in modern offices and homes. Whether it’s heating, air conditioning, lighting, computing, or refrigeration solar power systems can handle the heavy workloads of modern appliances and technological devices.

While remaining excited about saving money on energy consumption and remembering what solar power can do for home or place of business it’s time to talk installation. Installation of solar power systems, including panels, is generally handled by professionals as the job requires not only a knowledge of how solar power works but precise measurements and knowledge of special equipment. Fortunately home and business owners will often find that their preferred solar vendor also offers affordable installation services. Generally speaking once installation is scheduled the job is completed within a matter of hours, at least whereas homes are concerned. Installing solar power into commercial structures however may require more time should a building be particularly large or have unusually high energy requirements.