researchSOLAR's blog

As it is approaching tax time we thought it might make sense to give people some help finding information on the new tax regulations regarding solar PV installation on your home which arose from the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.  Probably the best place to start for basic information and tax forms is the

Recently, our friends at Akeena Solar (the California based Solar installer) gave us a Kill A Watt™ tool which is a handy complement to a solar photovoltaic system.  With electricity bills generally rising, it is a great idea to find out exactly how much energy individual appliances in your house are using.  Simply connect these appliances to the Kill A Watt™, and it will assess how efficient they really are.  The display will count consumption by the K

One of the unexpected benefits of the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (2008) that was approved by the government and signed earlier last month by President Bush was the inclusion of the new 8-year, 30% investment tax credit (ITC) for utility scale, commercial and residential solar power systems.

1. You Can Get an Accurate Quote over the Phone.  Pricing a Solar Electric System requires detailed measurements of the roof and positioning of your home - combined with an analysis of the utility electric tariff structures in your area and your consumption patterns.  While many assumptions can be made to come up with a quick assessment of the price

Details of the San Francisco Solar Incentive Program are now available at the GoSolarSF website.  Incentives for 2008-9 will be awarded on a first-come-basis from the initial $3 million of funding provided by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The program offers a one-time incentiv

Last Tuesday, San Francisco supervisors gave final approval for a 10 year, $3.0 million (per year) fund to provide specific incentives for residents and businesses to install solar electric power systems.  The program is designed to stimulate growth in the City’s supply of renewable energy.

The next few months will be a critical time for those of you seriously interested in installing solar electric power at your home.  The $2,000 Federal energy-efficient property tax credit (residential solar property) is due to expire at the end of the year and while the House has passed HR6049 which will provide for its extension to 2014, it has yet to make it through the Senate.

From time to time, we want to take note of some of the great things that are going on in the commercial solar market and reflect on their relevance to residential consumers thinking about installing solar electric power systems.

Sizing a solar electric power system involves a fair amount of science but is also reliant upon subjective inputs on the part of the solar technician and you, the residential owner. 

If you are considering installing a solar electric (photovoltaic) power system, the best thing you can do is arrange a site visit with a qualified solar installer today – it is free and there are no obligations.