Sierra Club Green Home

Any company that installs solar electric systems (also known as photovoltaic, or PV, systems) can help you figure out if PV makes sense for your household. But as with any home improvement project, buyer beware. While reputable companies won’t try to talk you into a deal that doesn’t make sense, unscrupulous companies may overpromise on performance, overestimate how big a system you need, or underestimate potential problems at your site.

Solar electric systems power a vast array of items, from credit card-sized calculators to communications satellites, highway traffic signs, and homes, schools, and warehouses. Also called photovoltaic (PV) systems, they work by converting light energy into electricity. “Photo” comes from the Greek word for light, while “voltaic” refers to the production of electricity.

Chris Prelitz with New Leaf America take us through the basics of Solar Economics. Chris discusses solar electric panels and ways to save money on your utility bills.

Only a few Earth Days ago, people felt there was relatively little they could do to combat climate change. But today more and more homeowners are finding their slice of energy independence by installing solar power at home. Some myths about solar still persist, however. Read this piece by Solar City’s CEO which busts them all!

You probably have a dark secret. No, not the one you begged your friends to take to their grave. It’s the one in your kitchen, or bathroom or hallway. It’s that spot that always seems to be dark, even with the lights on. Unless your home was optimally designed to take advantage of natural light, odds are you have a few dim spots that could use some brightening.

We know you have lots of questions about home solar electric and hot water installations. It’s one of the more perplexing issues facing somebody trying to have a green home. So, we’d like to help you. That’s why we’ve partnered with Cooler Planet, a leader in referring green-minded citizens to solar installers. With our partnership, [...]