solar contractor checklist

76% increase in U.S. solar installations in Q1 2015 Solar power is gradually asserting itself in the United States as shown by growth statistics from the first quarter 2015. Between January and March, installations in the national residential market increased by 76% over the same period a year ago. We’ve also seen an 11% jump since quarter four of 2014. The biggest increases came […]… [...]

Compare Roof-Mounted with Ground-Mounted Solar Thinking about cutting energy costs by investing in solar energy for your home? The installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system can be a roof-mount, a ground-mount, or a pole-mount. Which is best for you is determined by a number of factors, perhaps even strict guidelines enforced by your homeowners’ association. Since pole-mounted panels and […] NASS [...]

Attention all Iowa Homeowners: Money-Saving Solar Incentives Abound Federal incentives are available to people in all 50 states, and they are intended to encourage people to make the switch to renewable energy sources. Iowa has additional advantages which will not only result in lower electricity costs for the long term, but they will also significantly cut the cost of solar installation. Among those […] NASS [...]

Finally, Installation of Solar Panels at the White House is a Reality In 2010, President Barack Obama’s then-Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that a demonstration of a commitment to increasing renewable power would take place in the form of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar hot water being installed on the roof of the White House. Fast forward to now, August of 2013, and it… [...]

Going Green is Fine, but will Solar Save me Money? Gone are the days when homeowners installed solar panels on their homes only because they (A) lived in a remote location or (B) wanted to help save the planet. With the soaring costs of electricity, many homeowners are installing solar panels on their rooftops because it is a good financial investment that saves them a… [...]

PA School District now has Solar Panels Installed in Five Schools Pennsylvania is making progress in the journey toward using a larger percentage of renewable sources to provide electricity for the state. State and federal incentives will help the requirements in Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) to be fulfilled. A recent milestone was reached with the completion of projects at five PA schools to have… [...]

Vermont Towns Consider Solar Projects to Help with the State’s Lofty Goal In 2011 the Vermont Department of Public Service announced an energy plan which calls for 90% of Vermont’s energy to come from renewable energy sources by the year 2050. This plan is ambitious no matter how you look at it, but perhaps especially when you consider that the 2008 energy plan aimed for… [...]

America’s Real Problem With Solar Energy NASS enjoyed this recent article by Terrill Dines that we wanted to share it with everyone. America’s Real Problem With Solar Energy Each day, our industry sits down and whittles the unsightly knots off the tree we call solar energy. We, as a group, spend more time than we should pointing to one of a […] NASS [...]

A Plane Fueled Only by Solar Energy Flies Across the U.S. In a quest reminiscent of the Wright brothers’ achievements in aviation, an airplane fueled 100% by solar power made an across-country journey that ended in Washington DC this week, though it has a bit further to travel.  The name of the spindly aircraft is Solar Impulse, and it’s the first solar-powered airplane to fly… [...]

Massachusetts Solar Installations Quadrupled What is the secret to explosive growth in the use of solar energy in the state of Massachusetts, where solar installations quadrupled in the last three years?   Check out these statistics: There were 780 solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installations in Massachusetts in 2010. There were 1,700 solar panel installations in Massachusetts in 2011. And in […] NASS [...]

5 Common Misconceptions about Solar Energy Related to Weather and Equipment All the folks at North American Solar Stores (NASS) know first-hand the many benefits of solar.  From Springdale, Arkansas, to White River Junction, Vermont, and all NASS locations in between, we know that solar power is affordable, saves money on energy costs, and makes a huge contribution to a cleaner world.  In our Wisconsin,… [...]

Energy Trust of Oregon Increases Solar Incentives for Businesses Energy Trust of Oregon, an independent non-profit organization under the authorization of the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC), has been effecting change toward energy efficiency since its inception in 2002. It was announced last month that solar incentives, which have created market momentum for residential solar installations, have now increased for businesses in Oregon. Solar […]… [...]

The Solar Energy Industry Shines in New Report It’s been a great few years for the solar energy industry, and the good news keeps on coming. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) Energy Infrastructure Update, solar energy has accounted for all new utility electricity generation capacity added to the U.S. grid in March. In just the month of March 2013, more […] NASS [...]

Solar Energy in PA & NJ: A Bargain for Ratepayers Why should residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey switch to solar? To answer this question, we simply need to take a look at a new study released by the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA) and the Pennsylvania Solar Energy Industries Association (PASEIA). According to the findings solar power, in both PA and NJ, delivers… [...]

Rebates & Tax Credits Make “Going Solar” a Viable Option in Massachusetts   Many states across the country are taking initiatives to “go green” in order to combat environmental changes and the ensuing macroeconomic consequences; and Massachusetts is leading the way. Residents and businesses are beginning to take advantage of the tax credits, rebates, and other incentives that MA offers for switching to clean energy like… [...]