Power Outage: “Public Safety Power Shutoff”
If you don’t think it can happen to you, or you want to know the odds, start here. There are links to the maps the Utility is using to determine which lines to shut off during fire season.
Solar Suitable: Attic Parkour Edition
Last month I met site surveyor, Mark, at a client’s house for the site survey. SunStor Solar had put together a system proposal for the homeowners a couple of days earlier, and I was anxious to confirm their roof was suitable for solar. One of the reasons for my concern was that some other solar […]
Site Survey — Avoid Solar Surprises
As good as today’s solar design tools are, they’re no substitute for getting a site survey up close. The solar industry invented many semi-automated computer programs that start with your address and your geographical location. Using satellite photos, data from your Utility, historical weather patterns, and local solar production data, we can calculate the system […]
Solar Analysis Paralysis
Over the past few years I considered at least three solar proposals for my house before I was ready for solar. I had even accepted one proposal before canceling it the next day. But it wasn’t until I had also been in the solar industry for a year, myself, that I actually took the first […]
“How Many Solar Panels?”
— Might Be the Wrong Question There are many reasons why counting solar modules/panels doesn’t work very well as a tool for comparing one residential solar-electric system to another. Whether evaluating an existing system or a proposed new one, the primary consideration is its electric production in kWhs. How many solar modules are there is […]
Too Many Solar Panels?
It’s not unusual for someone to purchase a home with solar already on it. Because the original purchaser of the system chose how many solar panels to install based on the needs of their household, the size may not match the needs of the new one. Additionally, there can be a misunderstanding of how the […]
Four Best Ways to Obtain Electric Power
Purchase Electricity from the Utility Purchase Power from the Utility grid Old Term: usually the rest of your life, plus 30 days, or electric debt forever Term, today: until you switch to one of the below Still the most common way to get electricity Pay for the power you use Higher rates for heavy users […]
Welcome Homeowners, Buyers and Real Estate Pros, to Solar!
Solar With Sandra This is Solar With Sandra, my new blogsite to give some solar help to real estate professionals, including agents, appraisers, loan officers, escrow and title. Solar Homebuyers and sellers, or anyone interested in the practical side of electric generation using rooftop solar, can find help, here, too. I’m new to blogging on […]