By mtvSolar | October 16, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Choosing a contractor to install your solar panels is an important decision. Done right, solar is a fantastic energy source that will save you money for decades and provide a more sustainable future for the planet. A poor installation, however, could cause more problems than it is worth. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the trade… Continue Reading Solar Installation Best Practices: Contractor Qualifications
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | October 5, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
If you haven’t paid attention to what’s happening in the solar industry, you’re missing out on substantial growth that’s on its own fast-paced path. Despite political tug-of-wars over using eco-friendly energy sources, solar technology continues to thrive above the political fray. Recent statistics show the growth of solar panels has continued on a steady growth… Continue Reading The Future of Solar: Technologies and Thriving Above Politics
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 28, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
This ground mount array in Harpers Ferry, WV consists of 24 SolarWorld 300w modules coupled to Schneider charge controllers and hybrid battery inverter. The battery bank is a DEKA Unigy II industrial-grade rack of 2v cells for 48v nominal. Should there be a power failure, the critical loads will keep operating without so much as a… Continue Reading 7.2kW Battery Backup in Jefferson County, West Virginia
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 28, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
This all black 4.34kW array in Alexandria, VA consists of 14 SilFab 310w modules coupled to SolarEdge optimizers and inverter.
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 20, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
If you live in certain parts of West Virginia, chances are that your electricity rates may be about to increase. In a recent application to the state Public Service Commission, the Appalachian Power Company requested a revenue increase of $114.6 million. While the commission has 300 days to consider the request, should it receive approval,… Continue Reading Electricity Rate Hikes Planned in Appalachia – How You Can Fight Back and Save Money with Solar
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 13, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
This 10.8kW system in Winchester, VA consists of 36 SolarWorld 300w modules coupled to Schneider Charge Controllers and Schneider XW Inverters. With a 25kWh DEKA Unigy II battery bank it’ll keep the critical loads operational without so much as a hiccup during a power failure. During normal operation, excess energy is pushed back to the… Continue Reading 10.8kW Solar Battery Backup in Winchester, Virginia
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 12, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Clean energy and efficiency is trending. Homes and businesses alike are opting for Energy Star appliances and green energy generation such as solar. The reason changes person to person and company to company. Some have a deep concern for the environment. Others like the idea of self-sustainability. Everyone, though, likes the idea of saving. And… Continue Reading Solar + Efficient Heat Pump = A Faster ROI
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 10, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Most people don’t associate a hurricane with West Virginia and surrounding areas. While states like Florida are more prone to hurricanes, the Mid-Atlantic region is no stranger to the heavy rains and high winds associated with tropical storms. One of the many destructive patterns from such storms is the loss of electricity. Ironically, it is… Continue Reading A Hurricane in West Virginia? How to Prepare For An East Coast Hurricane
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | September 5, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
As we approach the end of 2018, thoughts of claiming the solar tax credit inevitably come up. The tax code and its system of credits and deductions is a complex maze to navigate. The better you understand it, the more you can claim back from your taxes. For the average American, this can turn into… Continue Reading How To Collect Your Solar Tax Credit
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | August 29, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Many businesses already have natural gas connections for heating or backup generators. Not only are whole cities piped-in at once, it has also been a popular alternative source of energy for over a century. Natural gas is great for providing heat and powering a local electric generator, however another major advantage is that it doesn’t… Continue Reading The Commercial One-Two No-Lights-Out Punch: Solar with Natural Gas Generator
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | August 22, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
The electric car market continues to grow, despite taking a long road in evolving to a time when we’ll all be driving them. That time may soon be upon us, and it’s good news on an environmental level. However, it doesn’t mean it won’t pose some big challenges in how they’ll be charged. As we’ve… Continue Reading The Electrical Challenge of Mass EV Adoption: Three Major Issues to Consider
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | August 15, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
As the days have started to grow noticeably shorter, thoughts of the coming winter creep into mind. In the mid-Atlantic area, winter can be a dreary time of year. It gets dark earlier, and temperatures get frigid. Many people wonder what effect this has on solar production. Do solar panels even work in the winter?… Continue Reading Do Solar Panels Work in Winter?
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | July 31, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
There is no way around it, maintaining a home is a massive undertaking. It takes patience, hard work, and considerable planning. However, if certain aspects of home upkeep are handled routinely, significant advantages can be seen at the time of sale. This can include everything from getting regular maintenance, such as power washing or repainting,… Continue Reading What Is PEARL Home Solar Certification And Why You Should Have One
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | July 24, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
This 16.8kW array in Bluemont, VA consists of 48 LG 350w modules coupled to SolarEdge optimizers and inverters. One inverter is a StorEdge with LG battery backup.
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | July 18, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
With the help of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and continuing advances in solar power technology, the price of installing solar has decreased by 70% since 2010, according to SEIA data. This is one of the main reasons why solar power has become a viable power alternative for residential homes. Over the last decade,… Continue Reading Benefits of Solar Power for Rural, Suburban, and Urban Homes
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | July 12, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Solar panels are seen as a green innovation. They cost a fair bit up front, but last for a very long time. Most manufacturers offer a 25-year warranty, and state that panels should still be above 80 percent of their rated power output after 25 years. However, there is solid evidence that many panels will… Continue Reading Can Solar Panels Be Recycled?
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | July 5, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
“We have a technological problem; it demands a technological solution.” So wrote Donald R. Sadoway, a materials chemistry professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and co-founder of the battery company Ambri, Inc., in a letter to the editor of The New York Times this past February. The topic of Dr. Sadoway’s letter was the “intermittency”… Continue Reading Alternative Energy Storage Technologies
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | June 28, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Most people know what a solar panel is, and they know that it appears as a flat, generally dark bluish unit with a glass surface. However, a large percentage of people do not understand how these panels are made, be it the complex factories needed to create them or the relatively simple inputs that become… Continue Reading The Anatomy of a Solar Panel
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | June 26, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
Have you ever found yourself lamenting your energy bill? If you operated a large organization like a business or school, you are well aware that this comes with an equally large cost for power. Facilities large enough to house all your employees, clients, and functions require many cubic feet worth of illumination and climate control, not to… Continue Reading Saving Business Energy Costs by Generating Your Own Power
Read MoreBy mtvSolar | June 21, 2018 | Category mtvSolar
This 25.2kW ground mounted array in Boyce, VA consists of 72 SilFab 350w modules optimized by SolarEdge. On Earth Day in 1981, Ron Light stood with a classmate on the grassy eastern slopes of the famed Beaver Stadium at the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania, and watched the sunrise. The incident at Three… Continue Reading 25.2kW Ground Mount Array in Clarke County, Virginia
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