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With rising utility costs and more awareness of sustainable consumption, there is a renewed interest in solar energy. Fortunately, solar panel costs have declined over the years, making it a feasible option for those hoping to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills. However, as solar panel installation is yet to be widespread, many people are understandably concerned about its process and cost.

Solar panels offer homeowners a virtually unlimited source of energy: the sun. This setup requires special equipment and figuring out the best system for your needs to make sure you power your home at a lower cost. Here is what you need to know abo...

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If you are considering using solar panels as the power source for your home, you are not alone. In fact, there are more than 2 million homes in the US that are now benefiting from this power source.

Because it’s going to be a significant investment on your part, it’s natural that you have a lot of questions regarding solar panels. For instance, if you’re thinking about getting solar panels in Jacksonville, you’re probably wondering how many panels you would need and how much that would cost.

Before answering that, it’s essential that you first understand how much energy your household consumes in a day:

How Much Energy Do Al...

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Solar energy has grown more popular in recent years. In fact, a recent poll reveals that many Americans overwhelmingly favor the use of renewable energy and want the US to transition to renewable energy sources.

Despite its popularity, there are still quite a few misconceptions and myths that disparage solar energy as a viable source of energy for residential spaces. But how much of this is grounded in facts and science? To help answer this question, we’ve put together a list of the four biggest myths and misconceptions about residential solar energy in hopes of shedding some light on this innovative energy resource.

1. Solar Energy is Expensive

One fact...

Photo by William Mead

Solar energy isn't a new concept in the market, or in history for that matter. Before its electrical application, sunlight has long been a versatile tool in technology and architecture. In fact, French physicist Edmond Becquerel found out photovoltaic cells' potential as an alternative energy source way back in 1839. However, that doesn't mean that the past few decades haven't brought the technology to new heights.

The right time to invest in solar energy

Environmentally friendly products and work practices are receiving the attention they needed now that was necessary several decades ago. Like how solar energy isn't a novel discovery, Earth’s continual deterior...

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Many people want to have zero energy homes these days, to keep electricity costs down and as a way to become more eco-friendly. Solar panels are an effective way to decrease your energy bills while keeping your carbon footprint small. However, they don't typically store excess energy for later use, which means you have to do energy-intensive tasks in the morning.

You can work around this by adding a battery system to your home. Batteries let you maximize your solar energy and use it during cloudy days or outages. Meanwhile, others use it to disconnect entirely from the grid. If you are on the fence about buying solar-powered batteries for your home, here a...

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Climate change data is fluctuating daily, and experts postulate that we’re working on borrowed time. It’s getting hotter or colder depending on where you live, with seasons becoming difficult to forecast. To reverse this, people turn to only one solution. It’s all over the news, and quite frankly, the new and valuable trend—a green and sustainable life.

More and more people now gather information on how they can reduce their carbon footprint, in all imaginable ways. One of the most prominent solutions is a zero-energy home, and contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to own a million-dollar home to achieve it. Even tiny hom...

The falling costs of renewables has helped shift political winds around power generation

Solar energy panels for a well pump in Wilcox, Arizona. Credit: Bruce Gifford Getty Images

Bob Burns didn’t always love renewables. Shortly after he was elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2012, the conservative Republican voted to kill what remained of the state’s subsidy for rooftop solar installations.

But last week Burns managed something only a few blue-state climate hawks have pulled off: He helped pass a rule calling for the state to eliminate carbon emissions from its power grid by 2050.

In doing so, Arizona becomes only the seventh state to pass a law requiring its utiliti...

Insulation can help to keep the heat inside your house during the winter and keep it out during the summer months. And this can help to reduce the energy bills in your Texas home. According to Energy.gov, you should be insulating on several levels of your home.

In the attic, you should insulate unfinished attic spaces, between the studs and knee walls, between studs and rafters, and ceilings with cold areas overhead.

Next, you should insulate exterior walls – and this includes those walls between the living spaces and storage areas, unheated garages, and shed roofs – in addition to foundation walls.

Floor insulation is also important, and unheated garage and central crawl spaces sh...

Zero energy homes (or net zero energy homes) are growing in popularity. Whether you’ve heard of them or not, they’re here to stay, according to Julio Daniel Hernadez, CEO of EnLight.Energy, which provides home energy monitoring, energy efficiency upgrades and solar power production.

“Cities worldwide are setting their clean energy goals and committing to becoming net-zero energy towns,” said Hernandez.

He says some countries (for example, Iceland, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Norway, Austria, Brazil, and Denmark) are at – or very close to – 100 percent renewable power. But this isn’t just a trend in other countries.

“Six cities in the U.S. – Asp...

A new year means a fresh start, a time for change. While this mindset typically applies to self-improvement, it’s equally as important for your home. As the New Year begins, this is the perfect opportunity to explore how you can implement a more eco-conscious approach in and around the house.

There are many different things you can do – some big, some small – to start making a difference. Some are minor lifestyle adjustments while others are long-term investments that will ultimately save both money and valuable resources. To help you get started, we asked experts on eco-friendly living for their best tips for creating a greener and healthier home.

1. Embrace green-certified ...