Blog
Guides, explainers, and news about home energy.
Latest blogs
View all
What San Diego Homeowners Should Know About the SDCP Battery Rebate
A guide to San Diego Community Power's Solar Battery Savings program: who qualifies, how much the rebate pays, and what the five-year commitment means.

SolarEdge Monitoring Is Free: But Your Installer Controls Access
SolarEdge monitoring is free, but the installer controls your account. What to do if you are locked out, and how to get access to your own solar data.

Why Charging Your EV at Low Power From Solar Panels Wastes More Energy Than You Think
Low-power EV charging from solar panels can waste 15-35% of energy due to fixed overhead and converter inefficiency. Here is what the data shows.

Why Solar Systems Are Sized at 9.9 kW: The 10 kW Threshold Explained
Solar systems are often sized at 9.9 kW to stay under the 10 kW interconnection threshold. Here is why that matters and what it means for your system.

Why Big Solar Companies Skip Colorado Mountain Towns Like Nederland
Snow loads, tree shading, complex roofs, and fire codes deter large solar installers from Colorado mountain towns like Nederland. What to do instead.

Can You Add New Batteries to an Old Battery Bank? What the Research Says
Why mixing old and new batteries in a parallel bank reduces lifespan for both, and what to do instead when expanding solar or off-grid battery storage.

MC4 Solar Connectors Look Identical Across Brands: They Are Not
MC4 connectors from different brands look identical but differ in tolerances and materials. Mixing them risks fires and NEC code violations.

Solar Panels in Fairbanks, Alaska: Why Steep Beats Vertical
How steep should solar panels be in Fairbanks? Research says 70 degrees, not vertical. The full story on tilt, bifacial panels, and winter output.

We Published a Deep Dive on Pure vs. Modified Sine Wave Inverters
We published a guide on pure vs. modified sine wave inverters: which appliances work, which don't, and what that means for solar backup systems.

Stop Chasing Efficiency: Why Price Per Watt Matters More for Solar
Efficiency tells you power per square foot, not total output. For most homeowners with adequate roof space, optimizing for price per watt delivers better financial returns than chasing the highest efficiency rating.
Explore by topic
Keep going
Put what you've learned into action with our free tools.
Stay in the loop
Get solar tips, product updates, and industry news delivered to your inbox
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.



