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Sunnect Solar to participate in the VegFest Los Angeles  Sunnect Solar, the California-based solar lighting company that is at the forefront in encouraging residences and commercial establishments to go green with solar energy, has confirmed their participation in VegFest Los Angeles. This popular vegan event will be held on May 1st, 2016 at Woodley Park in Lake Balboa, LA. Sunnect Solar will have a booth at the event to promote the benefits of solar energy among participants and to showcase their products and services. VegFest is the annual vegan food, info and networking extravaganza presented by VegMichigan. For vegans, it is an eagerly-awaited event which celebrates the joys and benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Held in spring, every year, VegFest showcases a wide array of vegan-related activities, exhibitors and of course, vegan food. VegFest L.A. will provide sponsors and participants an amazing opportunity to display their eco-friendly products and services to an intelligent and well-informed, audience. VegFest, L.A. is also about healthy living, the environment, animals, and more. Sunnect Solar specializes in managing the entire solar installation or lighting retrofit process with their unmatched expertise in this domain and their out-of-the-box solar energy solutions. The company is committed to making the world a greener place and it aims to achieve this by encouraging and helping individuals and organizations reduce their carbon footprints by switching to LED lighting and solar energy systems. The green-powered vegan festival presents Sunnect Solar the ideal platform to share with the participants, their innovative ideas and approaches to energy efficiency using solar power. The competencies of Sunnect Solar cover every aspect of solar electricity and LED lighting including development and planning, financing, engineering and design, construction and project management and operation and maintenance. At VegFest Los Angeles, 2016, Sunnect Solar will be among the leading exhibitors. The full-service solar and lighting experts will be showing participants how to save on electric usage with LED lighting and generate the rest of their energy needs with solar. They will be showcasing their unique and innovative products at Sunnect Solar booth and also spread the company’s eco-friendly message – “LED First, Solar Second.” The team at Sunnect Solar Lighting has a vast amount of combined experience developing and building solar and lighting projects. Contact us today to see how we can help get your project off the ground and on track to success. We are excited to meet you at the event……………………

Solar panel systems are a fantastic way to not only create clean energy but also to decrease your independence on the grid. To further this independence, several companies are introducing home energy storage systems that are sure to change everything.  While solar panels are generating power for you during the day you may not be there to use it. You most likely arrive home at night when it’s necessary to use energy from the grid. With a home energy storage system this nightly need to tap into the grid decreases. The way it works is that the power your solar panels produce during the day that go unused get stored in your home energy storage system instead of going out onto the grid. Your storage system most likely won’t be able to store all of it so some of the energy will find its way to the grid. Then, once you get home at night, you can rely on the energy your own solar panels produced that day instead of using energy from the grid. There are apps available that make it possible to analyze what is more affordable at any given moment; grid energy or your stored energy. Advancements in energy storage technology are popping up rapidly such as the Tesla Powerball 2.0 and the LG Chem RESU. If you are thinking about energy storage for your home be sure to do significant research as there are more players in the market than just Tesla. There are sure to be many significant advancements in this sector over the coming years as people demand more options for grid independence. This demand coupled with states and utilities clean energy goals are all pointing towards continued introductions of amazing energy storage solutions.

Are you roof-impaired? Sometimes installing a solar panel system on your own rooftop isn’t possible. You might have significant shading or your roof may face the wrong direction. In this case, community solar may be a great option. California is one of several states creating policies that encourage community solar, also referred to as solar gardens, such as virtual net metering (VNM). This is similar to net metering for individual households in that you are rewarded credits on your bill for solar produced by the community solar projects you are part of. As with rooftop solar, community solar is either ownership-based or subscription-based. In an ownership-based system, members own an amount in proportion to their annual energy usage. This is very similar to owning your own rooftop solar panel system. The trick with community solar ownership is that the development, organization and taxes can get complicated depending on the structure and specific situation. The other option for community solar is a subscription-based setup. This means that as a participant you are essentially just receiving discounted energy rates but don’t own any portion of the system. It’s similar to leasing a rooftop solar panels system in that respect. No tax incentives are available when subscribing but it is less complicated usually. Benefits of Community Solar: Perfect for residents that are unable to place a solar panel system on their roof Reduced energy rates Qualify for some state and local incentive programs Facilitates a greater amount of clean energy than a single residence solar panel system Drawbacks of Community Solar: Can be complicated to organize Not always available or possible in your area Doesn’t increase your property value like an owned rooftop solar panel system If you are interested in going solar but have been told your roof isn’t a great candidate then community solar may be a possibility. Check to see if their are any programs in your area that are open to new participants.

In today’s world it’s increasingly possible to create an energy efficient home. Every day there are new products on the market that help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and decrease our electricity bills at the same time. Here are our favorite 14 ways to create an energy efficient home. LED Lighting: Updating your home lighting to LEDs will not only decrease your electricity bill but will also keep your house cooler. Traditionally lighting lets off significant heat whereas LEDs stay cool to the touch when turned on. LED bulbs are 55% more efficient than other bulbs, have no hazardous materials and are much more durable than traditional lighting. You won’t have to change a bulb for 10 years. Sensors, Timers and dimmers: If your family members are notorious for leaving the lights on, sensors and timers could be a great way for you to keep your electricity bill under control. Dimmers also save on electricity while offering ambiance to your living spaces. Solar Panel System: With all of these energy saving techniques listed here, your house won’t require as much electricity. Now you can be fitted for a solar panel system that fits this reduced energy load. This means your solar panel system will be less expensive. Be sure to implement as many electricity saving techniques as possible before you get a solar quote. There is no need to pay for a larger system than you need. Solar Water Heater: Another way to decrease your dependence on the grid is to install a solar water heater. It doesn’t matter if you live in a cold place! All you need is sunlight for a few hours per day. Another trick is to not take half hour showers which is a pretty easy compromise. Double pained windows: Replacing those old windows with double pained windows will better insulate your house. In the summer you won’t need so much AC and in the winter you won’t be running the heat as often. A big bonus is the reduction in outside noise coming in. Close those blinds: This is an easy one to forget. Closing your blinds during the day will drastically reduce the amount of heat radiating through your windows and into your house and will keep the temperature down. Attic fan: If your house has a pitched roof you should be able to install an attic fan. What does it do? It sucks all the hot air out of your house and releases it out the top. Attic fans use much less electricity than an AC unit so before you turn the air conditioning on, run the attic fan to see if that will keep the temperature comfortable instead. Native plants: Getting into to water efficiency here, planting native plants around your garden will drastically reduce your water usage each month. Native plants are made to thrive in your area which means they really shouldn’t require much of any maintenance. Rain water barrels: Another great way to reduce water usage is to install a rain water barrel catchment system in your yard and use that water for your garden. They are affordable and easy to install. Update your HVAC: If your HVAC is ancient, it’s probably a good idea to have it checked out. Chances are it needs some attention and may need an update which will further reduce your energy load. Low flow fixtures: It’s so easy to turn a faucet on high and leave it running while brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc. Low flow fixtures cut down on the amount of water coming out of the faucet limiting the amount of water wasted in these moments. Check your insulation: If your home is over 30 years old another smart step to take is checking on your insulation. If you’re in the process of remodeling and have walls open already it will be easy to do. You can also check up in your attic or basement areas where most homes don’t have drywall making it easy to get a look. Energy efficient appliances: If you have it in the budget to replace appliances there are numerous brands implementing energy efficiency in their products. Washers, dryers and dishwashers have come a long way and are now designed to drain fewer resources. Programmable thermostat: These compact tools pack a punch. Programmable thermostats make it possible for you to select your ideal temperature along with your daily schedule and the thermostat monitors the temperature accordingly. This means you never have to blast the AC or heat needlessly.

The world of solar power is fast moving. We are always looking around the bend for the next innovation. On Friday night Elon Musk had everyone buzzing over his latest announcement of glass solar tile roofs that are customized to the style of your house. The claim is that they will be affordable, durable, and look good making solar an even easier choice for homeowners. So will solar tile roofs become a reality for us all? Will they actually be affordable and reliable? Well, as with any other technological advancement, only time will tell. The main question is how these hundreds of individual tiles all connect to each other? With conventional solar panels there is one connection between panel and inverter. With hundreds or thousands of individual roof tiles it will be much more expensive to install the system and to perform maintenance. If one tile goes out it may effect the entire system and if that one tile is in the middle of the rest, several tiles will all have to be taken out to fix the issue.

The sun is a source of inexhaustible energy that can keep our solar energy endeavor going for billions of years. By using solar panels and accessories, you can get an endless supply of clean, green energy that will cost you less and less with time unlike conventional electricity resources that are becoming more expensive by the day. With global warming becoming a growing threat to our environment, it is only a matter of time that solar power replaces the need for a renewable form of energy. Have you ever wondered how solar energy works ? What is the technology involved in converting sunlight into solar energy? A concise description of how solar panels work would be something like this: A solar panel is an arrangement of specialized non-reflective glass that contains silicon beneath it. They are technically known as photovoltaic (PV) panels. It is designed to collect photons from the sun and convert them into DC or Direct Current electricity which flows through an inverter to get converted into AC or Alternating Current electrical power that we use to power appliances in our homes and offices. Solar Panel Components If we break the solar panel down, we will find that it is made of solar cells. These are electronic devices that have the ability to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar cells combine together to form large units called solar modules. They in turn can be combined to form solar panels. The potential of the solar panels can be affected by factors like latitude, elevation, cloud cover, obstruction and shading. The Related Accessories The equipment that forms part of the solar installation, apart from the solar panels, includes the inverter, racks, monitors, and the battery storage system. When sunlight hits the solar panels, the silicon and conductors in the panel get activated to convert light into direct current electricity. This is directed towards the inverter. The direct current is converted by the inverter into alternating current which is used in your home. Additional electricity that the solar panel produces and that’s not of use for your personal consumption gets directed to the grid. Alternately, if the output of the solar panel falls short of your requirement, electricity can be drawn from the grid to power your appliances. A bi-directional meter forms an important element of the working of solar panel systems. It keeps track of the power produced by your solar panel. Metering is done automatically. The extra electricity produced by your solar energy system is credited to your bill. Advantages Of Using Solar Energy System There are many advantages of solar energy system. You can save money in the long term and also do your bit for saving the environment. One of the most relevant benefits is the cost certainty factor as you can lock in your electricity rate for many years. With utility bills rising continuously, the ability to lock electricity rate for as much as 20-25 years can help you save money in a big way. Solar panels also increase the value of your home. Here are some interesting solar energy facts : Solar panels first appeared in the market in 1956 Photovoltaic power systems were used in space programs way back in 1958. They are used even today. Demand is greater than supply for solar energy systems They require little maintenance and can last for decades when handled properly Newly constructed homes will have solar panels as a standard addition California takes the credit for having the largest solar power plant in the world. There are nine solar thermal plants covering an area of 1000 acres in the Mojave Desert. The City of Glendale , CA leads the solar panel installations in the US. There are several federal and state government initiatives and programs being offered to encourage homeowners to go solar.

As a business owner, have you considered going solar yet? Many small and big companies alike have made the transition to solar energy. You can too, regardless of the size and type of your business. If you are considering installing solar panels at some point in the future know that at the moment incentives are the strongest they have ever been and prices have dropped to new lows. Many resourceful businesses that have already gone solar are today reaping the many benefits of their smart and timely decision. Commercial solar power is not only good for the environment but can also be strategic financial decision and greatly benefit your business. If you are still not sure about using solar power to run your commercial business, here are some compelling reasons that may convince you to make the move. The Government Wants You To Tap Into Solar Energy Federal and state governments are offering impressive financial incentives so that companies can make outright purchase of a solar power system easily. You can enjoy a no-cap tax credit on the cost of the system. Also, many state and local utilities have their own rebate system designed to reduce the overall cost of installing a solar power system. Most states also offers a net metering policy in which you pay only for the net electricity used. If there is excess electricity generated, you can bank them and receive 100 per cent credit calculated at the retail electricity price. Power Purchase Agreement If you are hesitant or unable to make large upfront cash payment for a solar power system, you can easily lease solar panels for a period of 15 to 20 years. As you do not own the system, you will not be eligible for federal or state financial incentives. However, you can still save money by paying a fixed rate for the use of the solar power system and enjoy other benefits such as access to cheaper, clean and stable power. The federal government is relentlessly encouraging businesses to turn to solar energy. The PPA or the Power Purchase Agreement Model is a case in point. Under this arrangement, the solar energy provider will install the system on your commercial premises by securing funding for your business. The electricity generated from the installation is sold to you at a fixed price for a specific time period. Your benefit – you will get cheaper energy for a fixed rate without having to worry about the next price hike. The solar energy provider will also monitor and maintain the system. The contractual term for such PPA model is generally for 5 to 25 years. Reduce The Operating Costs Of Your Business Establishment You can reduce the operating expenses of your commercial facility dramatically reduce by installing solar energy system. According to a report released by a laboratory in California, sustainable green buildings can lower cost of operations and maintenance of commercial buildings by an average of $50 to $70 per square feet (Source: Lawrence Berkeley Lab). Protects You From Rising Utility Rates Installation of solar energy panels can act as a hedge against continuously rising utility rates and insulate your business from the volatile energy market. Your electricity bills won’t be affected by seasonal swings during summer and winter months. By producing clean, cheap electricity, you are not only guaranteeing your company a fixed electricity rate but also ensuring that utility costs for the future can be categorized as a fixed component of your balance sheet which will allow your finance managers to plan future budgets better. It is important to note that installing a solar power system on the roof of your commercial building is potentially a large investment. Make sure you seek the advice of a qualified and experienced consultant to understand the technical and financial considerations before you go ahead with your decision.

If you are an avid follower of news and developments about solar energy system in the US, you must have heard about Solar Investment Tax Credit, more commonly known as ITC. It is one of the most significant federal policies in the area of deployment of solar energy in the United States. The ITC, a federally-funded tax credit offered to homeowners and businesses that choose to put solar on their roofs was set to expire at the end of year 2016. Many believed that the 30 per cent credit was a short term solution to persuade Americans to change to the cleaner, cheaper and efficient solar energy. The decision to extend the ITC further will ensure solar energy users will enjoy extended tax credit at least till 2023. This program started in 2006 and has since then boosted the rate of annual solar installations in the USA over 1600 per cent (Source: scientificamerican.com) It works out to an annual growth rate of 76 per cent which is remarkable by any standards. Besides encouraging residential and commercial use of solar energy, it also helps lower the cost of buying solar power and assures security of investment for those who want to invest long term. Solar Investment Tax Credit Explained The ITC in its current format is a federal tax credit that can be claimed by residential and commercial investors in solar energy systems against their tax liabilities. Section 25D is related to residential ITC and allows homeowners to apply the credit to their personal income taxes. The credit can be availed when they buy solar energy systems by making payment upfront and get them installed on their homes. Section 48 is related to commercial investors. They can install, develop or fund the solar energy project and claim the credit. How Does ITC Work? The ITC is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income taxes that an individual or organization claiming the credit would have to pay the federal government. It is proportional to the amount of investment in solar property. Both the residential and commercial ITC is calculated at 30 percent of the amount invested in the property. The construction must commence through 2019. The ITC will be reduced to 26 per cent in 2020 and 22 per cent in 2021. After 2023, the residential credit will drop to zero while the commercial and utility credit will drop to 10 percent permanently. Commercial and utility projects starting construction of the solar energy project before December 31, 2021 can still qualify for the 30, 26 or 22 percent ITC, provided they are placed in service before December 31, 2023. A guidance document is being drafted by the authorities to help solar developers understand the proportion of ITC they will qualify for. It will depend on the time they started their project. What Will Be the Impact of the Recent ITC Extension? The ITC has emerged as one of the most important federal policy mechanisms to encourage deployment of solar energy systems in the United States. As a result of the multi-year extension of the credit, it is widely expected that the price of solar energy system will continue to plunge southwards. This will boost installation rates and improve the quality of technology. Evidently, The ITC is a commendable tax policy success story. The federal government expects the following outcomes as a result of granting extension to ITC: The installed solar energy capacity is expected to reach 100 GW by end of 2020 from the current level of 27 GW. The number of people employed in the solar energy sector is expected to double from approximately 210,000 to 420,000 in the same time period The move is expected to add around $140 billion to the US economy. The runaway success of the ITC amply demonstrates the fact that well-drafted, long-term federal tax incentives can help in of the fastest-growing industries in America.

The cost of installing a solar energy system in California varies a lot and would depend on the kind of tax credits or rebates available to you locally. In states where there are federal programs and incentives that pay for the cost of the system, you can get a solar energy system installed for at a very affordable price. Why Prices Are Going Down Steadily Solar panel installation cost in California has reduced significantly over the years with rising demand as more and more homeowners prefer going solar. Also, there are more manufacturers and distributors of solar panels to satisfy the increasing demand. The increase in competition has helped in bringing down the price of solar panels as well as the overall cost of installing the system. Homeowners in California have been extremely supportive of alternative energies and their enthusiasm and initiatives has put the state way ahead of its neighbors. With plenty of sunny days and lots of land, buying solar panels for home is an idea that many homeowners are passionate about. The support for environmentally-friendly initiatives has helped solar power initiatives thrive in the state for a long time now. Support Through Incentives And Rebates Another major reason for the boom in solar panels on Californian homes is the numerous incentives and encouragement the citizens get from local government. People can actually lease a solar power system for zero down through an innovative prepaid solar lease. This makes it easy for homeowners in California to go solar. Citizens using solar energy get support from the government through rebates. In fact, different cities of the state have rebate programs of their own to meet the specific local demands. Even though solar panels installation costs money up front, it pays you back handsomely in the long term. The cost of installation of a solar panel system would depend on the kind of space and facilities available on your rooftop. The time taken for the solar power setup to help you recover installation costs depends on several factors such as: Rate structure of the local utility service The amount of sunlight exposure received by the solar panels The quality of the panels and the associated system Average daily use Another big factor that affects the cost of installation of solar energy system is how you pay for it. Homeowners who prefer to pay cash up-front to buy solar panels can get back their investment within an average of 10 years. However, buying zero down is the preferred option. The Cost Of Solar Panel Installation In California Coming to the actual cost of solar panel installation on your rooftop, this is what an average household using 5600kW of electricity in California would pay around $19,500. The breakdown: Solar panels $6,500 System cost $9,000 Balance of system cost $2,500 Installation charges $2,500 Cost towards labor $3,000 Inspection and permit costs $4,500 Cost of operations $3,000 California solar incentive program and the federal tax credit can account for an average total of $9,500 which means the net costs would could down to approximately $10,000. Understanding The Terms When it comes to solar panels, expensive need not necessarily mean the best. You should look at the cost per watt for a more realistic value of the solar panels. It is an indicator of cost to power output. Solar panel prices have reduced drastically over the past decade. For residential solar panels , it translates to around $1.5/W. Balance of system includes the wiring, mounts, inverters and other electrical parts. Installation costs include permits and neighborhood covenant requirements. Operational costs include monitoring and maintenance of the system, cost towards repairs, insurance, and other overheads.