4 Facts about Solar Panels That Will Change the Way You Think About Clean Energy Forever

Residential solar energy systems are at the forefront of efforts to switch to clean energy – not because they’re popular among people who want to conserve the environment, but because they’ve become an affordable and money-saving alternative to powering homes.  These four facts will broaden your perspective on how tremendous of an impact solar panels can make in your life.

1. The working and middle-class accounted for over 60% of solar panel installations in California last year.  Homeowners with median incomes ­ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 are leading the rooftop solar revolution: middle-class neighborhoods make up the fastest growing areas for solar panel installations in California.  Why is this?  Protecting the environment is not the only reason that people “go solar.”  In one poll by a California solar company asking why homeowners purchased solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, 74% of them said that they did it to save money, not to make a statement about being environmentally friendly.  Saving on power bills can be a deciding factor for those who are especially concerned about rising electricity costs.

2. A home solar power system can raise the value of your home.  A study performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that solar homes sell 20% faster and for 17% more than non-solar homes in California.  New homes with PV cells, costing $380,000 to $500,000 sold for as much as $600,000.  And although they were expected to sell in 3 years, they sold within just one.

3. Solar panels require minimal maintenance.  97% of Americans overestimate the cost of installing a solar energy system, including the cost of maintenance and repairs.  Other than a semi-annual cleaning, solar panels don’t require a lot of maintenance because the PV modules have no moving parts, and they are also designed to hold up against all weather conditions.  Although most solar companies offer a manufacturer’s warranty of 25 years for the panels, some systems may last 40 to 50 years.

4. Installing the right solar system can result in a $0 electricity bill.  California home owners can save hundreds of dollars each month by installing a residential solar system.  Many local energy companies, such as Solaire, report that their customers end up with a $0 power bill by eliminating electricity costs.   It can even take as little as 5-7 years for the solar system to pay for itself.

Are you weighing your options for the right solar system? We’re here to help - contact us for more information on solar panel installation.

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6 Ways to Make Your Air Conditioner More Efficient

During the summer months, the air conditioner is probably the busiest electrical machine in your home. Regular maintenance is key to ensure that it runs well without running incredibly high energy bills. Most units (with regular home maintenance and an annual professional service) will last around 8-12 years. After this, it may be time to consider upgrading for a more modern machine that uses the latest air cooling technology with maximum energy efficiency.

Here are a few maintenance tips that’ll help keep your current air conditioner in working order this summer.  Caution: before performing any home cleaning or maintenance on your central air conditioning unit, be sure to power it off.  

1. Keep filters clean and well-maintained.

Regular maintenance of your air conditioner’s filters will ensure that it runs efficiently. Filters should be

cleaned at least once a month to make sure they’re not getting dirty and clogged. Dirty filters obstruct airflow; any air that manages to bypass the filter will carry dirt into the evaporator coil and damage the coil’s ability to absorb heat. This can increase energy consumption from 5%-15%.

*Tip: if you have any pets in your home, you may need to clean your filters more often.

2. Clean your air conditioner coils every summer.

The job of the air conditioner coil is to cool by absorbing heat. Remember how we mentioned above that dirt damages this function of the coil? Even with regular filter cleaning, after a few months of use, dirt will make its way onto the coil and reduce efficiency. So, in addition to cleaning your air conditioner filters, you also need to clean your air conditioner coil to remove dirt and dust. You should clean your air conditioner coil annually or more often if the environment around the air conditioner is particularly dusty or dirty.

*Tip: Sometimes the coil will be outdoors. You’ll be able to tell if dust is building up on an outdoor coil by seeing if there’s a collection of dirt on its fins.

3. Clean the fins.

Cleaning the fins outside your air conditioner will also improve efficiency. You can easily clean the fins with a small soft brush (a toothbrush, for example, works well). Using the soft brush, brush each fin individually, taking care not to bend the metal.

4. Have your machine serviced by professionals.

To get a long life out of your air conditioner, get an annual maintenance check by professionals who can give it a professional cleaning and service. They’ll be able to get your machine working efficiently so that your energy bill stays reasonable. At Solaire Energy Systems, we provide HVAC machine service and maintenance. Get in touch here (or call us at 1-800-847-7751), and we’ll provide you with a free estimate.

5. Clear the condensation lines.

The condensation lines carry condensation away from the air conditioner. If you don’t regularly clean these lines, they can slowly build up with dust and dirt, which gradually makes its way up the pipe back into the air conditioner. Needless to say, when this humid debris reaches its way into the air conditioner, it can cause a nasty mess in your home (not to mention an expensive repair bill). An easy way to avoid this is to pass a firm wire through the lines on a regular basis.

6. Check the seals on your home’s windows and doors.

Check that all the seals around the windows and doors in your home don’t have any breaks. Breaks in the seals will allow cool air to escape, which overworks your machine (and in turn will increase your energy bill).

At Solaire Energy Systems, we’re experts at installing and maintaining HVAC systems. Our energy-efficient air conditioning systems keep your home cool while keeping your energy costs down.

If you’d like to learn more about air conditioning options, contact us online.

SunPower’s X-Series Delivers the Latest Solar Power Technology

“This is our moment in time. America's solar energy industry stands ready to do our part to help fight climate change and usher in a new era of clean energy in America and around the world.” – Rhone Resch, Huffington Post, 2013

We couldn’t agree more – the time for solar power is now.

Thanks to SunPower’s new X-Series solar panels, delivering efficient electric energy to your home has never been more cost-effective. Released in April of this year, the X-Series is the energy experts at Solaire’s new preferred choice of residential solar panel. These new panels deliver more energy, are highly reliable and have superior aesthetics to previous models.

The X-Series’ efficiency is a world record breaker and makes them the most efficient residential solar panels on the market. Efficiency in solar panels is measured by what percentage of the sun’s energy they’re able to convert into electricity.  Standard solar panels have an efficiency of around 15%, while the X-Series work at an impressive 21.5%. 

Their top-of-the-line features include:

• A high-energy output with no light-induced output degradation. Output degradation sometimes happens with older solar panel modules – the solar cells lose efficiency after being exposed to sunlight. Over time, this degradation by sunlight can substantially decrease solar cell efficiency. SunPower’s X-Series solar cells have, by far, the lowest degradation rates of any solar panel in the industry.

• SunPower’s X-Series are hardworking, too. With their better low-light and spectral response, they’ll be at work before you get up in the morning and still be generating electricity long after you’re home in the evening (especially with California’s long summer daylight hours).

• Some rooftops have higher temperature than others. X-Series panels make the most of this. They are low temperature co-efficient, which means that even under the highest heat condition,  SunPower’s X-Series solar cells will produce more power than any other product on the market.   

• The X-Series is available for the residential market with its standard (335 watt) and smaller (250 watt) formats. The cells’ sleek black design makes them ideal for house rooftops, as they blend in smoothly with outdoor décor and look much more attractive than traditional home solar systems.

Here at Solaire Energy Systems we are an Elite Sunpower Dealer, which means we are experts in supplying and installing SunPower’s new X-Series Model, and we are national leaders in customer satisfaction and sales. If you’re interested in getting this new solar panel model for your home, or you’d just like to know more, contact us online.

Solaire Gives Solar Education Seminar for Shadowridge Rotary Club

As part of our mission to promote clean energy sources and environmentally-friendly technologies, Solaire Energy Systems recently held a solar education seminar for members of the Shadowridge Rotary Club in Vista, California. The seminar was conducted by our Director of Sales and Marketing, San Diego solar panel expert Peter Stern during a lunch meeting at the Rotary Club on April 9.

During the meeting, Peter talked to Rotary Club members about solar energy, including actions the government is taking to fight the threat of climate change, such as promoting sustainable energy sources in businesses and private homes.

The California Clean Energy Act, for example, has allowed utility companies to install their own wind and solar farms and pass the costs on to consumers. The California Solar Initiative program, on the other hand, provides rebates to state residents who install solar panels on their home property or business. Additionally, homeowners in Riverside County a solar loan through the County’s HERO program, which is a form of PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing that requires no income or minimum credit score requirements if the homeowners have at least 10% equity in their home and meet a few other conditions. PACE financing is repaid by the homeowner through their property taxes.

Actions such as these have helped the state of California set an example as a leader in solar projects and wind installation throughout the country. However, many Californians are unaware of the incentives for installing solar panels and other energy efficient technologies.

After sharing our solar panel knowledge with members of the Shadowridge Rotary Club, we got great feedback, including these kind words from Luene Corwin: “[Solaire] was well prepared, the information was accurate and informative, and it was presented in an entertaining manner that everyone enjoyed. It was well worth our time, and I would recommend the presentation to anyone interested in solar energy.”

To schedule a clean energy seminar of your own or to learn more about the benefits of using solar panels for San Diego homeowners, contact us by calling 1-800-847-7751.

San Diego Solar Energy Company Solaire to Speak at 8th European-American Business Mixer

March 6, 2013 (San Diego, CA) – San Diego solar panel installation company Solaire Energy Systems is announcing its participation in the 8th European-American Business Mixer on Thursday, March 14th, 2013.  Centered on green technology as the future of the economy, the event will take a special focus on “How Obama’s Green Energy Initiative will affect economic growth and job creation in San Diego.”

The European-American Business Mixer is a series of combined business mixer events held in the San Diego area by the French American Chamber of Commerce and the German American Chamber of Commerce California.  As sustainable and environmentally-friendly technology grows increasingly important to businesses even outside of the energy industry, the Mixer is recognizing the influence of green technology on all types of companies and the need to open local business owners’ minds to networking with green energy companies.  In addition to offering the French and German Chambers of Commerce an opportunity to promote trade and best business practices between the United States and Europe, the event is also a popular business networking opportunity and a way for local business owners to increase their company’s visibility.

The event’s guest speakers will include Jarrod Fisk, founder and CEO of Solaire Energy Systems.  Experienced in solar and electrical contracting, Fisk founded Solaire in order to provide consumers in the San Diego area with a way to use high-quality renewable energy to power their homes while reducing their carbon footprint.

Now one of the leading residential solar energy companies in San Diego and Riverside counties, Solaire is proud to speak at an event highlighting the positive influence of solar power on the economy and job creation.  “Solaire Energy Systems is honored to be invited to participate as a keynote speaker,” says Fisk.  “We feel this is an important topic and a sector of our economy that will continue to be vital to the economic recovery, energy independence, and environmental stewardship of our local community and our country as a whole.”

Also speaking will be Clark Crawford, manager of Soitec Solar’s US headquarters in San Diego; and Tristan Grimbert, head of the EDF Group’s renewable energy operations in North America.  The event will be held at the Mintz-Levin Facility at 3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300, in San Diego from 6:00 to 9:00pm (doors will be closed at 7:00).  To register online, visit http://crm.france-sandiego.org/index.php?q=civicrm/event/register&id=8&reset=1. 

About Solaire Energy Systems

A leading installer of photovoltaic solar panels for residential use in San Diego and Riverside counties, Solaire offers a wide range of solutions that help homeowners improve the efficiency of their homes – including photovoltaic solar, thermal hot water solar, pool solar, high efficiency HVAC, and high efficiency windows and doors.  For more information, visit http://www.solaireenergysystems.com. 

Read the original post on PRWeb.com here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/solarenergysandiego/europeanamericanmixer/prweb10498914.htm

California Sets Another Solar Power Record

California is becoming known for its solar power, and this winter the state set a new record in solar power generation during not only the winter months – but during the shortest day of the year.

Winter days deliver about four fewer hours of daylight in California when compared to the summer days, but that’s not stopping the state from setting peak solar power generation records.

In August of last year, California passed the milestone of 1,029 megawatts (MW) of solar power production. To the surprise of many citizens in California and around the world, the state nearly reached that peak August generation level during the week of the Winter Solstice, which is the least-sunny time of the year, setting a new winter solar power generation record.

On December 19, solar power generation reached between 950 to 1000 MW. It’s an important milestone because during the Winter Solstice, the sun is lower in the sky than at any other time of year, which means that there is much less solar energy available for solar panels to utilize.

Just a few days later, on New Year’s Eve, the California Independent System Operator tweeted early that solar output had set a new record of 1,122 megawatts, and on January 2 hit 1,235 MW. Solar power companies in San Diego were excited to hear the news of this record, and even more excited to help the state reach more solar milestones in the coming year.

The significant point here isn’t just the about of MW generated, but also how California’s solar energy generating capacity has grown significantly since the August record was set; and when compared to last year, the growth is especially impressive. In December 2011, for example, there was a maximum of only 200 MW of solar power production generated.

California has one of the country’s most determined renewable energy programs. By 2020, the state aims to generate 33 percent of its power from renewable sources, including solar power.

Throughout the state, San Francisco to San Diego solar panel installations are becoming more common, and the growth is expected to continue – or even increase – in 2013. What a great way for California to start the New Year!