Photovoltaic/ Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Solar panel installation
Solar photovoltaic

Ten questions to ask a solar panel contractor

Diligent research is absolutely essential for any homeowner looking to install aphotovoltaic(PV) solar panel system on their home. But at some point, you need to hand the reins over to a trustworthy contractor. To get to that point of trust, you need to ask questions to confirm you’re getting the best equipment and ...

Solar panel reflectors
Solar photovoltaic

Using reflectors to increase the yield of solar panels

...photovoltaiccells; the goal being to increase the watts produced per panel. Joshua M. Pearce, professor of engineering at Michigan Technology University, recently published an article in Green Building Advisor that demonstrates the results of his research on this. Working in conjunction with a study group in Canada, h...

Lithium-ion solar home battery
Solar photovoltaic

Lithium-ion solar home batteries

...photovoltaicsolar over the last 10 years Now you know about Home Batteries and Power Storage. Read more moving away from fossil fuels and how to reduce your carbon footprint in the following pages and in the EcoHome Green Building Guide . Tesla Solar Panel Special Offer Building a Near Zero Energ...

Tesla Solar Roof Cost Comparison, Competitors & Reviews
Solar photovoltaic

Are Tesla solar roofs worth the money? Are there any competitors? Our take on the future of BIPV

...Photovoltaics (BIPV)? Standardphotovoltaicsolar panels are typically large panels that protrude from roofs by several inches. Contrary to that, the low-profile rooftop solar roof option, which is also known as BIPV (building-integratedphotovoltaics), are solar shingles or tiles that are installed directly onto roo...

How solar panels work
Solar photovoltaic

All about solar panels - the different options and how they work

...photovoltaics (PV) as they are technically called - generate an electric current by catching light particles from the sun called photons. These photons then knock free the electrons in the panels’ solar cells and produce an electric current. This current is transferred to wires that lead to an inverter. The inverter co...

Flexible 'solar glitter' from Mpower Technologies
Solar photovoltaic

Flexible PV 'solar glitter' panels coming soon

Standard solar panels are rigid, relatively heavy and fragile. A new product on the market called Microsystems EnabledPhotovoltaics (MEPV) from mPower Technology may change that. The cells in these pliable sheets are made from high-efficiency silicon, and if one cell is damaged or loses power, the rest will continu...

Tesla Solar Roof shingles
Solar photovoltaic

The Tesla Solar Roof: we love the hype, but we'd like to see some actual facts.

...photovoltaics (BIPV)已经存在了十多年。从理论上讲,这是一个很棒的想法,但由于每个瓦片必须单独连接,安装起来相当头疼,所以希望特斯拉能提供一些新的东西,而不是只是重新包装那些从未超越噱头的旧技术。如果……

Dual axis solar tracker
Solar photovoltaic

Choosing between solar trackers and fixed solar panels mounts

...photovoltaicpanels here , or if you're looking to build soon, look for inspiration for building a near zero energy home on a budget here , or find out all about Passive House certification & design in North America here - from The EcoHome Green Building Guides ... Solar tracker © Ecohome STORY UPDATE: In Canad...

Photovoltaic solar panels
Renewable energy

Solar heating and energy generation

...Photovoltaic(PV) solar panels Without getting overly technical,Photovoltaicsolar panels essentially convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Systems can be large enough to provide your entire home power needs, and be either stored in batteries or fed back into the power grid. When you hear the words ‘net meterin...

Tesla Solar Roof Tiles installation just got easier
Solar photovoltaic

Tesla solar roof gains ground with target of 1000 solar roofs / week

The Telsa solar roof tiles are in the news again. They now have solar panel shingle installations going in 8 states so far - with what's becoming competitive pricing. If news of these PV roof shingles is also news to you, check out our Tesla solar roof review from when it was first announced in 2016. What was missin...

Solar thermal collectors

All about solar thermal collectors

...photovoltaicsolar panels and using the power they generate to heat water with a traditional water heater. This is due to the continually advancing technologies and dropping costs in thephotovoltaicindustry, while solar thermal collection technology and cost has remained fairly stagnant over the same period. They’r...