Solar Power World

Easy-to-assemble home solar kits simplify home installation

A manufacturer of solar power systems offers an all-in-one rooftop solar kit.  These affordable kits are appealing for contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners who, until now, have been put off by the high price of a rooftop system. Each rooftop solar kit includes Westinghouse Solar AC panels with integrated racking and inverters, roof brackets with fasteners, roof flashings, and panel splices. All that needs to be added is wiring to the rooftop and a circuit breaker installed... Read More

Lowe’s will offer software for residential solar this summer

Home improvement retailer Lowe’s has teamed up with residential solar company Sungevity to offer residential solar. Through the agreement, Lowe’s will provide consumers with Sungevity’s iQuote, a process that uses satellite images and aerial photography to calculate a same-day, firm installation estimate, eliminating the need for a home visit.  Consumers will be able to view a rendering of the proposed installation and get an understanding of the cost-savings related to... Read More

California Town Becomes “Most Solar Town In America” With 85% Solar

Nipton, a tiny Californian town in the blaring sun of the Mojave just went solar, and is likely to soon become a tourist attraction as “the most solar town in America.” The townsfolk, all thirty eight of them, just installed their own citywide supply of clean abundant solar power. Three year old  Skyline has already snagged a $3 million developmental contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, and found $24 million in its first round of interested investors. It... Read More

How effective is residential solar power?

The effectiveness of a solar power system for powering your home (or part of your home) depends upon a number of factors. For example:Electric or gas? In general, any appliance that uses electricity to power a heat element (for instance, an electric stove, an electric clothes dryer, or an electric water heater) is not very compatible with solar power.To get the most from a solar panel system, the first thing you should do is switch out energy-inefficient electric appliances... Read More