15 posts
Written in-house
Solar energy, explained without the sales pitch
Straight explanations of how the equipment works, what the incentives actually say, and what a job involves — written by the people who do the installing.
CoveringBattery storageCommercial solarEV chargingHVACIncentivesNEM 3.0Panel upgradesResidential solarWater heaters
Latest postParking Lot Solar in Los Angeles: How a Solar Carport Project Comes TogetherRead the post
More from the team
Commercial solarParking Lot Solar in Los Angeles: How a Solar Carport Project Comes TogetherHow a parking lot solar project comes together in Los Angeles: the utility check, site walk, carport design, permits and phased construction.Read the post
Commercial solarCommercial Solar Incentives in California: What’s ExpiringThe 48E placed-in-service deadline, the end of California’s solar property tax exclusion, SGIP, NEM 3.0 and LADWP program windows for apartment and commercial owners.Read the post
LADWP / NEMLADWP vs SCE Solar: Which Rules Apply to Your LA PropertyHow to tell whether LADWP or SCE serves your property, how each credits exported solar power, and what that means for system sizing and batteries.Read the post
Water heatersHeat Pump vs. Tankless Water Heaters: Which Is Better for Your Home?How heat pump and tankless water heaters compare on running cost, hot water recovery, space and venting, and which one suits a Southern California home.Read the post
HVACHow a High-Efficiency HVAC System Can Lower Energy Costs and Improve ComfortWhat actually makes an HVAC system efficient, why sizing and installation matter more than the label on the box, and when replacing yours is worth it.Read the post
EV chargingLevel 2 EV Charger Installation: What Homeowners and Property Managers Should KnowWhat a Level 2 EV charger installation involves at a home or a managed property: electrical capacity, panel load, permitting, and what drives the cost.Read the post
Battery storageSolar Battery Storage in California: Is It Worth It for Your Home?Under NEM 3.0 the value of solar moved to what you store and use yourself. When home battery storage pays in California, and when it does not.Read the post
Panel upgradesDo You Need a Main Electrical Panel Upgrade? 7 Signs to WatchSeven signs a main electrical panel needs upgrading, and why a load calculation rather than the age of the panel should drive the decision.Read the post
Water heatersHeat Pump Water Heaters: A Smarter Upgrade for Southern California HomesHow heat pump water heaters cut the energy a household spends on hot water, what they need in space and airflow, and when the upgrade makes sense.Read the post
IncentivesUnderstanding Government Incentives for Residential SolarA plain-English look at the federal, state and local incentives for residential solar, and what a homeowner should verify before counting on any of them.Read the post
NEM 3.0How the CPUC’s Approved Changes Impact Rooftop SolarWhat the CPUC decision changed for rooftop solar in California, the concerns solar advocates raised at the time, and what it meant for export credit.Read the post
Residential solarA Guide to Maintaining Your Residential Solar PanelsHow to keep residential solar panels producing: cleaning, inspection intervals, watching output, and the maintenance worth leaving to an installer.Read the post
Residential solarThe Remarkable Performance of Solar Panels in Colder MonthsCold weather does not stop solar panels, and photovoltaic cells often run more efficiently at lower temperatures. What actually reduces output in winter.Read the post
Residential solarSolar Panel Construction: From Sand to Sustainable EnergyHow a solar panel is made, from raw silica sand through purified silicon wafers to the finished module, and what each step contributes to output.Read the post
Commercial solarShining a Light on Commercial Solar: Powering a Sustainable Future with Current EnergyWhy businesses move to commercial solar: operating cost, energy independence and sustainability goals, and what a commercial project actually involves.Read the post
Residential solarHarnessing the Power of the Sun with Current Energy: How Solar Panels WorkHow photovoltaic cells turn sunlight into electricity, what happens between the panel and your outlets, and the parts that make up a home solar system.Read the postRead something that applies to your building?
Send a recent utility bill and we will tell you whether it is worth modelling — including ‘not yet’ if that is the honest answer.