Solar Energy World Reviews
It is going to reach 90 degrees in Baltimore, today, but customers that have had a solar power system installed by Solar Energy World will be able to keep cool while still saving money on their electricity bills. Take a look at some of the recent comments that our customers have shared on GuildQuality, where we recently earned the Guildmaster with Distinction Award for excellent customer service.
“They were extremely professional from the beginning all the way through to the end. Any time I had questions I could reach someone. From the installation crew cutting the frame to the electricians they did an awesome job; it took way less time than I thought it would.” - Jeremiah S., Glen Burnie, MD
“Solar Energy World was very professional and organized. They handled the project well considering the complexity of the job at hand and worked well together as a team. They really make sure the client was satisfied before moving forward. With Crown Rose Estates being a historic estate, we had to get approval from FEMA for the solar panels on the water way. They were very willing to wait for that process . They were mindful of that, and we wanted to make sure we were not making an eye sore with panels for the guests or taking too much land from the farmer. The waterway was a good location for it.” - Tara L., Knoxville, MD
“Thanks for helping us go green. All I had to do was choose a system and solar energy world took care of the rest. They did all that was required from securing the permits required for the installation to the installation itself.. The entire process was hassle free and the staff are very courteous and always eager to help.” - Sathish A., Severn, MD
Get your free estimate from Solar Energy World, and find out what all of the buzz is about!
How to Choose a Solar Power Installation Company
Once you have chosen to have a solar power system installed on your home, you may have a lot of questions. The right solar power company will be able to answer your questions, while making you feel comfortable about the decision to work with them. Try asking friends and neighbors about their experience with certain solar installers, or read reviews of solar companies in your area. A company with high customer satisfaction scores, and a willingness to resolve any issues that arise, is more likely to provide a positive experience.
There is more involved in your decision to go solar than the installation of solar panels. Permits, inspections, grants, and financing all involve time and paperwork. A solar installation company that will handle everything for you will save you a significant amount of headache. You should also consider any warranties or maintenance plans that your chosen solar installer offers.
If you are looking for a solar power installation company in Maryland, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, or Delaware, Solar Energy World can simplify the process for you. In fact, we recently earned the Guildmaster with Distinction Award for our excellent customer satisfaction scores on GuildQuality. Contact us today to see how we can help your home or business go solar!
Solar Power: A Smart Choice for Home Improvement
Today is the first day of May, which marks the beginning of National Home Improvement Month. Solar power is a wise choice for your next home improvement project, which can save, and even earn you money. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to see why solar power should be your next home improvement of choice.
Solar Power Saves Money
Your electricity bill will likely continue to rise, and if you cannot significantly reduce the amount of electricity that you use, solar power can offset the amount that you consume from the utility company. Depending on factors such as energy usage, sun exposure, and available roof space, you could save up to 100% of your electricity costs. Plus, with the available financing and leasing options, along with grants and incentives to offset the purchase price, your monthly payments for the solar power system will remain easily affordable.
Solar Power Earns Money
Wise investments earn money, and solar power is no exception. In fact, typical ROI on a solar power system over a five year period is 125%, reaching 500% by year 20! SRECs, or Solar Renewable Energy Credits, generated by your solar panels’ production can be sold at current market rates for additional income. Additionally, the value of a home increases by $40,000 on average with the installation of a solar power system.
If you would like to…
- save $35,700 in energy costs over the next 10 years*
- increase your home value by $40,000*
- reduce your household’s impact on the environment
…then solar is a wise investment for you.
Contact us today for your free solar analysis, and start National Home Improvement Month with the right choice for your home! Call 410-579-2009, to schedule your appointment.
You may also be interested in:
Sunshine on a Rainy Day: Solar Panels Still Produce Electricity
Longer Days Mean More Solar Power
US Solar Decathlon Prepares for Move to California
When designing and building energy efficient, solar powered homes, it is important to keep a few criteria in mind: the houses must be comfortable, safe, attractive, affordable, and provide the energy to operate appliances and electronics. The Solar Decathlon Competition, held by the US Department of Energy, challenges teams of college students to design and build their own interpretation of a home that meets these criteria.
The competition has been held every two years since it was started in 2002. This October, it moves from Washington, DC, where all previous competitions were held, to Orange County Great Park in Irvine California. 20 teams comprised of students representing at least one college will display their completed solar powered homes to the public, and will be judged on criteria such as architecture, and market appeal.
For more information about the Solar Decathlon, check out United States’ Solar Decathlon Readies for its First Road Trip by Chris Meehan of SolarReviews.
Zoos Save with Solar Power
This article contains excerpts from “Solar Powered Zoos Gain Popularity, Increase Solar Visibility”, by SolarReviews.
It might be surprising to consider how much electricity a zoo consumes. Besides the power needed for visitor attractions, such as shops, and kiosks, the zoo also needs to support its animal inhabitants 24 hours a day. This means that special features of habitats, such as climate control, need to be regulated constantly. All of these electricity expenditures add up quickly. For example, the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee spends $825,000 on utilities annually!
This has caused several zoos to turn to solar power over the past several years, including the Knoxville Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, as well as those in Milwaukee, San Diego, and Oakland. Several of the solar arrays have been placed over parking lots, to create a canopy for visitors to park in the shade, while the panels power the zoo. The San Diego Zoo took the concept even further, and installed an electric vehicle charging station beneath the solar canopy.
To read more about zoos that have gone solar, click to read the article on SolarReviews.com.
How to Clean Solar Panels
An occasional solar panel cleaning is a good idea, as build up of debris can block the sunlight from reaching your solar cells. Dirt, dust, and even pollution can cloud the surface of your solar panels, and prevent them from absorbing the maximum amount of solar radiation. Adding regular solar panel cleaning to your spring cleaning routine will help maintain the efficiency of your panels, and keep them in good repair.
How Not to Clean Your Solar Panels
When cleaning your panels, you want to be careful not to damage them, or leave any sort of residue that will attract the rapid buildup of dirt and debris. Some of the bad ideas for solar panel cleaning include:
- Pressure washing them
- Scraping them or scratching them with a broom
- Damaging the surface with bleach, or other harsh chemicals
How to Clean Your Solar Panels
Cleaning your solar panels is a task that you can do yourself, or you can hire a professional service. Solar panel cleaning kits are available (try searching an online retailer, like Amazon.com), and cleaning solutions that are designed specifically for the surface of solar panels are available as well.
For professional solar panel cleaning services, try asking your solar power system installation company, or research local window cleaning companies, which may offer special services for solar panel customers.
Don’t forget, Solar Energy World customers are offered an annual maintenance plan for solar power systems, which includes a full system inspection and cleaning.
You may also be interested in:
10 Reasons to Go Solar Today
Why You Should Choose a SunPower Premier Dealer
Saving Teachers’ Jobs One Solar Panel at a Time
This post contains content from SolarReviews, featured guest contributor.
How can solar power help the economy, and reduce unemployment numbers? Just look to the public school system, where many schools have turned to solar power as a way to deal with budget cuts. According to an article by SolarReviews,
“Since 2009, the Scottsdale Unified School district outside Phoenix has been forced to cut more than $20 million from its operating budget. Faced with the choice of laying off teachers or finding an innovative way to save money, school administrators reassessed their $6 million annual utility bill.”
In fact, 11 schools in the same district in Arizona have worked with SunPower to go solar, slashing electricity costs in half, and expecting to save $22.4 million dollars in electricity costs. California has followed suit, and is home to the largest district-wide solar power system in the world, which covers 51 schools in the Mount Diablo School District, and is projected to save $200 million dollars in the next 30 years.
So have the schools seen results? According to SolarReviews, the answer is yes. In the Scottsdale, AZ school district, six teachers who were previously laid off were reinstated thanks to the solar installations, which means that many more teaching jobs were probably saved as well, and the quality of education would not be diminished.
To read more about how solar power has impacted the school system, read the original article here.
Community Solar Projects
There are many options for solar power installations, and the most common types are rooftop or ground mount systems that are placed on the property of the person who has purchased or leased a solar power system. However, there are other options, including community solar farms or gardens.
Solar Energy World Installation at Rising Star Farms
A community solar farm is a solar array that several members of a community invest in, and benefit from. For example, let’s say that ten families on Main Street are interested in solar power. Several of them sign up for a free solar analysis, but are told that they will need to remove several of the trees surrounding their homes, and that solar power is not a viable option for the homes at one end of the street, due to a tall business complex that casts a significant amount of shading over part of the neighborhood. Some of the neighbors do not want to remove their trees, and nothing can be done about the shading caused by the existing business complex. So, what can the homeowners on Main Street do about their desire for solar power?
The remedy for this situation is for the neighbors who are interested in solar power to choose an ideal location for a solar array, and then each invest in the construction of the project. This location could be a nearby field, or even, with the cooperation of the property owner, the rooftop of the existing business complex. The community owners of the solar power system will then each benefit from the production of the solar array, by being credited for the amount of power generated by the solar power system depending on the portion of the array owned by each household.
Community solar power is a beneficial option for people who are not in the ideal situation for solar power, such as those in the example above, or for condo owners who do not each have their own rooftop space available.
You may also be interested in:
Homeowners Go Green with St. Patty’s Day Workshop
This St. Patrick’s Day weekend, homeowners came to the Be Green & Save Green Solar 101 Workshop to learn about home solar power. This two hour workshop featured Solar Analyst Brent Cotton, who discussed the benefits of solar power for homeowners, along with important information, such as the return on investment for a solar power system.
Brent Cotton, Solar Analyst for Solar Energy World
Solar Energy World hosts workshops at our Maryland headquarters so that homeowners can learn about the cost, benefits, and process of going solar. These workshops are free with RSVP, and include complimentary refreshments, a free gift, and a tour of our rooftop solar power system. Not only are our Solar 101 Workshops a great way for homeowners to gather all of the information they need to make a decision about home solar power, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to ask questions and get answers from a qualified Solar Analyst.
Stay tuned, and follow Solar Energy World on Facebook to learn when our next workshop will take place!
You may also be interested in:
Why You Should Choose a SunPower Premier Dealer
Solar Energy World and SunPower Help Maryland Homeowners Go Green
Longer Days Mean More Solar Power
If the start of Daylight Savings Time has left you tired after losing an hour of sleep, we have some great news to cheer you up!
The start of Daylight Savings Time means that spring is almost here, which means that we will be seeing increased hours of daylight. This is great news for outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, and others who enjoy spending time outside and in the fresh air. It also means that your solar power system may see increased production thanks to longer exposure of your solar panels to sunlight.
You may have read our previous post about solar power production in the wintertime, where we stated that the efficiency of your solar panels will not decrease due to cold weather. This is still true! Solar panels operate more efficiently in lower temperatures. However, your panels are exposed to more hours of daylight in the summertime, so the longer sun exposure may allow your system to generate more solar power than it does in the colder (and darker) months.
This is great news for homeowners who have solar power systems already, because they will immediately see the impact on their air conditioning bills, when the weather gets warmer. Even better, it is still early enough in the season that homeowners who are interested in solar power can sign up for a solar analysis today, and their homes will be ready for the summer sun when it arrives!
Solar Energy World serves Maryland, Washington, DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Schedule a free solar analysis today, and learn how you can save with solar!
You may also be interested in:
Why You Should Choose a SunPower Premier Dealer
5 Benefits of Solar Power