Insight From Our Intern on Solar and Sustainability I never could have imagined learning as much as I did in my time interning at Sustainable Energy Group. Not only did I learn about solar, the renewable energy industry and the energy grid, I had the privilege of working alongside inspiring and insightful people, who all [...]
POWER OUTAGES – PART 2 – PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS How much would a generator cost? How much would batteries cost? There are plenty of online tools and other resources available to give you relatively quick answers, but are they the right answers? Backup power systems can run from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, [...]
California’s Quantum Leap in Building Standards Last May, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced a ground-breaking update to the state’s building energy efficiency standards. Starting January 1, 2020, all new buildings in California must have solar. The standards (according to Title 24, Part 6, Building Energy Efficiency Standards) also contain a number of energy efficiency [...]
Q and A With Ray This Q & A pertains to California's Quantum Leap in Building Standards. The questions answered here come from inquiries into concepts, technologies and standard specific rhetoric found in our article on California's rooftop solar mandate. What are heat pump water heaters? A heat pump water heater is an electric household water [...]
Congratulations to Renata Langis! Renata is pursuing a master’s degree in Urban Planning from University of California at Irvine. Unfortunately, this new beginning means the end of Renata’s active engagement in the local community and her nine months at the Sustainable Energy Group. While working with us, Renata was responsible for graphic design, newsletter publication, event planning, [...]
Fire Prevention and Solar: A Case Study in Newcastle, CA SEG recently did a ground mount solar array in Newcastle, CA. The customers opted for two project features that significantly reduced the fire risk to their home and property. 1) Replacing the existing Zinsco Service panel. 2) Adding a 10’ fire break/weed barrier around the [...]
Last year the Nevada County Building Department changed its approach to building code enforcement to increase compliance. Rather than inspect properties when a complaint was made, which was the previous policy, now county officials are inspecting properties based on awareness of information about possible code violations. This new approach has significantly increased the scope of [...]
What Does My Electricity Usage Look Like? Have you ever wondered where your power is going or why your electric bill is bigger than you expected, even after you have installed a solar electric system? Consumption monitoring offers an at-a-glance visual glimpse into your electric usage. Nearly all solar electric systems today are equipped with [...]
Why Going Solar Makes Sense (and Cents)! Here are a few reasons why solar is a smart, low-risk, high-return investment: High Valuation Solar electric systems have strong valuation due to their potential to reduce long-term energy costs for homeowners. As such, solar electric systems are recognized as marketable improvements to homes that, on average, significantly [...]
A Case Study of Solar Valuation from a Past Customer Sharon Sausedo, of Sausedo Realty, bought a property in Penn Valley that needed extensive work and upgrades before selling. She repaired and remodeled the house, and then put it on the market in late 2018. Prospective buyers saw the existing solar panels on the roof [...]
