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 [...]
By Keisha Wheeler, co-owner of Catalyst Bioamendments and Soil Foodweb Consultant in Nevada City, CA. Microbes Instead of Chemicals for a Greener Lawn We all love a thick green carpet of grass under foot. For being the #1 most grown crop in North America, lawns have gotten a really bad reputation. Many homeowners feel the only [...]
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, [...]
By Neil Decker, co-founder of Starseed Creative and natural builder, specializing in Hempcrete structures that instill a sense of magic, belonging, and self. Have you ever imagined adding a small dwelling to your property? One that could be healthy, energy efficient, fire-resistant, and serve your family or community? Natural building is a healthy construction method [...]
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 [...]
Affordable Ways to Cool Your Home Are you looking for a more affordable way to cool your home? Unfortunately, many people these days can't afford to spend the money it takes to get air conditioning installed, much less the cost of operation. Fortunately, there’s an affordable solution! Have you seen the new breed of “Evaporative [...]
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 [...]
Dangerous Electrical Panels There’s a fair chance you own one of the many electrical panels known to be dangerous. They can subject the home to fire danger or, for someone working on them, electrical shock. Do you own a dangerous panel? What are the risks? The following will help answer such questions. Safety is a [...]
Many Californians are concerned about rising electricity costs given limited choices in an underserved energy marketplace. Over 60% of California residents are served by only three of the state’s six investor-owned utilities (IOUs). [1] In the service areas of the three largest IOUs (Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & [...]
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 [...]
