FAQs

We’ve all heard that solar energy is better than fossil fuels, but do you know why and to what extent?

To capture the energy needed to power modern human existence, land is cleared, and habitats are destroyed to make way for the extraction of fossil fuels. The sheer amount of infrastructure that is needed to run this industry is daunting. However, when you compile the choices these companies make during their operations, it adds even more destruction to this already long list.

Infrastructures included in fossil fuel production include: the base location, pipelines and other distribution infrastructures, reservoirs, import and export terminals, office spaces and power plants. These new operations require land that once supported thriving ecosystems. An even bigger problem is that these locations can be depleted of the fossil fuels and the operation will find a new location – leaving a depressed ecosystem in its wake.

Besides the physical constructions of the fossil fuel industry, their practices are also wreaking havoc on the environment. Explosions, mine collapses, fires, deforestation, soil removal, irresponsible waste removal practices, landslides and flash floods are just some of the side effects of fossil fuel retrieval. Some may think that these are uncommon problems, but the fact is that these devastating incidents are occurring frequently. In 2016, for offshore drilling alone, there were 82 fires and 19 spills. These numbers do not include the various other methods of obtaining fossil fuels, only offshore drilling.

Waste products from these processes can also destroy habitats through pollution and habitat destruction and fragmentation. Beloved animal populations are facing extinction at the hands of the fossil fuel industry.

Coral reefs are negatively affected by the fossil fuel industry. Polar bears are negatively affected by the fossil fuel industry. Humans are negatively affected by the fossil fuel industry. Every living creature is affected by the fossil fuel industry.

Acquiring the raw materials for the fuel industry can lead to serious water concerns that impact many populations.

Water is taken from the local area where drilling is occurring. The process can take between 1.5 million gallons to 16 million gallons of water. Some of this water can be recycled, but it is costly, and the practice has not been utilized as much as possible. Only 10% of the produced water from drilling is recycled so water is continually taken from the community. And, even with recycling, the water needs to be combined with fresh water. This can be a serious problem for areas that are dealing with water resource strain.

Beyond drilling, fossil fuel power plants also pose a threat to the water system. Extreme amounts of water are taken from natural sources to aid in the cooling process during refining. This water is returned to ecosystems at a higher temperature and with a lower concentration of oxygen – a lethal combination for many species.

Solar figures on water usage can be difficult to ascertain and there is no clear answer. In short, solar PV cells (the kind you would find on a house) require minimal water to manufacture but there is water used for cleaning them. Concentrating solar thermal plants use much more water, but the consumption is still less than that of fossil fuels. Dry-cooling can limit this usage by 90%, but it is more expensive. However, there are technological innovations being developed that can reduce the price. Water is an invaluable resource and solar requires less.

Between carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates, the Earth’s air is gravely impacted by energy production. Acid rain, smog, acidic and unlivable ecosystems and the depletion of the ozone layer are all side effects of these harmful chemicals. These emissions are a significant impact to the discussion on climate change.

Some of the measurements used in the energy industry can be confusing. For this next part, think of “carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO₂/kWh),” as all of the various types of emissions converted into how much they would equal in terms of carbon dioxide, then that number per amount of electricity generated per hour. Basically, a lower number means fewer emissions.

During a PV cell’s lifecycle, between 0.07 and 0.18 pounds of CO₂/kWh are emitted. For the larger scale CSP systems, between 0.08 and 2.00 pounds of CO₂/kWh are generated. Now, compare this to 0.6-2.0 pounds of CO₂/kWh for natural gas and 1.4-3.6 pounds of CO₂/kWh for coal. Referencing back to the abbreviated list of negative side effects in this section, lower emissions sounds like a much better option than unlivable ecosystems and climate change. Solar provides these lower emission rates.

Mining and drilling produce toxic waste that is difficult to store. There is a looming risk of a spill that can lead to death and destruction. Chemicals used within mines can be carried to valuable bodies of water by free-flowing water. This can pollute ecosystems as well as drinking water. Produced water, pushed from beneath the ground during drilling, can contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and radioactive materials. As this water is brought to the surface, there is a risk of polluting the water table.

Disposing of this waste is difficult and can lead to even more disasters. Storing the toxic water from mining and drilling is difficult. Reservoirs and overflow pits can malfunction and create a wastewater disaster for ecosystems and communities.

Deep well injections pose even more risks. There is seemingly unlimited debate when it comes to this topic. Toxic substances are injected deep into the ground where scientists thought they would be immobile for thousands of years. However, there have been many instances where the infrastructure involved in this practice has malfunctioned and wells began to ooze toxic substances. Deep well injection is supposed to be monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States, but many of the reports are haphazardly completed with missing information. It was a surprise to me when I discovered there are over 2 million of these abandoned wells in the United States. As humans who rely on drinkable water and crops, are we comfortable with allowing oil and gas companies to inject toxic substances into the ground when they have miscalculated the outcomes on numerous accounts?

The concern with solar as an energy source has to do with the solar panels’ life cycle. Disposing of the panels can be difficult and not cost-effective for many businesses. However, there have been solutions arising from this. Solar panel recycling is growing in popularity and efficiency. Most components of solar panels can be reused to create new solar panels. This incentivizes companies to recycle because 65%-70% of the materials by mass can be reclaimed.

As solar energy becomes more popular, increasingly cost-effective waste management technologies will be developed. This will also create more jobs in the fields of reusing and recycling solar panels.

Fossil fuel operations can be dangerous and have led to serious injuries and death. In 2016 there were one death and 174 injuries from offshore drilling alone. For coal mining, the facilities totalled 27 fatalities and 4,035 non-fatal injuries in 2017.

Because of the impaired air quality and other hazardous byproducts of mining and drilling, various health problems have also been tied to the fossil fuel industry. Respiratory diseases, cancer, neurological damage, birth defects, kidney disease, learning disabilities, cardiovascular ailments and endocrine diseases are all possible illnesses from exposure to the chemicals used and produced. It is estimated that 800,000 people die prematurely per year just from the global coal industry.

A study was conducted to compare the death rates between different forms of energy production from 1990 to 2013. From this study, it was concluded that solar accounted for 2019 deaths per terawatt-hour of production. Now, compare this to 32.72 for brown coal, 24.62 for coal, 18.43 for oil and 2.821 for gas. Death rates, in this case, accounted for accidents as well as air pollution. To reference the facts stated in the air quality section of this article, solar energy produces significantly fewer emissions which causes less air pollution and fewer respiratory and other illnesses.

Going solar is not going to disrupt your daily routine, but it will change your life. You’ll be amazed when your energy bill decreases, people will ask you about why you have solar panels on your house, and people may even ask in-depth questions about solar energy. The best part about all of this is that because you chose to prioritize the environment (and your energy bill!), you can now share your knowledge with other people. You have the opportunity to make your own impact AND encourage other people to make theirs. This communication grows exponentially. If you tell five people, and they each tell five people, 25 people will start to consider solar energy. To take it a step farther, if those 25 people then tell five people, 125 people will have the information and the chance to save the environment. If you are on this website right now, someone in your life probably told you about solar energy. You can be that person for countless others. It all starts with you.

If you have further questions about the solar industry, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

At the time of encouraging the discovery of different sources of energy, solar energy has become one of the most high-profile energy. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, in 2019, there are more than 71 gigawatts (GW) of solar installed in the U.S., which is enough to power more than 13.5 million homes.

So let’s find an answer to the questions: Is solar energy really worth it?

On the financial side, going solar can reduce your electricity costs significantly or eliminate your bill. The savings with solar depend on several different factors:

New York City buildings are supposed to have more solar systems on the roofs and the city is supposed to become greener. Thanks to two local laws that came into force in November, solar panels will be obligatory on the roofs of new buildings in the future.

Two laws will provide for more solar panels in New York City. Since November 15, 2019, owners of new buildings must install green areas on the roofs, install a solar system, or a combination of both. Since last month, new applications for building projects have to comply with Local Law 92 and Local Law 94.
Also, alteration projects with a vertical or horizontal extension or renewal of a roof are affected.

New York City is therefore committed to protecting the environment. The move towards more solar energy is extremely important in this context. Currently, 70 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in New York City come from building emissions but the goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca and Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin are pleased, as newspapers report. Likewise environmental activist Pete Sikora from the local nonprofit organization New York Community for Change. Nevertheless, he argues that 90 percent of square footage to be built in the city by 2050 has already been initiated or built, and so the laws do not have to be applied to it. Instead, he suggests that not only new but also existing buildings should be affected.

The two laws, Local Law 92 and Local Law 94, are part of the Climate Mobilization Act (CMA). This Act was enacted by City Council in April 2019 as part of the Mayor’s New York City Green New Deal and OneNYC 2050 plan.

In the state of California, solar systems have recently become mandatory on new buildings. In the state of New York, New York City is making the start. Will the state follow?

While the worldwide pandemic shocks with more distressing news every day, here some good news for a change: Air pollution in metropoles dropped and clear skies all around the world allow us to mark a new record in photovoltaic power.

Due to these enormous changes in human behavior, air pollution dropped significantly in metropoles where a load of PM2.5 (fine particle pollution) is historically considerably high. As a direct consequence of the lockdown metropoles like Delhi, Seoul or Mumbai showed a reduction of particulate matter up to 60% compared to the same period in 2019. Satellites also showed cleaner air over Canada and the USA. New York City recorded a decline of 50% of the toxic carbon monoxide compared to the average mean of 2019.

Besides NYSEG, Central Hudson is also increasing the costs of electricity. How to save despite rising energy costs?

NYSEG will continuously increase the prices of electricity in the coming years. For NYSEG customers, costs could increase up to 23.7% in the near future. You can read more about this in our News Section. Central Hudson is also continuing to raise the price of electricity. This already happened in July 2019, by 10%. A further 10% followed in 2020. In addition, the cost of supply is increaing. It becomes clear: electricity will not become cheaper. The costs are rising. And so does your monthly amount on your bills.

Be aware that electric rates are rising continuously. And will certainly continue to do so. This is unfortunately true. And you can easily look at it and see it clearly.

The best part is you don’t need to put any money down and New York State has one of the best tax credit offering to where in most cases 50% of the system is recouped in the first year!  You are going to be paying for electric regardless – you might as well invest in your home. Let us summarize some pros for you:

• No money down
• Save ~$50,000 over 25 years
• Eliminate your electric bill for a smaller payment toward a system
• Add home value ~$25,000 (cant be taxed on the added value)

We are here to help you with advice and support.

A secured loan is a loan that requires the property owner to provide an asset (typically a house) as collateral for the money that is being borrowed. An asset is a form of ‘security’ to the lender if the money can’t be repaid by the borrower. The lender places a lien on the borrower’s property. In the case that the loan is not repaid, then the lender can take possession of the property. Secured loan lenders undertake less risk compared to unsecured lenders. Thus, many secured loans have lower credit score requirements, don’t impose prepayment penalties, and the interest paid is tax-deductible.

Secured solar loans are right for you if you are more concerned with long-term loan value than short-term cash flow. In addition, you should get a secured solar loan if you feel comfortable with using your home as collateral and have a tax liability big enough to benefit from the tax-deductible interest.

Unsecured solar loans do not require the borrower to use their house as collateral. This means that the lender cannot foreclose on the borrower’s home. Unsecured loans pose a higher risk for lenders and as a result have high-interest rates. The interest rates paid on these loans is most likely not tax-deductible.

While blackouts in California becoming more often people switch to solar power. To reduce the risk of devastating fires in the wilderness of California, blackouts are becoming more common. Because of this, more and more residents are using solar energy and battery storage.

Sometimes the power supply is turned off for days – only the houses that are independent through solar energy and battery storage than still have electricity. This of course means that the system is not dependent on the grid connection, instead, battery storage is available. Before the power is switched off, there is a warning from the power supplier which ensures that the battery can be fully charged. While there is no external power supply, the system works independently and supplies the residents with energy from the solar system.

Apart from the personal benefit of having electricity available at all times, it also helps the community: the more people who use a battery storage system, the lower the risk of fires caused by the transport of electricity via cables that are no longer completely intact in forest areas.

Ready for some fun under the sun? Let’s dive into these solar facts to make you brighter!

Our usage of fossil fuels has taken a toll on our environment and health – specifically through water, air, and global warming pollution. Drilling, fracking, and mining operations contaminate our drinking water and jeopardize ecosystems. Fossil fuels also emit harmful air pollutants. According to the CREA, fossil fuel air pollution in the United States led to 230,000 deaths and $600 billion in annual economic losses. Fossil fuels also contribute to climate change and global warming. However, solar is a clean energy source that offers none of these disadvantages. Going solar is a necessary step in building a clean energy future.

In any given moment in time, the Earth is intercepting 173 thousand terawatts of solar power from the Sun. That is 10,000 times more than the world’s total energy use.

The price of solar has significantly dropped with each year. When solar was first introduced in the 1970s, it cost about $76.67 per watt. In 2008, it dropped to $7.60 per watt. Now, the average cost is as low as $2.75 per watt.

Solar accounts for 40% of all new added electric capacity in 2019. In 2013, solar experienced a drastic surge in US installation. It made a jump from 9% of all new electric additives to 28% in just one year. Since then, solar has been on a steady increase. In 2010 it accounted for a 0.1% share of total US electric capacity but accounts for a 2.5% share today.

Solar energy has experienced rapid growth in this past decade. In 2010, the cumulative US solar installation barely passed the 2,000 MWdc (megawatts of direct current) threshold. However, the US is about to hit the 100,000 MWdc milestones in 2020. This means that solar has an annual growth rate of 48%.

Solar panel payback period refers to how long it takes to recover the cost of switching to solar. As of 2020, the average US payback period is 7.6 years. However, this period varies by the state due to the different offered electric rates and incentives. In fact, some states have payback periods as short as 4-5 years.

The Zephyr S HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite) is an unmanned solar-powered aircraft. It has a flight time of 25 days, 23 hours, and 57 minutes. This broke the world record for the "longest duration flight ever made."

Solar sailing is a method of propelling a spacecraft through space. It takes advantage of the photons found in light to give the spacecraft momentum to move. Its large reflective sails transfer the photon’s bounce off the sail into energy that pushes and pulls the spacecraft. By strategically angling the sails based on its relativity to the sun, the solar sail can control the direction it moves. Unlike rocket fuel, sunlight is limitless. This means that the spacecraft can theoretically travel forever. While the technology for interplanetary and interstellar solar sailing has not been developed, this feat could happen in the future.

Lightyear One is an electric car that aims to be the first-ever long-range solar-powered car. It is a plug-in electric vehicle with solar panels stretched across its roof. In the most optimal conditions, the solar panels could generate enough energy to travel over 12,000 miles annually. Having solar panels also means that owners won’t have to constantly plug in their cars to charge. Lightyear One is paving ways for the auto industry.

Just northeast of Fort Myers, Florida is Babcock Ranch – America’s first solar-powered town. This suburban town is designed and built with a self-sustainability and pro-environment philosophy. From the 19,500 planned houses to self-driving shuttles, this entire town will be entirely fueled by the sun. A massive solar-powered farm with 350,000 solar panels that stretches across a 200 football-field-sized land will generate the town’s needs.

Tiny houses have been growing in popularity since 2014. A tiny house is usually between 100 and 400 square feet. People are making the switch to “tiny living” for the reduced environmental impact, and the freedom that comes with a small house to maintain.  Tiny houses are more energy-efficient, and much easier to heat or cool than average-sized homes. They are also more portable, therefore tiny homeowners can really live anywhere there is land available. Adding solar to any tiny home will help further reduce the environmental impact and increase the possibilities of places you can live. 

It’s no secret that larger houses use more energy. The average American home uses 914 kWh of electricity per month. Tiny homes use about 120 kWh of electricity per month. This drastic difference is one of the many reasons people are making the switch to tiny living. Not only do tiny homes not use a lot of electricity, but they also are very easy to heat and cool. This makes the move to a tiny home a great decision for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint. By adding solar to your tiny home, you can further reduce your impact. Solar is a viable option for any home with access to sunlight. However, tiny homes require significantly less energy making them an even better candidate for solar. A system for a tiny house is far smaller than an average home so they take up less space. Panels can be ground-mounted, or roof-mounted (if there is enough roof space with sunlight). 

Another way you can further reduce the environmental impact of your tiny home is by using heat pumps for heating and cooling. Heat pumps consist of an outdoor unit pulling air from outside the home, conditioning the air using a heat transfer liquid, and then pumping the heated or cooled air back into your home with an indoor unit. These are 100% powered by electricity so you no longer have to rely on finite resources to heat or cool your home. Heat pump systems are perfect for a tiny home because they do not take up a lot of space. They can also be powered by solar, making it easy to go off the grid and are environmentally friendly.