Recently, you may have heard some exciting news about Akeena Solar. Akeena Solar and Westinghouse just announced that they will be partnering to make Akeena’s Andalay solar power system available to more customers across North America than ever before.
Beginning this summer, Akeena’s Andalay brand will become Westinghouse Solar. The Westinghouse reputation for delivering safe, reliable, and efficient energy products and solutions is unparalleled. With this new partnership, our award-winning Andalay technology will continue to give customers superior performance and service. And of course, all warrantees will be honored by Westinghouse Solar.
We’re really excited about this here at Akeena, and we hope you are, too. For more information, visit the new online home of Westinghouse Solar.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Solar Power Systems: Does Size Matter? (Part 1)
One of the most common questions potential solar customers ask is, “What size solar power system do I need to offset my electricity bill?” The Reader’s Digest version of the answer is that, from a financial standpoint, you don’t want your solar investment to far outweigh your immediate need. Yet you also don’t want to be short-sighted when it comes to your future energy use.
It’s fairly easy to get an idea of current requirements by reviewing your energy usage over the past few years. There are also some tools you can employ to get a more accurate idea of how you currently use energy, such as having a professional home energy efficiency audit conducted, and adding a Smart Meter that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional utility meter.
You also will need to consider how you may or may not change the way you utilize electricity in the coming years. Some of the variables that can affect change in energy consumption include:
- Long-term or permanent changes in family size. If you have children heading off to college or out on their own, are just starting a family, or have Grandma or Grandpa coming to live with you, your energy usage could change significantly.
- Appliance upgrades. Swapping out your old, avocado-green appliances for new Energy Star models not only makes them easier on the eyes--it can also dramatically reduce your household energy requirements.
- Creature comforts. Installing central air conditioning systems or hot tubs always serves to increase your energy bills.
- Gettin’ your Prius on. Driving hybrids is great for the environment, but remember that you will need to charge your new car’s batteries in order to reap the benefits to your carbon footprint.
- Home improvements. Making changes to the infrastructure of your home, including installing a programmable thermostat, weatherproofing doors and windows, insulating your hot water heater, replacing single-pane windows with their double- (or even triple-) paned counterparts, mounting an attic fan to drive warm air out in the summer, and adding extra insulation to attics, crawl spaces, and basements, can all add up to big energy savings.
These changes, made incrementally over time, generally don’t provide an immediate huge impact on your energy bill. But down the road, you will definitely notice a significant 5- or 10-year change in consumption—and that sustained change is what you need to consider when configuring your solar energy system.
In my next post, I’ll talk a bit about the different levels of offset you can achieve for your energy bills with a new solar power system. Stay tuned!
It’s fairly easy to get an idea of current requirements by reviewing your energy usage over the past few years. There are also some tools you can employ to get a more accurate idea of how you currently use energy, such as having a professional home energy efficiency audit conducted, and adding a Smart Meter that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional utility meter.
You also will need to consider how you may or may not change the way you utilize electricity in the coming years. Some of the variables that can affect change in energy consumption include:
- Long-term or permanent changes in family size. If you have children heading off to college or out on their own, are just starting a family, or have Grandma or Grandpa coming to live with you, your energy usage could change significantly.
- Appliance upgrades. Swapping out your old, avocado-green appliances for new Energy Star models not only makes them easier on the eyes--it can also dramatically reduce your household energy requirements.
- Creature comforts. Installing central air conditioning systems or hot tubs always serves to increase your energy bills.
- Gettin’ your Prius on. Driving hybrids is great for the environment, but remember that you will need to charge your new car’s batteries in order to reap the benefits to your carbon footprint.
- Home improvements. Making changes to the infrastructure of your home, including installing a programmable thermostat, weatherproofing doors and windows, insulating your hot water heater, replacing single-pane windows with their double- (or even triple-) paned counterparts, mounting an attic fan to drive warm air out in the summer, and adding extra insulation to attics, crawl spaces, and basements, can all add up to big energy savings.
These changes, made incrementally over time, generally don’t provide an immediate huge impact on your energy bill. But down the road, you will definitely notice a significant 5- or 10-year change in consumption—and that sustained change is what you need to consider when configuring your solar energy system.
In my next post, I’ll talk a bit about the different levels of offset you can achieve for your energy bills with a new solar power system. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Is Solar a Commodity?
As awareness of solar power grows, and more and more installers spring up around the country, how will consumers base their solar purchase decisions in an exploding market? Will solar become a mere commodity, with customers rushing the lowest bidder, or will sales be driven by the customer experience and quality associated with a given brand?
When consumers become motivated primarily by numbers, whether they be related to fat grams, miles-per-gallon, or price, does brand become insignificant―or a deciding factor?
With competition heating up, manufacturers are going to be forced to reconsider the way they manufacture, distribute, and install product in order to remain competitive in the eyes of the consumer. Given this “commodity” environment, will the quality of solar panels drop industry-wide?
If you ask any potential solar power customer what the differences are between the offerings of Company X, Company Y, and Company Z, you would probably be told which company’s product is the most or least expensive, period.
In five years, go back to that same customer and ask about the three offerings they considered when making their solar purchase. Having lived with their system for a while, you will likely hear more about quality and brand.
The upshot here is that, in today’s (and tomorrow’s) solar energy marketplace, whether customers know it yet or not, brand does matter. And given that, what should savvy consumers be thinking about?
- Innovation: If a manufacturer is offering rock-bottom prices, but 1970s technology, keep shopping.
- Customization: One Size Does Not Fit All when it comes to solar. Lot orientation, roof pitch, landscaping, and many other factors dictate how a solar power system should be mounted. Your expert installer needs to know this.
- Customer Care: Don’t use a solar installer that only wants to install. Get what you pay for, and that means full-service assistance in permitting, design, and government rebate paperwork.
- Warranties: Solar systems are supposed to be built to last for around 30 years, but if they don’t, you need to make sure your installer offers warranties on both panels and inverters so that your investment is protected.
Want to learn more about Akeena Solar? Join our community on Facebook.
When consumers become motivated primarily by numbers, whether they be related to fat grams, miles-per-gallon, or price, does brand become insignificant―or a deciding factor?
With competition heating up, manufacturers are going to be forced to reconsider the way they manufacture, distribute, and install product in order to remain competitive in the eyes of the consumer. Given this “commodity” environment, will the quality of solar panels drop industry-wide?
If you ask any potential solar power customer what the differences are between the offerings of Company X, Company Y, and Company Z, you would probably be told which company’s product is the most or least expensive, period.
In five years, go back to that same customer and ask about the three offerings they considered when making their solar purchase. Having lived with their system for a while, you will likely hear more about quality and brand.
The upshot here is that, in today’s (and tomorrow’s) solar energy marketplace, whether customers know it yet or not, brand does matter. And given that, what should savvy consumers be thinking about?
- Innovation: If a manufacturer is offering rock-bottom prices, but 1970s technology, keep shopping.
- Customization: One Size Does Not Fit All when it comes to solar. Lot orientation, roof pitch, landscaping, and many other factors dictate how a solar power system should be mounted. Your expert installer needs to know this.
- Customer Care: Don’t use a solar installer that only wants to install. Get what you pay for, and that means full-service assistance in permitting, design, and government rebate paperwork.
- Warranties: Solar systems are supposed to be built to last for around 30 years, but if they don’t, you need to make sure your installer offers warranties on both panels and inverters so that your investment is protected.
Want to learn more about Akeena Solar? Join our community on Facebook.
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