Solar Lease/PPA vs Viridian vs NSTAR Green

People may think that there is hassle involved in “going green”—that it is too complicated or too expensive or takes too much time to figure out what the best option would be. Actually, solar power can quite competitive with traditional grid-supplied power and adopting it is now easier than ever. This article outlines some of the opportunities that exist for you to receive some or all of your electricity from solar or other renewable sources with little or no upfront investment [money down]. The first two options involve generating your own electricity via a solar PV system installed at your home or business. Options 3 and 4 represent opportunities to use clean energy for all or some of your electricity needs without buying or maintaining a system of your own. Part 1 tells you what your options are. Check back in a few days for Part 2, which will outline the pros and cons of each. Continue reading →

Even though a pretty powerful V.I.P. had his back, Noah didn’t wait for the rain to start falling before he started planning his ark. After all, timing is everything, and it’s always good to be ahead of the game. The same holds true when you’re thinking about switching to a clean energy system.

While you might not be ready to buy right away, it’s still in your best interest to begin your research process sooner rather than later. Here’s why: Continue reading →

Through its Sunshot Initiative, the Department of Energy is working with the solar industry to make solar more cost competitive with other forms of energy (without subsidies). They’re aiming to cut 75 percent of the total costs of solar photovoltaic energy systems by 2020. The DOE has set $1 per watt for the total system as its target price which is about 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Last month was a big one for EnergySage! The U.S. Department of Energy invested half a million dollars in EnergySage’s vision of making clean energy easy and accessible. And, while it is great news for us, we think it’s great news for consumers, installers, contractors, advocacy groups, and the solar PV industry, too. Continue reading →

For now, solar seems to be winning the popularity contest among clean energy systems. While solar is a great option, it’s by no means the only one, and it isn’t the right choice for everyone. There’s a wide array of clean energy technologies to choose from, and most homes and businesses are suitable for more than one of them. So, what do you need to know to determine which one is best for you? Continue reading →

On some level, we all know we should do something to reduce our energy costs, but where to start to achieve that goal is less clear. Should we reduce our consumption by making efficiency improvements (e.g. installing energy efficient lighting, replacing old windows, adding insulation, etc.)? Or, should we focus on reducing the cost of the energy we’re using by installing a clean energy system such as solar, wind or geothermal system? Both approaches make a lot of sense. Here are some points to consider that may help you to decide.

What are your goals? Continue reading →

Life is all about trade-offs. Do you take that big trip or pay your child’s college tuition? Do you take your income tax refund and buy that home theater you’ve always wanted, or do you add it to your retirement savings? Fortunately, not all of life’s decisions are “either / or.” Some decisions, like installing a clean energy system, can actually help to increase the range of your possibilities. Continue reading →

You’re in the market for a house. You’ve done your research, found your price point, and are looking at homes in the neighborhood of your choice.

You’re making the rounds at open houses, taking tours, and checking the essentials – quality of construction, design and layout, the age and quality of the kitchens and bathrooms, the fixtures and appliances, the condition of the roof and the foundation, etc. Continue reading →

Our research shows that one of the roadblocks that discourages people from purchasing clean energy systems is the combination of too many options and too little information. To help clear the way forward for everyone we’ve created the following simple, top-line primer to lay the foundation for learning more about the applications that are available to you. Continue reading →